Apologies, as I digress a bit from the theme of this blog. With the election coming up tomorrow, I can’t help but be more reflective of current events especially in light of the places we visited the last couple of days.
We went to Berlin this weekend and saw what was left standing of the Berlin Wall, which is built over the ruins of what was the Gestapo and SS Headquarters from 1933-1945.
I really wasn’t prepared for how somber the visit would be. We first walked along the foundation of the Gestapo and SS Building, which runs parallel to and just under the section of the Wall that is standing.
It was a rather cold day, on the order of 6° C (43° F) but also beautiful and clear.
A certain heaviness weighted the air along that 200 meters of brick and mortar. Murderous men had done evil’s bidding right here, as recently as 71 years ago.
Trying to comprehend how humans can be so vile to each other is a dark pursuit.
As soon as we begin thinking that we are different from another human, that we are more deserving of basic human rights, we are only one degree away from turning into the same sort of people that would be complicit in these terrible events.
Remember, we were all once immigrants to this amazing country. When it comes down to it, we are all just skin and bones and electricity with hopes and dreams and the heart-wrenching need for our children to be safe.
Tomorrow is Election Day and I appeal to you all to vote for humanity.
Don’t vote out of fear that is so often the narrative that is thrust upon us. The natural result of fear is to act selfishly without regard to the well-beings of others.
Vote out of love for your fellow human beings. By raising up other people, you are in turn doing the same for yourself.