> one must in the interest of humanity seek to understand exactly how that transition happened.

I suspect Martin-Niemöller had some insight into how this happened:

First they came for the communists, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.

Then they came for the socialists, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak for me.

Thanks for this. On a related note, be slightly careful when chopping onions or crossing the street. Be moderately careful when trying to do both at the same time. Be extremely careful if your knife is dull, you wear contact lenses, there is oncoming traffic, and you are jaywalking.