Certificate of Generousness

Upon the purchase of this work, titled “Silence = Dealth” by Karen Atkinson, (1992) I, _______________________________,agree upon the following terms.

1.     I will display this work in a prominent place wehre there will be foot traffic or visitors that will have access to this piece.

2.     I will continue to donate the money generated from this work as long as I own this piece, to a non profit organization of my choice.

3.     If I ever choose to sell this work, a contract will be drawn that ensures that this work will function in it’s present form as long as the work shall exist.

4.     If at any time I cannot continue with the terms of this contract, the work will be returned to the artist, who will then make arrangement for this work to continue to collect funds.

_____________________________________________

Signed, the Buyer

_____________________________________________

Signed, the Artist

Silence = Death

SILENCE = DEATH METER TEXT, READ BY KAREN ATKINSON

In Germany they came first for the communists, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a communist.

Then they came for the Jews, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Catholics, And I didn’t speak up because I was a Protestant.

Then they came for me, And by that time, no one was left to speak up.

When they didn’t allow women to vote, I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a woman.

When they told me I could get AIDS, I didn’t worry, because I didn’t think a woman could get it.

When they wanted to move the homeless out of my city, I didn’t speak up, because I had a place to live.

And when they came for me, No one was left to speak up.

When they said blacks didn’t deserve to be treated the same as whites, I didn’t speak up, because I was white.

When the Japanese gift shop burned down, I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t Japanese.

When a woman in a wheelchair couldn’t use the bus, I didn’t speak up because it didn’t affect me.

When my boss bragged about beating up on his wife, to keep her in line, I didn’t speak up, because I’m a man.

When I was told that my next door neighbor was abusing his children, I didn’t speak up, because he seemed like such a nice man.

When my friend told me she’d been raped, I didn’t speak up because it could never happen to me.

When Anita Hill was being interrogated by the all white, all male panel for the supreme court hearings, I didn’t speak up, because I couldn’t be sure that she was telling the truth.

And when they came for me, No one was left to speak up.

When they came for the demonstrators for pro choice, I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t pregnant.

When they came for those who wanted freedom of expression, I didn’t speak up because I didn’t have anything to say.

When they came after all the people with AIDS, I didn’t speak up because I hadn’t been tested.

When the police pulled over a black man for no reason, while he was driving his car, I didn’t speak up, because it was none of my business.

When they rounded up all the Latinos in my neighborhood for questioning, I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t Latino.

And when they came for me,,No one was left to speak up.

When they came after all the gay rights activists, I didn’t speak up because I was straight.

When they decided to raise the taxes on the poor, I didn’t speak up, because I had enough money.

When they voted against unemployment benefits, I didn’t speak up,  because I had a job.

When my community arts organization lost all it’s funding, because a project they funded insulted city officials, I didn’t speak up, because I never went there.

When the elderly woman next door got evicted, because her social insurance check got lost, I didn’t speak up, because I didn’t know her.

And when they came for me, No one was left to speak up.

When the news media exploited the LA riots for a ratings race, I didn’t speak up, because I always believe the news.

When my favorite TV program exploited women and stereotyped blacks, I didn’t speak up, because I didn’t see anything wrong with a good joke.

When Jesse Helms said he doesn’t think any govt. should be funding art, I didn’t speak up, because I never got those grants anyway.

When President Bush created the war, I didn’t speak up, because I didn’t know what was going on in politics anyway.

When my rent got doubled because the developer wanted to tear down my apartment, I didn’t speak up, because I didn’t think I had a chance.

When the artist got arrested for displaying, “quote/unquote” explicit material, I didn’t speak up, because I just figured it would turn out all right anyway,

And when they came for me, No one was left to speak up.