The Wit and Wisdom of Cornellians

The right of Big Red Bears to babble shall not be infringed

The Wit and Wisdom of Cornellians

The right of Big Red Bears to babble shall not be infringed

A Professor’s Lament

A Professor’s Lament

By anonymous

First they came for the Racists, but I was not a Racist so I did not speak out.

Then they came for the Homophobes and the Transphobes, but I was neither, so I did not speak out.

Then they came for the Ableists, but I was not an Ableist, so I did not speak out.

And when they came for me, there was no one left to speak out for me.

 

 

 

Note: Sibylle Sarah Niemöller von Sell, in response to a student’s question, “How could it happen?,” quoted her husband Martin, saying: “First they came for the Communists, but I was not a Communist so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Socialists and the Trade Unionists, but I was neither, so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Jews, but I was not a Jew, so I did not speak out. And when they came for me, there was no one left to speak out for me.”

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