First They Came: 2025 Edition

First, they came for abortion rights, and I did not speak out because I didn't think it would affect me, so I didn’t care.

Then they came for the immigrants, and I did not speak out because I didn’t think it would affect me, so I didn’t care and went to Church to praise Jesus, the Immigrant.

Then they came for the Trans people, and I did not speak out because my pastor told me to be afraid of Trans people, so I didn’t care what happened to them.

When my wife needed an abortion after a miscarriage but couldn’t have one, she died, then I cared, but it was too late.

And when my immigrant farm hands were all taken by ICE and I lost my farm, then I cared, but it was too late.

And when my daughter came out as Trans was murdered in a public bathroom, then I cared, but it was too late.

If only I had cared about other people instead of waiting until something affected me to care enough to do anything, maybe none of this would have happened.

But it is too late.

A Brief Note as to Why I posted this:

I remember reading the piece “First They Came” by Reverend Martin Niemöller on the wall at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. Surrounded by the artifacts, images, sounds, films of the atrocities committed by the Nazis , the weight of that poem became a part of my DNA. I always remembered it, always trying to make sure that I wasn’t like that, that I would speak up for others.

As the United States became more and more divided, I saw more and more people attacking vulnerable groups: People of Color, Immigrants, Trans people, women. I rememberd the poem, and I spoke up. But the country went a different direction, and we actually saw a Billionaire supporter of our newly inaugurated “President” give a Nazi salute at the inauguration celebration. How is this happening here?

I keep coming to the realization that so many people, mainly white people if I am being honest, just don’t seem to care until it affects them.

We are so rooted in individualism and self that we just don’t care until it is too late.

I will do everything I can to help change this.