Githa Hariharn quotes a German Pastor, Reverend Martin Niemoller, in her novel In times of Siege, who was persecuted by the Nazis.
'In Germany, they first came for the
communists, and I did not speak up
because I was not a communists.Then
they came for the Jews, and I did not
speak up because I was not a Jew.
'Then they came for the trade
unionists, and I did not speak up
because I was not a trade unionist.
'Then they came for the homosexuals,
and I did not speak up because I was
not a homosexual.
'Then they came for the Catholics,
and I did not speak up because I was
Protestnt.
'Then they came for me . . . but by
that time there was no one left to
speak up.'
'In Germany, they first came for the
communists, and I did not speak up
because I was not a communists.Then
they came for the Jews, and I did not
speak up because I was not a Jew.
'Then they came for the trade
unionists, and I did not speak up
because I was not a trade unionist.
'Then they came for the homosexuals,
and I did not speak up because I was
not a homosexual.
'Then they came for the Catholics,
and I did not speak up because I was
Protestnt.
'Then they came for me . . . but by
that time there was no one left to
speak up.'