Today has been another mind stretching day in Berlin. We first went to the memorial to European Jews killed in WWII. It expanded our knowledge of the holocaust. We learned that the Nazis first tried gas poisoning on handicapped people. (As foster parents to a handicapped child that didn't go down well) We learned more about the types of groupings killed in various ways. Trucks with exhaust fumes running into a sealed back compartment were used to kill and transport people all in one efficient operation. There were photos of women stripped, lying in pits with Nazi soldiers shooting them one at a time. We learned about families and individuals who were murdered. 5.5-6 million people!
Further down the road there was a bunker looking concrete edifice with a slot in it. A plaque outside told of the persecution of homosexual people during the Nazi regime and in other periods of time in Germany. This is a memorial. If you go up to the slot in the wall you will see a moving picture of a homosexual couple sharing a kiss. It is a bit of a challenge and a reminder of prejudice.
We of course learned more about "the wall" and the disruption of German life, the suffering and troubles brought about by the communist regime.
At the Brandenburg gate we learned about the struggle for democratic rights and all the trials and triumphs of the people back into its history, and how this gate has come to be a reminder of so much that we in NZ take for granted.
On our way home at another spot discovered by accident, we learned of unrest by workers in the 1950s and the cost involved to strikers and protestors as the unrest was quelled by force.
All these learnings has me asking questions and feeling challenged.
Where were the responsible people?
As I went through the Holocaust memorial I had to think about how I would feel if I was a German. There were German people all around me. How were they thinking when the script said, ".. the German military transported etc. ... murdered... killed..."? I could feel smugly righteous and angry at the bad guys, but this was a sad part of their history. The thing that got to me was that Hitler and his mates did not seize power by force, they were voted in and some how retained in power! How were they given the power they had? How were there not enough thinking responsible German people willing to stop what was happening? Now I understand that Hitler was not the only racist around at that time. Good people in NZ also had more racist tendencies than nowadays, so I don't think Hitler had as difficult a time convincing people as he would today.... but where were the good people? How did the "nasties" get and keep so much power? It was essentially a Christian, democratic and civilised country? Was it that for too long the good people were apathetic or not involved so things got way out of balance. Was it like a frog in water getting hot? I haven't tried cooking one, but apparently a frog will just enjoy the warmth till its too late to jump out. Were the good people so unquestioning that they had become a racist nasty society without noticing it?
Keep Alert...
So I say to you my readers... watch who you vote in! Keep an eye on how much power they give themselves. Be prepared to challenge and question. Your country ... your world needs alert, questioning, thinking people.
Be politically aware..
One of the things I hear people say is "I'm not political". There are many who do not care too much about what happens, provided it does not disturb them too much. Mr Key (or who ever is in power) is basically trusted to "do the right thing" and we do not take the time to think deeply about directions in our society. In this part of the world (Europe) they have had to struggle to get the rights that we take for granted. In this part of the world (and in other parts of the world) the bad guys have been in power and their decisions have brought untold suffering. It is important that we participate in our democratic system and that we be aware of the issues.
Think long term and broadly...
As I have encountered the history of these countries, I can see that so many of the difficulties evolved from decisions made about the peace processes after WWII, and even actions of people around WWI. In an interview I watched on CNN last night, film Director Oliver Stone warned that Governments need to think long term... to hold in mind long term consequences, not just quick fix responses. So we as voters and citizens need to think long term. How does this issue impact on the nature of our society in the long term? What do decisions about education do, long term for the nature of the community we live in? How do funding cuts in Mental health impact our society long term, and from a broad perspective? Do we save money in one part, but create a greater cost elsewhere? One of the difficulties we have in NZ is that Governments are in power for 3 years. This does not encourage long term thinking. Having said that, the M.M.P system of Government does help bring about more long term thinking as smaller parties with particular focus can keep whatever big party more honest.
Have Principles and values you hold dear.
One of the troubles I think we have is that very often we just drift through life. We do what is expected of us and don't think deeply about what is important. We earn a crust. We find a mate. We may raise a family. We look after our family. We look after ourselves. We die. We can do this all "on auto-pilot" because that's what's expected. But it is important that somewhere we ask the deeper questions. What do we believe about life? What meaning is there? What is truly of value? These are deeper questions... spiritual... though not necessarily religious. When we think deeply, and go to the trouble of keeping alive this deeper part of us (because it is not a once and for all process... it's a journey) we will then find that we want to be aware, involved and alert. We will feel the injustices and want to make this world a better place.
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