Steve Corbin is emeritus professor of marketing at the University of Northern Iowa and a freelance writer who receives no remuneration, funding, or endorsement from any for-profit business, nonprofit organization, political action committee, or political party. 

Martin Niemöller (1892-1984), a German Lutheran pastor, composed a 1946 post-World War II confessional titled “First they came for the Socialists . . ..” The four-line composition explains, in straight-forward language, how the Nazis rose to power by methodically silencing German intellectuals and clergy.

The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum features the prose on one of its walls:

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.

Let’s be frank. Since the Tea Party’s founding in 2009, several groups—on their own accord and/or in conjunction with political parties, biased think tanks, political action committees, and politicians – are trying to silence us in various ways. If Pastor Niemöller’s 1946 verse reflected America in 2024, it might read:

First they came for restricting reproductive rights and the rights of LGBTQIA, transgender youth, people with mental health issues, the physically disabled, and the homeless, and I did not speak out – because I decided the issues are too complex to handle.

Then they came for banning books and dissing public education, and I did not speak out – because I don’t have kids in school.

Then they came for denouncing Black Lives Matter and people from other countries while accepting white nationalism and evangelical Christian nationalism, and I did not speak out – because I didn’t know how to get involved.

Then they came to disrespect diversity, equity, inclusion, affirmative action, and sexual harassment claims, and I did not speak out – because I’m only one person.

Then they came to praising the autocratic leaders of Russia, China, North Korea, Hungary, and Argentina, and I did not speak out – because I didn’t know who to express my concerns to.

Then they came for isolationism, dismantling America’s allies and throwing global free trade, Trans-Pacific Partnership, NATO, and United Nations under the bus, and I did not speak out – because I’m not in a leadership position.

Then they came wanting to reduce funding for federal food assistance, Medicaid, Social Security, and Medicare, and I did not speak out – because I’m too busy working two jobs to make ends meet.

Then they came to abuse eminent domain and make it harder for immigrants to gain asylum (despite 98 percent of Americans being of immigrant descent), and I did not speak out – because my elected representatives are also ignoring the issues.

Then they came to ridicule or attempt to defund the Department of Justice, Internal Revenue Service, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Transportation and Department of Defense, and I did not speak out – because that’s for politicians and not me to resolve.

Then they came for freeing those convicted for their part in the January 6 insurrection, eradicating votes of fellow citizens, threatening the lives of volunteer election workers, identifying legal judicial actions as witch-hunts, ignoring the Constitution’s Fourteenth Amendment, and claiming presidential immunity reigns supreme, and I did not speak out – because I decided that’s up to the courts to decide.

Then they came for ignoring bipartisanship, the $34 trillion national debt, $1.7 trillion federal deficit, aid to Ukraine and climate change, and I did not speak out – because I was afraid to take a stance against my political party’s wish.

Then they came to impose gerrymandered political maps, the unification of church and state, gun ownership with almost no regulations, and re-electing politicians who put their party before the people and call for “revenge and retribution,” and I did not speak out – because I’m getting tired of political shenanigans.

Then they came to realize, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men [and women] to do nothing.” Since maintaining democracy is not a spectator sport, they vowed to vote on November 5 so America would not revert to dictatorial-authoritarian control. Otherwise, they could find themselves saying one day, “Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.”