Dictionary Stories 2010-02-03

Gab

"Gab, the gift of the gab he's got," Granddad said.
"Surely nobody will listen to that moron," I said.
Granddad smiled. I think he appreciated my naivety. He know the power some people could command. They could say the most stupid things any yet somehow they were believed. We continued to watch the speech. The scary thing was a lot of what he said made sense but his solutions, we know, would be bad. If that small man on the television screen was elected he would slowly close the noose around anyone he didn't like. Granddad had been an historical professor and knew the methods that would be employed. Once the program was over he sat me down and spoke with great severity.
"Listen. If he is elected he will come for us, his people will, but not all at once. Speak out before his attention is turned to you. If you do not then by the time he has their will be no one left to speak for anyone."
"I understand," I told him.
I'm not sure I really understood but on searching the web I found I quote. I think it was to what granddad had alluded.

First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak out. *


* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_they_came...