• IninewCrow@lemmy.ca
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    9 months ago

    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 (spoken by Niemoller, a German pastor, in 1946, while he traveled on a lecture tour in the western zones of Allied-occupied Germany after the war)

    The lesson is the lesson of not speaking out or not standing up for injustice no matter how small. If we all just idly stand by while minor injustices occur to other people, eventually those injustices will grow and fester to affect us.

    So, whenever and where ever you see or hear injustice … speak up and speak out. Those powerful few who cause the injustices gamble on the fact that no one or not enough people will ever speak out against them.

    Usually you may feel alone in speaking out but often, others around you feel the same but they are too afraid to be the first to speak up and often they are also willing to support the first one who speaks out.

    No one ever knows how you feel until you speak up.

    • kellyaster@kbin.socialOP
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      9 months ago

      Thank you, the Niemoller quote tends to get overused a lot, but it’s vital that people understand it. The world described in the quote isn’t theoretical, it actually happened. It’s based on his experiences, because he was silent.

      No one ever knows how you feel until you speak up.

      I agree wholeheartedly. I suppose I’m just getting more and more tired of fascism as I get older, but people need to speak out more when they see injustice. Don’t let fuckin Nazis off the hook, call them out on their bullshit. You don’t have to be polite, you’re dealing with people who want to and are actively trying to exterminate you. Tell them to fuck off! Others will join.

      • IninewCrow@lemmy.ca
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        9 months ago

        I don’t mind overusing, repeating or restating things that are important … it works the same as advertising … the more you repeat something, the more cemented and reinforced the idea or image becomes in a person’s memory and thoughts.

        The information may be old and familiar to you and me but hopefully it may catch the attention of someone who has never read it before.

        Think of it in the same way we identify Coca-Cola, a drink that many people in the world know as a famous soda brand … instead of advertising for sugar water, I repeat information that can at least change lives … and save lives at its best.

        Keep pointing out the wrongs of our world … I’m calling out as much as I can right next to you.