This paraphrase from Robert Holliston is always very powerful:
"When they came for the
Jews, I didn't intervene because I wasn't a Jew; When they came for the
Catholics, I didn't intervene because I wasn't a Catholic; When they
came
for the gypsies, I didn't intervene because I wasn't a gypsy; When they
came
for me, there was nobody left to intervene."
Robert identified the speaker as a survivor of the Third Reich. Indeed,
Pastor Martin Neimoller spent ten years in Dachau. He is the only known
person to have every told Hitler off to his face. Neimoller was
wiretapped, arrested, brought into Hitler, Hitler said, did you say
this, and Neimoller said, I not only said that but...
The actual quite also spoke of trade unionists and communists, and not
gypsies, but certainly the essence of the quote, by Pastor Neimoller, is
on point.
Here it is:
In Germany, the Nazis first came for the Communists,
And I didn't speak up
Because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the Jews,
And I did not speak up
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists,
And I didn't speak up
Because I wasn't a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Catholics,
And I was a Protestant
So I didn't speak up.
Then they came for ME
By that time
There was no one to speak up for anyone.
To make sure this doesn't happen again, the injustice
To anyone
Anywhere
Must be the concern of
Everyone
Everywhere.
A good review of the situation of Niemoller's context is at
http://www.visi.com/~contra_m/cm/reviews/cm13_rev_witness.html
The parallel to events of today is of course not exact. I am a lifelong
student of Niemoller's work - the witness of the Confessing Church of
Germany and the Barmen Declaration of that church movement - are major
reasons that I am a pastor (and a Christian) today.
Neimoller protested the exalting the demands of state over the demands
of the Gospel. Neimoller was no pacifist but he protested the attempt
to make the state into a god that rivaled or surpassed our calling from
God.
Neimoller was vigorously opposed to the Nazi/German (for the Nazis
didn't do it alone, they had the support of the nation who blamed the
Jews for their woes) treatment of the Jews, and this was early on, in
fact, as soon as Hitler took power in 1933, not later when Holocaust
began. Well before Kristelnacht, Neimoller had been jailed.
Were Neimoller with us today, I suspect he'd be speaking against hatred
on Muslims in this nation, against blaming Islam for these days. He
would applaud those who have spoken against such blaming. So for
example, in my opinion, he would have liked Bush's statements on Muslim
Americans. I think he would have very wary of the demonizing of the
Taliban that took place in the same speech. Neimoller also would not
have use for the Taliban but remind that the demonizing of the
religious/political leaders of a people is the first step to the evils
that follow. Hence, the quote...
Neimoller would be zealous to protect civil liberties since the chipping
away of those is the path to "taking away" those who the
nation/culture/society deems a threat. Thus Neimoller, in my opinion,
would have abhorred the talk by Bush and Ashcroft on proposals on civil
liberties. The loss of freedom of information, Neimoller would have
fought (and did fight) with all of his life since it is when the
freedom of information is surpressed that the "taking away" of people
may occur. All of our actions, especially the actions of a nation, must
be done in the light as the only protection we have from abuse. The
production of means of information to reveal every action of the Nazi
regime was a great activity of the Confessing Church.
But to go beyond that is to say more than we can say, as I understand
his teachings.
Neimoller was not a pacifist but he would be very reluctant to use
military power to strike. During the anti-nuclear movement for example
in the 1980s, when Pastor Neimoller was still with us, he was loathe to
be involved in either way. But his words and teachings were apt to the
situation in Salvador and Nicaragua, in Brazil, Chile, and Argentina,
wherever there are "disappeared" people in the name of national
security. They also were applicable to the Soviet Union and an example
of why many Christian peace activists (such as myself) were devoutly
anti-Soviet.
As a student of Neimoller, and Bonhoeffer and the Confessing Church, I
really cannot find things there on war and vengeance that apply to this
situation, much as I would love to.
I am always pleased when Martin Niemoller's words and life are
recalled, thank you Robert Holliston! This is probably more than
anyone ever wanted to know about Martin Neimoller, but it puts me in a
good frame of mind as I finish this before I leave for worship and a
church conference.
(the Rev Vince)
