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Martin Niemöller's quote[1] is an important one, possibly even more so today than when he first said it. We're so caught up in our own selfish bubbles, we're fa
by jonah 11y ago
Martin Niemöller's quote[1] is an important one, possibly even more so today than when he first said it. We're so caught up in our own selfish bubbles, we're failing to consider those around us.
There are many variations of the saying - several from himself, but the best known version goes:
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.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_they_came_.. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_they_came_...
[Edit 1] Removed editorialization.
[Edit 2] Reverted it. Isn't that what this whole discussion is about? Being able to say unpopular things?
- TazeTSchnitzel 11y agoAh yes, the famous quote about Nazi Germany. So, do people use the same quote about how the German government banned Nazi symbols in the aftermath of that? Oh wait, no they don't. I wonder why that might be.
- Fishman343 11y agoThere's an enormous difference between banning things with direct links to the murder of more than 6 million people, in the hope that no-one gets hurt in the years immediately after the event, and the banning of a word which hurt tens of people's feelings over the internet.
- Randgalt 11y agoI'm Jewish, but I think banning Nazi symbols at this point in time is counterproductive and unnecessary. All speech, no matter how odious, should be allowed.