First they came... is a well-known, powerful poem attributed to Pastor Martin Niemöller (1892-1984) about the silence of German intellectuals following the Nazi rise to power and the systematic elimination of their chosen enemies, group by group.
It is impossible not to notice the parallels today, so here's my take.
First they came: 1946 and 2006.
When the Nazis came, 1946 version
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.
Pastor Martin Niemöller, 1946
When the Decider came, 2006 version
First they came for the enemy combatants,
and I did not speak out;
For I was not a enemy combatant.
Then they secretly locked up
the detainees; when they spirited them away
in order to be tortured
in countries they had criticized for torturing
I remained silent;
Because I was not a detainee.
When they legalized torture,
I did not speak out;
I was told it would ensure my re-election to be silent
Besides, I was not a detainee;
They tortured the dissenters
and locked them up indefinitely in my name.
And in yours.
I was a congressman.
And when they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out.