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Post
# 3: December 23, 2004
I
am moved to add this quote to those below:
"Only
when it is dark enough, can you see the stars. " Martin
Luther King, Jr
Post
# 2: December 16, 2004
The following quotes have been on my mind a lot lately:
"Of
course the people don't want war... that is understood.
But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine
the policy, and it's always a simple matter to drag the
people along whether it's a democracy, a fascist dictatorship,
or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no
voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of
the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them
they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for
lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It
works the same in any country." -Hermann Goering,
Adolf Hitler's Deputy Chief, at the Nuremberg Trials, 1946
as quoted by GM Gilbert in "Nuremberg Diary."
"First they came for the Communists, and I didn’t
speak up because I wasn’t a Communist. Then they came
for the Jews, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t
a Jew. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn’t
speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for
me, and by that time there was no one
left to speak up for me." - The Reverend Martin
Niemoller, 1945
"First they came for the Muslims, and I didn't speak
up because I wasn't a Muslim. Then they came to detain immigrants
indefinitely solely upon the certification of the Attorney
General, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't an immigrant.
Then they came to eavesdrop on suspects consulting with
their attorneys, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't
a suspect. Then they came to prosecute non-citizens before
secret military commissions, and I didn't speak up because
I wasn't a non-citizen. Then they came to enter homes and
offices for unannounced "sneak and peek" searches,
and I didn't speak up because I had nothing to hide. Then
they came to reinstate Cointelpro and resume the infiltration
and surveillance of domestic religious and political groups,
and I didn't speak up because I had stopped participating
in any groups. Then they came for anyone who objected to
government policy because it aided the terrorists and gave
ammunition to America's enemies, and I didn't speak up because......
I didn't speak up. Then they came for me....... and by that
time no one was left to speak up."
- Stephen F. Rohde, Esq., constitutional lawyer and
President of the ACLU of Southern California
(inspired by Martin Niemoller)
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