first they came for...

[Guest guest]

here is Steve Rohde's updated version of Martin Niemoller's

eloquent elegy:

 

First they came for the Muslims and I didn't speak up because I

wasn't a Muslim.

 

Then they came for the immigrants detaining them indefinitely solely

upon the certification of the Attorney General and I didn't speak up

because I wasn't an immigrant.

 

Then they came to eavesdrop on suspects consulting with their

attorneys and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a suspect.

 

Then they came to prosecute non-citizens before secret military

commissions, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a non-citizen.

 

Then they came to enter homes and offices for unannounced " sneak and

peek " searches and I didn't speak up because I had nothing to hide.

 

Then they came to reinstate Cointelpro and resume the infiltration

and surveillance of domestic religious and political groups and I

didn't speak up because I no longer participated in any groups.

 

Then they came to arrest American citizens and hold them indefinitely

without any charges and without access to lawyers, and I didn't speak

up because I would never be arrested.

 

Then they came to institute TIPS, the " Terrorism Information and

Prevention System, " recruiting citizens to spy on other citizens, and

I didn't speak up because I was afraid.

 

Then they came to institute Total Information Awareness, collecting

private data on every man, woman and child in America, and I didn't

speak up because I couldn't do anything about it.

 

Then they came for immigrants and students from selective countries

luring them under the requirement of " special registration " as a ruse

to seize them and detain them, and I didn't speak up because I was

not required to register.

 

Then they came for anyone who objected to government policy because

it only aided the terrorists and gave ammunition to America's enemies

and I didn't speak up . . . because I didn't speak up.

 

Then they came for me and by that time no one was left to speak up.

 

 

War doesn't determine who's right. War determines who's left.