Then and Now

Then and Now
History Repeats Itself—Two Out of Three Times

George Santayana is one of my mentors. He could condense a couple of paragraphs into a one-liner. This article employs one of his one-liners. “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

Two people who prove Santayana’s mindset are Martin Niemöller and Charles Colson. Niemöller was a German Lutheran theologian and pastor in his later years. However, he started his career during WWI as a German U-boat officer. He received the Iron Cross due to his bravery during the war.

Martin Niemöller

Niemöller came from a very conservative family, and he continued that mindset. Between the two wars, he voted for and supported Hitler. In 1933, he wrote From U-Boat to Pulpit. Nonetheless, by 1934, he had linked up with other Protestant theologians and pastors, such as Karl Barth and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who opposed Hitler.

Niemöller wrote a poetic confession on behalf of the German people due to Hitler and WWII.

First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a socialist.

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 for me.

In America, Charles Colson was Nixon’s White House Counsel during the Watergate times. Colson paralleled Niemöller.

Tricky Dick and Colson

Colson was a diehard regarding his boss, Nixon. This true believer said, “I'd walk over my own grandmother to re-elect Richard Nixon.” Colson worked as Nixon’s hatchet man from 1969-1973. In 1974, due to his felony conviction, Colson spent time in a federal prison. Interestingly, he saw the light in prison and had a conversion experience.

The following year after his release, Mike Wallace interviewed Colson and didn’t buy his conversion. While I’m not into those types of moments, I wrote Colson a letter and stated he changed his life for the better. Colson spent the rest of his life visiting prisons and talking to the inmates. This is Colson’s reply to my letter.

Niemöller and Colson became radically different people than they were at the beginning of their adult lives. In tribute to both of them, I have written my 2025 version of Niemöller’s confession to America.

First our Orange President came after the Muslims, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Muslim.

Then our Orange President came after the poor, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not poor.

Then our Orange President came after the minorities, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a minority.

Then our Orange President came after women and birth control, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a woman.

Then our Orange President came after wounded veterans, and I did not speak out about his bone spur, which kept him out of Vietnam.

Then the Orange President came after me--and no one was left to speak for me.

This video is from some medical school discussing bone spurs.