The clamor for punishment of politicians and others for their views or actions has become pervasive. Some threated to use the courts or legislatures. Others promise to use police, the National Guard, and our military to jail or to round up and expel those others who are stereotyped and demeaned. It is a frightening time.
Words from the German Pastor Martin Niemöller ring as a stern warning. Some background is important. He served during World War I and earned the Iron Cross. He became a Lutheran pastor after the war. He was a German patriot and confessed later that his nationalism lead to silence and inaction as the Nazi party toughtened. He then opposed the Nazis and was imprisoned in 1937 until liberated in1945. His famous quotation from several speeches after the war is:
“First they came for the Communists/ And I did not speak out/ Because I was not a Communist
Then they came for the Socialists/ And I did not speak out …
Then they came for the trade unionist/ And I did not speak out …
Then they came for the Jew/ And I did not speak out …
Then they came for me/ And there was no one left/ To speak out for me.”
Patriotism and faith guide many of us as they did the pastor. At some point, it would be wise for all of us to heed his warning before they come for you and me.
Raymond B. Williams
Crawfordsville
