Sir: The scenes of civilians, particularly small children, fleeing the fighting in North Waziristan are heartbreaking. Against this misery, the Chief Minister Balochistan deserves considerable credit for welcoming the internally displaced persons in the province. Politicians from other localities deserve brickbats for openly declaring that the IDPs are not welcome there. Why do we lack the ability to put ourselves in the shoes of the less fortunate? Unfortunately, the majority of our leaders, oblivious to what the future will bring, prefer to turn their eyes away from reality and instead pander to the worst prejudices of the public. The time for anyone decent to speak up is now. As Martin Niemoller said after his release from a German concentration camp after World War II: 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. Saad Gul Virginia, USA