On Not Being Nice in Times of Violence
Police presence at Prenzlauer Berg synagogue in Berlin After this past week, I'm sure many of you, like me, are reeling, first from the news of pipe bombs that were sent to some of our nation's most prominent political leaders, secondly by the cowardly, despicable and apparently racially motivated shooting of two elderly citizens at a Kroger grocery store in my home town, Louisville, KY, and finally by the horrific mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. My heart has been sighing in my prayers and meditations for the victims of these attacks and attempted attacks. I also have been reflecting on these trends and thought I'd share briefly from my experience. When I lived in Berlin (1992-1997), I lived for two years in the far eastern suburb of Berlin Marzahn , and then three years in the East Berlin squatting and arts district, Prenzlauer Berg. Throughout my time in Berlin, there were tensions between right wing nationalists and outsiders, leftis...