Talkin' about the F-word (Redux)

[Dear Readers: This article was first published in December of 2001, in the wake of 9/11, when the grim outlines of police-state-like tactics were first starting to appear on the American horizon. It might be useful to compare and contrast—whoops, it turns out there isn't much to contrast—between then and now. Doing so may help us understand the forces we're facing and how to respond as Bush&Co. continue their move toward a more militarist society. At appropriate points, I've added [[in italics inside double brackets]] some observations from our contemporary situation. Reading the article this way might serve as a reminder that those of us warning then of the due-process dangers ahead faced epithets like "paranoid" and "conspiracists"—much like those today who are connecting the dots that take us from Bush&Co.'s pre-9/11 knowledge and the administration's manipulation of a frightened Congress and citizenry that have followed.—BW, July 4, 2002]

First, they came for the terrorists, and I didn't speak up, because I wasn't a terrorist.
Then they came for the foreigners, and I didn't speak up, because I wasn't a foreigner.
Then they came for the Arab-Americans, and I didn't speak up, because I wasn't Arab-American.
Then they came for the radical dissenters, and I didn't speak up, because I was just an ordinary troubled citizen.
Then they came for me, and by that time there was no one left to speak up for me.
—Adapted from Pastor Niemoller's 1945 quote about the Nazis