First they came for...

(Take this as you will.  But do realize I read a great deal about WWII events a few weeks ago, and about SOPA earlier this morning.  That may give you an idea.)

Some things, I refuse to read or watch because I reject the basic premise.  I can’t imagine what would break so horribly in the world that the terrible reality portrayed could actually happen.  How the hell did people let things get that far?  How did things get that bad?  Why didn’t anybody do anything?  And if you think about it…

It always starts small, doesn’t it.  A law that shouldn’t have been passed.  A slight overlooked.  A problem left for someone else to deal with, only that someone else never arrived, and it snowballed into an avalanche too big to stop, and now...  well.  They used to burn books, you know.  But now the books are cyber, so something else has to be done.

Something else.  Being done by someone else.  Neverending circle and all that.  Being spun by someone else.

It’s always someone else’s problem, isn’t it.  Surely someone else will see it, and take care of it.  You don’t have to trouble yourself.  Someone else is always there.   Mama and Daddy to swoop in and save the day.  A big brother, if you like.

I’ve been there.  And so far, it’s worked out.  Millions of someone else’s, right?  Billions, even.  Everybody is somebody’s someone else.  Yes, even you.   So before, I didn’t really notice beyond thinking, oh, someone else will deal with it.  I learned about it from someone else, after all.  I don’t pay attention to the news (of course, sometimes the news doesn’t mention the important things); I don’t keep up with legislation.   If it’s important, surely one of my LJ friends will post about it, and I’ll skim it, and move on.

Someone else is dealing with it.

But, then,well:

 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.

And, the question I thought about using as my senior quote: if not us, who?  if not now, when?

You are somebody’s someone else.  And tomorrow… well, tomorrow may be too late.  

So, yeah.  I sent out a couple emails to my representative and my senators.  I actually met one of my senators, years ago.  Not that she’d remember me, of course.  I barely remember her.  And maybe it won’t do anything.  Maybe they don’t care, or don’t realize.  And maybe the vote’s been pushed back.  Lots of someone else’s were doing something.  But how many didn’t, because they just knew someone else was taking care of it? 

And what about the next time, when everybody waits for someone else… and someone else never shows up?

It always starts small.  You don’t even notice.  And then, you look back and can’t even find that turning point, when it all began going wrong.

And then they come for you, and no one else is there to save you.