@Came4Splash’s username, “First They Came For Splash And I Said Nothing,” references the 1946 post-war poem “First They Came” by Martin Niemöller, a German Lutheran pastor. Initially an antisemitic Nazi supporter, the pastor changed his mind after being imprisoned in a concentration camp. Niemöller wrote the poem as a commentary on intellectual and clergy silence – including his own – during the rise of the Nazis and subsequent killings throughout The Holocaust.
On Wednesday, @Came4Splash wrote a Tweet referencing President Joe Biden forgiving between $10,000-20,000 of student loan debt for Americans that make under $125,000. Little did they know the Tweet would become a meme in the Disney Parks fan Twitter community:
OK SO WE ARE GOING TO FORGIVE STUDENT LOAN DEBT WHICH THEY AGREED TO PAYING BUT WE DONT GET TO KEEP SPLASH MOUNTAIN WHICH I DID NOT CONSENT TO BEING REMOVED!!!! #studentloanforgiveness#savesplash
OK SO WE ARE GOING TO FORGIVE STUDENT LOAN DEBT WHICH THEY AGREED TO PAYING BUT WE DONT GET TO KEEP SPLASH MOUNTAIN WHICH I DID NOT CONSENT TO BEING REMOVED!!!! #studentloanforgiveness#savesplash
— First They Came For Splash And I Said Nothing (@Came4Splash) August 24, 2022
For many, this was the first exposure to the account since its creation in June, and people naturally took issue with its reference to not only student loans but The Holocaust.
A screenshot of the Tweet from @itzybitzyminnie gained hundreds of interactions, far more than the original from @Came4Splash. Dozens of fans turned it into a copypasta – they copied the text, changed it slightly to reference something else, and Tweeted it themselves to make fun of it. Here’s an example from @GlitterNGloom41:
OK SO WE ARE GOING TO FORGIVE STUDENT LOAN DEBT WHICH THEY AGREED TO PAYING BUT WE DONT GET TO KEEP THE GREAT MOVIE RIDE WHICH I DID NOT CONSENT TO BEING REMOVED!!!!
OK SO WE ARE GOING TO FORGIVE STUDENT LOAN DEBT WHICH THEY AGREED TO PAYING BUT WE DONT GET TO KEEP THE GREAT MOVIE RIDE WHICH I DID NOT CONSENT TO BEING REMOVED!!!! https://t.co/daAViVEJzp
So you want to mock those who want to save a beloved ride that celebrates black excellence but you can’t even be bothered to quote tweet because you don’t want them to know you are indeed on the wrong side of history 🤔
So you want to mock those who want to save a beloved ride that celebrates black excellence but you can't even be bothered to quote tweet because you don't want them to know you are indeed on the wrong side of history 🤔
— First They Came For Splash And I Said Nothing (@Came4Splash) August 25, 2022
@Came4Splash’s reference to student loan debt forgiveness is not their first political comparison. They’ve called Splash Mountain “Mask Mountain” and “Pronoun Mountain,” and parodied the struggle for trans rights and the Black Lives Matter movement. In June, they referenced Roe v. Wade being overturned – a significant blow to abortion rights:
What Happened to a Woman’s Right to Choose to watch Song of the South?
What Happened to a Woman's Right to Choose to watch Song of the South?
— First They Came For Splash And I Said Nothing (@Came4Splash) June 28, 2022
We must note that we cannot confirm if @Came4Splash is satirical. A deep dive into all of the account’s Tweets, following, and followers suggests authenticity, as it only follows other Splash Mountain fans and maintains passionate about preserving the ride. However, many have suggested the account is deep satire meant to mock the accounts it associates with.
Drop into a whimsical world filled with classic characters and songs on this thrilling log-flume adventure.
A Hare-Raising Ride
Gently drift through a colorful Southern bayou along with happy-go-lucky Br’er Rabbit as he looks for his “laughing place.” But be warned: Br’er Bear and Br’er Fox are in hot pursuit of this wayward hare.
Glide by over 100 adorable Audio-Animatronics geese, frogs, raccoons, possums, bees, alligators and other down-home critters as they sing classic Disney ditties, including “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah” and “Ev’rybody’s Got a Laughing Place.”
Credit: Disney
Then hang on to your hats—this delightful musical cruise ends in an exciting 5-story splashdown into a thorny Briar Patch!
You Will Get Wet
This attraction includes 950,000 gallons of water, 3 dips and a 5-story drop. Where you’re seated will determine how wet you’ll get. Riders in the back may experience a sudden splash or spray; those who opt for the front can expect to get soaked.
Are you excited for Splash Mountain to reopen as Tiana’s Bayou Adventure?
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