"First they came 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 there was no one left to speak up." -- Pastor Martin Niemoeller, Nazi victim

First they attacked the Olympics in Munich, Germany, killed 2 athletes, and took hostages and a helicopter. Police snipers shot the terrorists but didn't kill them. One of the terrorists threw a hand grenade into the helicopter and killed all the hostages and I didn't speak up because I wasn't an Israeli.

Then they invaded the US embassy in Tehran and took 52 US citizens hostage, and I didn't speak up because the Shah was, after all, a real bastard and I had voted for Jimmy Carter.

Then 6 Islamic terrorists seized the Iranian embassy in London. They announced that they would kill a hostage every half hour, and they did but I didn't speak up because the hostages weren't anyone I knew.

Then Shiite suicide bombers from the Hizballah organization, with the support of the government of Iran, bombed barracks in Beirut, Lebanon where US Marines and French paratroopers were housed. 299 were killed, including 241 US Marines and I didn't speak up because, ever since Vietnam I wasn't very keen on the U.S. military anyway.

Then the Taliban government of Afghanistan arrested 24 international humanitarian aid workers in Kabul. Incarcerated were 16 citizens of Afghanistan, 4 from Germany, 2 from the US and 2 from Australia. Several were members of Shelter Now International (SNI). Several were accused of trying to propagate Christianity, punishable by long terms or execution and I didn't speak up because I was pretty damn ripped on some killer Afghani opium.

Then, on September 11, 2001 they came for me - and by that time, it was all I could do to make a few quick calls on my cell phone.