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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsChristoph von Dohnanyi - Former Music Director Cleveland Orchestra - Rails Against Trumpism
PRINCIPIIS OBSTA RESIST THE BEGINNINGS
6th February, 2017
Four men in my family were executed by the Nazis. Hans von Dohnanyi, my father, honored in Yad Vashem, was killed in the Nazi concentration camp Sachsenhausen short before the Second World War ended. At the same time the world-renowned theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, brother of my mother, my godfather, was executed in the concentration camp Flossenbürg. In 1930 Bonhoeffer began his studies in New York City at the Union Theological Seminary and learned to love and admire the United States of America.
I know today he would be extremely unhappy observing a tendency of religious intolerance in the country he once admired so much for its freedom and acceptance. He never could have imagined that this strong, great nation would find itself in the political and ethical crisis it now faces. A nations heart may race when it feels threatened, fearful, or even terrified. But this heart, no matter how devout, should never tolerate walls nor turn away those seeking help. People died at the Berlin Wall. Many people died in Hitlers concentration camps for their unwavering beliefs in the value of their ethics and in their fellow man. These beliefs are now endangered in many Western nations including, sadly enough, the USA. This is unimaginable.
Also unimaginable, for instance: I should have a U.S. visa and move through passport control without incident. Next to me another musician would have the same kind of visa. He would be detained because he is a Muslim from Iran. He would be sent back after hours of interrogation. But Christians would be excepted from these new regulations. (By the way, Bonhoeffer a fervent and prominent supporter of ecumenical Christianity would have strongly opposed that.) Rising walls will unfortunately keep many talented, well educated and good people away from travelling to the U.S. this might be sad. But by far more relevant remains the question, whether walls will make anybody safer. We all know, fear and aggression produce nothing but fear and aggression.
- See more at: http://slippedisc.com/2017/02/just-in-christoph-von-dohnanyi-warns-against-the-new-us-intolerance/#sthash.i8tV8rRo.0NvGeQDH.dpufhttp://slippedisc.com/2017/02/just-in-christoph-von-dohnanyi-warns-against-the-new-us-intolerance/
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Christoph von Dohnanyi - Former Music Director Cleveland Orchestra - Rails Against Trumpism (Original Post)
stopbush
Feb 2017
OP
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,297 posts)2. A brilliant man, and not just musically!
Thank you, sir, for your incisive and illuminating remarks.
We live in dangerous and scary times. You help us see the path forward.
gratuitous
(82,849 posts)3. I saw the name Dohnanyi and wondered
Yup, related to Hans. This is a man whose family knows from out-of-control autocrats.
longship
(40,416 posts)4. I have been a fan for decades!
The Cleveland Orchestra has a long line of wonderful music directors. Off the top of my head, George Szell comes to mind. Also, von Dohnanyi!
R&
The artists may save us all!
Cha
(295,899 posts)5. Thank you for this, stopbush!