No One Left

They ruined Kabul

They killed innocent families

We weren’t Afghans

We said nothing

They killed “Neda”

On the streets of Tehran

You weren’t Iranian,

You said nothing

They damaged Baghdad

Filled the Euphrates with human parts

We weren’t Arab,

We said nothing

They filled Tripoli with blood

They showed us gruesome human killings

We weren’t Libyan

We said nothing

They lied to us everyday

In a form educated and calculated

We were too busy making a living

We said nothing

They gave our homes to the banks

They gave our food money

To bail out the corporations

We said nothing

They sold the future of our kids,

Spent their college money to build big empires

We stayed quiet and fearful

We said nothing

And the 1% was happy of our silence

But today we’re aware and brave

The green garden ahead is waiting for us.

Mahnaz Badihian 2012

-----------

In Germany they came first for the communists, and I did not speak up because I was not a communist.

Then they came for the trade unions, and I did not speak up because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews and I did not speak up because I was not a Jew;

And when they came for me…by that time there was no one left to speak up

--Martin Niemöller