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
As I work to pick myself up off the floor and embrace the realities of our American Democracy, I find that with every few steps I take down the challenging but necessary road of acceptance, these words are lurking behind every corner that I turn, making me question my every outlook.