Martin Niemoller’s famous poem could be written this way today:

First, they came for the Trump supporters

And I did not speak out

Because I was not a Trump supporter

Then they came for the Conservatives

And I did not speak out

Because I was not a Conservative

We could continue down the list, but the last verse is always the same:

“Then they came for me

“And there was no one left

“To speak out for me.”

Niemoller was a Hitler supporter in the beginning. Why wouldn’t he be? Hitler promised all the wonderful things all tyrants promise to gain power. It was only after Hitler took power and used it in the ways that made him infamous that Niemoller objected; too late.

Niemoller, who once supported Hitler ended up in jail because he dared to speak out against the atrocities.

We now have Democrats, in positions of power, openly talking about silencing opposing views and even “reeducating” or “deprogramming” those who hold them. These were the tactics of every tyrant in the 20th century and it’s now coming here.

Too many people today don’t understand that the only rights you have are the rights you afford others. If you ask government to silence others, you give them permission to silence you.

In this country, we are free to disagree, even loudly and even hatefully as long as we don’t turn it into hurtful actions. Hurtful action isn’t only just physical violence; it can be denying a person their rights.

You don’t have to agree with me on anything, but if you disagree with me on our basic human rights, we will both lose them.

You may not like my political, or religious views, but please stand with me on this. As Benjamin Franklin said, “We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately.”

Don’t wait until they come for you.

PAUL RINKER

Montoursville

Submitted via Virtual Newsroom