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.

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.

—Martin Niemöller

When is it time for you to speak out?

When things get controversial, do you have the courage to stand up and make your thoughts and feelings known in the face of others who would violently oppose your perspective?

When the community is unfairly antagonistic towards a segment of society that is not one of the demographics in which we, ourselves belong, is it appropriate to stand by the infringed segment and be heard?

The world continuously puts people into similar circumstances, in which their individual morality is triggered by watching society take an unfair stance against another group of humanity, who does not warrant that negative attention.

We are continuously seeking safe harbor in which to conduct our lives, and to enable those whom we care about to thrive and enjoy all aspects of their daily lives, but there are times in which segments of society get so far out of hand as to create the necessity for brave people to rise up and be heard.

When a moment like this transpires, and we are the group that is not being infringed upon, we are absolutely caught in the crossfire of our morality juxtaposed against the expressed perceptions of another segment of society. In making our decision as to how, and why we must conduct ourselves by our own personal code of honor and ethics, we must contemplate the highly negative potential ramifications of our having made such a decision.

In a majority of cases, people will err on the side of remaining passive in the face of such a threat, for the choice to interject ourselves into someone else’s nightmare, may well come with the ultimate penalty, and, a majority would expect that it is safer to remain circumspect rather than being outspoken, and thereby putting a metaphorical bull’s-eye on one’s back.

When we are actively working to advance our society in ways that expand the value system that we and the majority of people within that society are contractually bound to accept, we are far more comfortable to remain in safe harbor.

So why would a rational person stand up when a segment of society is being unfairly ostracized?

I think Martin Niemöller understood that variable in its most comprehensive ramification, which is that a ravenous, out of control, blood-thirsty society can run instantly out of bounds on hyperbole and lies, with the express desire to segment part of society, and frame them as scapegoats for whatever that segment of society is looking to achieve.

Next year will bring us the closest we have been towards such a catastrophe, than we have been for several decades. It will only be through the strength of people like yourself, who care deeply about ensuring a safe world for our children, to speak up and be heard, rather than remaining passive and complacent and allowing dangerous propaganda to spread needlessly.

Happy Friday!