Apathy

When the Nazis came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.

When they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.

When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.

When they came for the Jews,
I remained silent;
I was not a Jew.

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

by Friedrich Gustav Emil Martin Niemöller

I guess people who have read this poem must have been so touched. Because people have conscience, we mourn for the lost of lives and the lost of humanity. However, what I am confused is how the murdered turns into the murderer? I thought if you've suffered, if you were tortured and tormented, you would understand better what is misery and you would cherish lives and the rights to live more, not only for yourself but for human beings as a whole. I just don't understand why you murder hundreds of people every week and claim yourself as innocent and self-protecting at the same time. I don't see the point. And what makes me so sad and sometimes desperate is how good people are at justifying themselves when they feel the need to. There seems to be nothing wrong with justifying oneself. However, it is a big mistake if you justify murdering.

Apathy. I think this is what the poem wants to convey. Don't be apathetic. If you don't stand up for humanity and the right to live, who's going to stand up for you when you suffer? This is totally not utilitarianism, this is a principle of being a decent person. I don't know if there's any specific way to help people who are suffering, for example, the Palestanian who lives in Gaza and is attacked everyday. However, you can find information on internet so easily. Watch some films about the situation, read some news articles, maybe you would come up with your own affordable way to help them.

We always want to have a happy life. Sometimes we are even greedy, we want to have fun all the time. I'm not saying that people don't deserve a happy life. What I'm saying is, everyone deserves a happy life as you do. You can help people to gain a happier life, you will find the way. Don't look down on yourself. Get up and do something. You know you can and you want to!