After World War II, the German pastor Martin Niemoller wrote a poem to reflect how Germany descended into darkness during the 1930s. One version begins, “First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out,” and ends with “Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.”
Instead of protecting and defending the Constitution of the United States, which he swore to do, Donald Trump is attacking our Constitution one amendment at a time. First he came for the First Amendment by attacking the press, and Republicans did not speak out. Then he came for the 14th Amendment, with the goal of ending birthright citizenship, and Republicans will not speak out for long. Which amendment will be next—the 22d, setting term limits?
We must blunt Trump’s attacks on our Constitution, by voting Tuesday for Democratic representatives and senators who will defend it. Should we fail to do so, then a future poet may write a poem about how America lost its Constitution one amendment at a time until none were left.
Robert Banta
Andover
