Martin Niemöller: "First they came for the Socialists..."

2 years ago by ManyRoads to c/politics

Learn about the origins and legacy of Pastor Martin Niemöller's famous postwar words, “First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out…”

I think it is time for me to remind everyone, again...

eestileib 37 points 2 years ago

Trans people can no longer get passports.

President Musk is a personally motivated transphobe.

Trans people are the first line in this iteration of the poem. We have already been abandoned by the Democratic party.

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TropicalDingdong 23 points 2 years ago

Make space for trans people in your lives.

Be prepared to help them shelter in place if necessary.

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adespoton 12 points 2 years ago

Instead of the Underground Railroad, this generation may have the Trans National Pipeline.

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TropicalDingdong 8 points 2 years ago

Sigh...

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7toed 3 points 2 years ago

Fuck, I know its probably obvious and I'm wasting your time, what's that movies name again?

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grue 12 points 2 years ago

I don't know why Niemöller omitted them, but in fact trans people were the first line in that iteration, too.

https://en.wikipedia.org/...

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Sidyctism2 7 points 2 years ago

he also omittet the victims of t4. the poem is supposed to communicate an idea, its not a full list of all victims of the nazis. Besides, i dont know wether niemöller even knew of transgender people.

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grue 3 points 2 years ago

Besides, i dont know wether niemöller even knew of transgender people.

That's one reason why I didn't speculate on the reason for the omission.

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prole 1 point 2 years ago
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prole 6 points 2 years ago

They were first the last time too. That history had just been pretty much erased.

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Pronell 6 points 2 years ago

The Democratic party has no institutional power at the moment. Stop assessing blame to them and focus in who is allied and able to help.

Blaming the Democratic Party is completely useless, as useless as you believe them to be. In part they are captured, and in part they are literally in the jaws of a fascist government.

And you're still blaming them for this moment. They might end up at GITMO.

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eestileib 3 points 2 years ago

Even if they have no institutional power, there are other groups the Democratic party is still talking about, still trying to take action on.

They aren't even pretending to care about trans people any more.

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Pronell 2 points 2 years ago

That's fair. I'd just rather see the left try to unify then assign blame and fall further to infighting.

We will need all the allies we can muster to pull through this.

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eestileib 0 points 2 years ago

I think the left is relatively united by the left's standards.

The issue is that the Democratic party establishment is not part of the left.

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EmpireInDecay 2 points 2 years ago

Dems have no institutional power when they are the majority. They are ineffective in everything they do. And theyve enabled the current fascists in power.

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EmpireInDecay 2 points 2 years ago

Trans, like all other marginalized communities, were only ever pawns for power to the DNC. Used to obtain their goals then tossed aside when they were no longer needed.

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Rhaedas 19 points 2 years ago

Can we add the classic Don't Be a Sucker? Similar message about paying attention to what's happening to other people and not waiting until it's your turn.

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samus12345 1 point 2 years ago

This one was shockingly accurate when I first saw it last year. Tragically, we turned out to be a nation of dumbass suckers.

"We human beings are not born with prejudices. Always they are made for us. Made by someone who wants something. Remember that when you hear this kind of talk - somebody is going to get something out of it, and it isn't going to be you."

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circuit23 15 points 2 years ago

Even this poem minimizes the fact that the Nazis came after LGBTQ+ folks first.

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ZILtoid1991 7 points 2 years ago

Because he was FOR that.

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dethedrus 4 points 2 years ago

Also a VIRULENT anti-semite. He was a giant piece of shit who had a nice shocked Pikachu moment when Hitler went back on his deal to let protestant churches do whatever they wanted without nazi interference.

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mitchty 5 points 2 years ago

Yeah the Weimar Republic was many things and it was a pretty progressive place prior to 1933. Then it quickly changed.

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Saljid 7 points 2 years ago

Important to note that in the original it was the "Communists" they came for not "Socialists". Link (German)

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eirenicon -1 points 2 years ago

There are in fact quite a number of revisions of the quote. I have discovered that with numerous quotes. They evolve.

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h3mlocke 6 points 2 years ago

Is it still a quote tho if it's not a quote? 🤔

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Flocklesscrow 3 points 2 years ago

The Quote of Theseus

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eirenicon 1 point 2 years ago

Since the admission admission of multiple quotes is from Niemöller any of the quotes from him should qualify.

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eirenicon 2 points 2 years ago

Here's some add'l info: Pastor Martin Niemöller's poignant statement, commonly known as "First they came for...," has undergone various adaptations since its inception in the mid-1940s. Originally delivered during his post-World War II lectures, Niemöller's words were a candid admission of his own inaction and a call to recognize the perils of societal apathy.

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum provides a widely recognized version of the quote:

First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

This version emphasizes the sequential persecution of different groups and the consequences of remaining silent. It's important to note that Niemöller's original speeches were impromptu, leading to multiple renditions of the statement over time. These variations reflect the evolving contexts in which the quote has been referenced and adapted.

For a comprehensive understanding of the quote's origins and its different versions, you can refer to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum's article: encyclopedia.ushmm.org

Additionally, the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust offers another version of the quote, highlighting slight differences in wording and the groups mentioned: hmd.org.uk

These resources provide credible insights into the evolution and enduring significance of Niemöller's statement.

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futatorius 3 points 2 years ago
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