Silence

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Silence

First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out -
because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for the Socialists
and I did not speak out -
because I was not a Socialist.

Then the came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out -
because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for me
and there was no one left
to speak out for me.

-author unknown-

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I took this photograph almost three years ago while living near Washington D.C. and have always loved it. I found the accompanying poem while in my mid-twenties. The two seem to fit together like two matching pieces of different puzzles.

Both the photo and the poem remind me that if we don't take the time and make the effort to help and protect those among us who can not protect themselves - one day we may look around for helping hands ourselves and find none. Either because there is no one left (as in the poem) or because, through our tacit approval and participation, we will have created a society that doesn't look out for its fellow human beings.

Don't let this happen. Look around you today and reach out a helping hand to someone around you. Volunteer or make a donation - this world is counting on you.

And remember the words of Marian Wright; “We must not, in trying to think about how we can make a big difference, ignore the small daily differences we make which, over time, add up to big differences that we often cannot foresee.”

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