First they came . . .

Here’s an interesting take on how it’s easy to sit back and think, But it doesn’t affect me.

In a moment I’ll give you three paragraphs from an article called “While we weren’t looking” from Transitions Online, a news outlet for post-Communist countries in Eastern Europe. They relate to last month’s Sarajevo event that would have shown gay-related film and other arts.

But some Muslims took it into their primitive, bone-headed minds that this was not to be. People were beaten up in the streets, dragged out of cars. A Danish national was almost killed. Here are three paragraphs, but the article (it’s in two short parts) is well worth reading.

Once some people get showered with stones again in places where they are the minority and thus get on the majority’s nerves, “We did not know” will sound as exactly what it is: an ordinary lie.

Once the long-haired guy from the second floor comes back home with his eyebrow ridge broken and his eye closed due to a blow received because he held his girlfriend’s hand while walking in town, “We did not know” will sound as exactly what it is: an ordinary lie.

Once the girl with whom half of the children in the neighborhood are in love returns [home] in tears and beaten up because she left the house in a top that does not cover her bellybutton, “We did not know” will sound as exactly what it is: an ordinary lie.

The thesis of the piece is (and this is its strapline, too) that “Bosnians’ indifference to last month’s attacks on Gay Pride attendees could come back to haunt them.”

We all need to take care. One is reminded of that poem attributed to Pastor Martin Niemöller, “First they came . . .”. There are variations on the verse. Here is one of them:

They came first for the Communists, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn’t speak up because I was a Protestant.

Then they came for me, and by that time no one was left to speak up.