This famous modernized and often altered quotation from Martin Niemoller says everything that needs to be said about the overly content United States citizens of today. While researching this quotation I found a website managed by a professor from the University of California. On this site he has gone to great lengths to research the history of this famous quotation and it’s many different translations.

http://www.history.ucsb.edu/faculty/marcuse/niem.htm

First They Came for the Communists

First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out–
because I was not a communist;
Then 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 out for me.

A special thank you to Elaine S. for reminding me of this great quotation!