angboy
Member
Two days ago I posted asking people to support a petition about something that happened to my SO. One person replied that they signed it, and to that person I say a big thanks. I was talking with Tom about how hard it seems to be to get people to act. Between my FB friends and people on this board alone, I should be able to garner hundreds of signatures. Yet I can't. I know I haven't been as active on the IAP boards nearly as much in the last few years as I was 5 years or so ago, so maybe it's because I don't have as much of a personal connection to the community as I used to. I admit, a lot of the names are people I don't recognize now, and 4-5 years ago, I felt like everyone on here was someone I knew personally. But I think people can see from the number of posts I've made that I am a known entity and have established myself here, and that's why I thought I could turn to this community to get some help. I see some posts where people ask for support and the thread runs to pages and pages. So what can I do to get such support? Tom shared a quote with me when he and I were discussing it:
First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Communist.
Then they 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.
I think that what happened to Tom is something that should scare everyone, because if precedents like this are allowed to happen, then what will happen when you or a loved one is at work one day and is the victim of tomorrow? You can sign the petition and not even have your name displayed on the internet, yet it seems that people either aren't willing to take the few minutes it would take to read it, or read it and aren't willing to add their signature, even in that behind the scenes way. So to those of you who did sign it, my deepest thanks, and I'll be happy to stand with you when you need support, but to those who weren't willing to, I encourage you to read the quote above and think what will happen if you end up standing alone? If you find yourself a victim of something heinous, and are the lone voice trying to effect change, because no one will take the time to speak up for you, how are you going to feel?
Here is the link again, I really, really encourage people to sign this and share it with your friends and family as well:
http://chn.ge/11PnJjX
First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Communist.
Then they 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.
I think that what happened to Tom is something that should scare everyone, because if precedents like this are allowed to happen, then what will happen when you or a loved one is at work one day and is the victim of tomorrow? You can sign the petition and not even have your name displayed on the internet, yet it seems that people either aren't willing to take the few minutes it would take to read it, or read it and aren't willing to add their signature, even in that behind the scenes way. So to those of you who did sign it, my deepest thanks, and I'll be happy to stand with you when you need support, but to those who weren't willing to, I encourage you to read the quote above and think what will happen if you end up standing alone? If you find yourself a victim of something heinous, and are the lone voice trying to effect change, because no one will take the time to speak up for you, how are you going to feel?
Here is the link again, I really, really encourage people to sign this and share it with your friends and family as well:
http://chn.ge/11PnJjX
