‘And there was no one left to speak for me'

Imagine if when nazi thugs came to remove people from their homes the neighbours had said, no you can’t do that, what would have happened?

What if the loco drivers refused to drive the trains to the death camps, what would have happened?

Across Berlin and other German cities there are commemorative stones or Stumbling Stones  -Stolpersteine - to commemorate those who were taken from nearby houses.

Imagine if large crowds came out on to the streets across Russian cities in protest against Putin, what would be the outcome?

But it seems most people stay with the status quo, whatever the group or organisation, whether it be civil or ecclesial society.

It’s worth recalling Pastor Martin Niemöller’s lines:

First 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 for me.