First they came…

Rereading Niemöller’s famous saying “First they came…” makes me reflect on the current mindset of my fellow Chinese citizens.

First they executed millions of landlords,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a landlord.

Then they purged 550,000 rightists,
 and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a rightist.

Then their radical policy starved 38 million fellow Chinese to death,
 and I didn’t speak out because I was not starved.

Then they persecuted millions of bourgeois “monsters”,
and I didn’t speak out because I did not belong to the bourgeoisie.

Then they massacred citizens crying for a clean government and democracy,
and I didn’t speak out because I did not take part in the greatest patriotic movement.

Then they abused petitioners,
and I didn’t speak out because I did not have anything to petition for.

Then they arrested civil rights activists,
and I didn’t speak out because I was not an activist.

Then they finally came to me
and there was no one left to speak out for me.

当他们让数百万地主人头落地的时候，
我保持沉默；
我不是地主。

当他们让打击五十五万右派分子的时候，
我保持沉默；
我不是右派。

当他们荒唐的政策饿死三千八百万同胞的时候，
我保持沉默；
我没有挨饿。

当他们残酷迫害几百万资产阶级“牛鬼蛇神“的时候，
我保持沉默；
我不是资产阶级。

当他们血腥镇压要求廉政和民主的公民的时候，
我保持沉默；
我没有参加那场最伟大的爱国运动。

当他们打压有冤无处申的访民的时候，
我保持沉默；
我无冤可申。

当他们监禁维权勇士的时候，
我保持沉默；
我不参与维权。

当他们来抓我的时候，
已经没有人能替我说话了。