Together Against Hate


No matter what post I read on Facebook, I always find disgusting, hateful comments in the reactions that violate netiquette. The hatred that is spewed out there scares me. Not because I would feel threatened myself, but because it shows how little respect people have for each other today. All kinds of extremists cavort in social media under the cloak of freedom of expression. In the anonymity of the media, it's easy to condemn, threaten and insult others. I would not like to meet such people in person, but I can hardly protect myself from their statements on the Internet. That doesn't have much to do with freedom of expression, because this kind of behavior violates human dignity, which according to our constitution is inviolable.

As Germans, we are generally very careful not to repeat our history. However, the number of anti-Semitic incidents is constantly increasing, and the government and politicians seem to have nothing to counter the trend. They console themselves with the fact that it is only a minority that behaves this way. Not only in Germany do we observe that reactionary and nationalistic parties are gaining ground. This development frightens many.

Holocaust survivor Margot Friedländer returned to Germany from America in 2010. Since then, she has been traveling around the country to talk to young people and, as one of the few surviving eyewitnesses, to tell them about the crimes of the Nazi regime. In an interview with Markus Lanz on Sept. 9, 2021, she said, "It's this hatred that doesn't recognize people as human beings. You can't love all people, but respect belongs to all people, no matter what color their skin is, what religion they have. What I always say is that there is no Jewish blood, no Christian blood, no Muslim blood. There is only human blood. We are all the same. We all come into this world the same. We are all just human beings." She wants to warn so that this never happens again.

When I was in Budapest I saw on the banks of the Danube the monument to the Jews who were shot there and thrown into the floods. I could hardly believe that people could do such a thing. The victims were forced to stand in line on the banks of the Danube. Then, at best, they were shot in the back of the head. The installation that has been there since April 2005, near the parliament, consists of shoes of men, women, and children that commemorate those who were murdered. We are always told that we should not judge a person if we have not walked in his moccasins for a month. Perhaps we would behave differently if we thought about what it was like to walk in those shoes on the banks of the Danube.

Pope Francis, during his visit to Budapest on Sept. 12, 2021, called Christians to unity, warned against anti-Semitism in Europe, and promoted fraternity and peace. "We must strive together to educate for fraternity so that the hatred that always arises and wants to destroy fraternity does not gain the upper hand. I am thinking of the threat of anti-Semitism that still festers in Europe and elsewhere," the pope said.

"Having you here, side by side," opened the Pope, is a “sign of great unity”. “As I look out at you, my brothers and fellow Christians, I bless your continuing journey towards full communion”, he continued. Addressing his “dear brothers in the faith of our father Abraham”, Pope Francis expressed “appreciation for your efforts to break down the walls that separated us in the past”.

He noted that Jews and Christians alike, “strive to view one another no longer as strangers but as friends, no longer as foes but as brothers and sisters”.  This is a change that is blessed by God, said the Pope, “a conversion that makes possible new beginnings, a purification that brings new life”.[1] 

Respecting and being kind to one another seems to be difficult for many in this world that is so divided. However, we should not give up but lead by a good example. I would like to believe that the majority of the population consists of decent, respectful people. At the same time, we must do everything we can to stop the dictatorship of hate. We can only do that together.

 


 Photo: H.Ottschofski

 


[1] https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-09/pope-francis-religious-leaders-budapest-unity-roots.html



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Passing of a Great Woman

It has been my privilege to be involved in Women's Ministries ever since the Department was (re)created in 1995/6. I have met many wonderful and devoted women who were trailblazers and developed a ministry that makes an impact in the Seventh-Day Adventist Church around the world. So many women's lives have been enriched, and empowered and so many have been reached out to. I have been inspired by every woman who has served as Director of this department and I am deeply thankful for their example, love, and friendship. It has always been a special joy to meet these women who have devoted their lives to mentoring and sharing their expertise, experience, and spiritual insights with their sisters around the world. Women's Ministries has become a veritable sisterhood to which every woman can belong. Last October I had the opportunity to attend the North American Division conference on Adventist Women's History in Washington, DC. It was so good to see one of our pioneers, Ar
Read more

We Have Messed Up the Earth

Image
Living in a temperate climate, I have been used to having cold winters and warm summers. We never thought we would need air conditioning. But things have changed. We are in the middle of climate change and scientists are saying that we have almost passed the point of no return. The last two summers were extremely dry and hot. This summer we are having a mixture of heat and thunderstorms causing vast amounts of rain, and flooding. Hail is clogging the sewers and destroying crops. Streets are transformed into fast-flowing rivers, houses are flooded and even collapsing. Rivers and lakes overflow their banks. Rescue services are working at capacity and still, we hear of people drowning or not being accounted for. I am shocked at the news reports of calamities from all over. Many have lost everything to the flood. Even in areas that are used to flooding, people say that they have never experienced anything like this. In other parts of the world, the problem is extreme heat. When polar regi
Read more

Adventist Women Missionaries

Image
 Women’s History Month 2024 As I was browsing through the Adventist Encyclopedia, looking for women to be presented during Women’s History Month 2024, concentrating on missionaries, I found many women who had accompanied their husbands to foreign lands. Most of these women were mentioned as being part of a missionary team, working together to bring the Advent message to the area they were sent to. Both, husband and wife, were important, and both gave their all to serve God and the church they loved. Many even gave their health and life in the process. I also found single women who pioneered in unentered areas, reaching out, particularly to the women in these countries who would otherwise not have been reached. They were intrepid women who showed courage and initiative in bringing the message of salvation to the people they served. Then there were the women whose efforts were listed first, although they had a husband because their work seemed to merit special mention, like Priscil
Read more