In the Sunday blog post I was critical of Mike Lee's meltdown over military religious classifications:
https://preparedspork.blogspot.com/2026/06/an-example-of-believers.html
I spend most of my time on how it was a little late to be getting upset. There were so many terrible things that have happened to other people! Waiting until your pride has been hurt to care about something is not the best way to demonstrate your Christianity.
(Yes, I understand that definitions vary; that's what the rest of that post covered.)
I was more struck by it because of something similar from about two weeks ago.
Twitch streamer Hasan Piker received a subpoena from the federal government.
You may not be familiar with Piker; honestly, why should "Twitch streamer" be a thing that pertains to political influence?
You can also argue that he is not that influential. He believes he is and prominent leftists want his influence courted, but they are wrong a lot.
(A while back, a mutual had posted something defending "hasan" and I thought it showed bad judgment, but at the time I did not know that there were two: Hasan Piker and Mehdi Hasan. I am still not sure which one she meant, but I am still pretty sure it was bad judgment.)
Anyway, all that had happened was the subpoena being served, as well as to another person, apparently relating to a trip to Cuba.
The people currently in power are not above using that power for personal vendettas; there are legitimate reasons to be concerned. However, his reaction seemed disproportionate, especially given his tendency to make incendiary remarks. If you are constantly starting some, you should expect that every now and then there will be some, right?
Of course, he mainly attacks Democrats who tend to be law-abiding, but it would be wrong to just assume that is hypocritical cowardice.
Anyway, this started a slew of leftists (including him, if I recall) saying that we are literally at the start of the Niemoller poem.
Here's something I learned recently: it didn't start as a poem, and there would be different versions depending on the audience.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_They_Came
You can find versions that start with Socialists. It may hit harder if you are a DSA member, but it's not definitive. What's more, it is not even relevant because...
WE ARE NOT AT "FIRST"! WE ARE LONG PAST "FIRST"!
They have been coming for immigrants and scientists and park rangers and women and people who are not white!
In Nazi Germany they started with the disabled and people in asylums; remember Trump making fun of a reporter and announcing no more ASL interpretation? I realize there are worse things -- that is just a small point -- but...
YOU HAVE TO BE INCREDIBLY PRIVILEGED TO THINK THAT THEY HAVE SUDDENLY BECOME A PROBLEM!
Of course, the more privilege you have, the easier it is to be unaware of things that happen.
The more privileged you are, the more any criticism or discomfort feels like persecution.
It is one more territory shared by Trumpers and leftists.
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