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I think some members of our profession need to be reminded of Pastor
Martin Niemöller's comments about the failure to speak up before and
during WWII:
First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.
Then 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 me
and there was no one left
to speak out for me.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests:
No competing interests
28 September 2004
Richard G Fiddian-Green
FRCS, FACS
c/o Herhold, Maitland and Co, 44 Dover Street, London W1
During the flooding in Dhaka, we watched Cornelius Ryan's WWII "A
Bridge Too Far" in the film format. Such a graphic reminder of the
foolish courage and mindless delays that resulted in enormous loss of
life. The townspeople of Arnheim are right to recognize the physician who
responded to human need and lost his life by serving wounded soldiers.
War is the biggest, preventable public health disaster!
Sadly, we witness this again in Iraq. But we must salute the
citizens of these war-wracked countries who continue to serve the medical
needs and comfort one another despite the costs. Thank you for this
timely memorial article.
On the importance of not suppressing the truth during adversity
I think some members of our profession need to be reminded of Pastor
Martin Niemöller's comments about the failure to speak up before and
during WWII:
First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.
Then 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 me
and there was no one left
to speak out for me.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests