What if they fought a war and nobody came?

—Slogan from the 1960s

In protest of the Vietnam War, this poem by German poet, playwright, and theater director, Bertolt Brecht(10 February 1898—14 August 1956) was written in the 1930s.

What if they gave a war and nobody came?
Why, then, the war would come to you!
He who stays home when the fight begins
and lets another fight for his cause
should take care:
He who does not take part
in the battle will share in the defeat.
Even avoiding battle will not avoid battle.
Since not to fight for your own cause
really means
Fighting on behalf of your enemy's cause.

[caption id="attachment_11282" align="alignleft" width="225"] Bertolt Brecht[/caption]

Jonathan Harnisch