Intolerance

Recently there have been frequent news reports of anti-Semitism and much talk about racial matters. It's a disturbing trend and the following quote might encourage us to overcome our prejudices and practice tolerance.

"We have been silent witnesses of evil deeds; we have been drenched by many storms; we have learned the arts of equivocation and pretense; experience has made us suspicious of others and kept us from being truthful and open; intolerable conflicts have worn us down and even made us cynical."

The above quote is from writings of Dietrich Bonheoffer, a theologian. As a minister, he was a dedicated anti-Nazi and participant in a plot to kill Hitler. He was executed along with Admiral Canarsis, General Hans Oster, General Karl Sack, General Friedrich Von Raleau, businessman Theodor Strunck, resistance fighter Ludwig Gehre and his brother, Klaus Bonheoffer at Flossenburg concentration camp while Soviet troops were in the vicinity.

Two weeks later, on April 23, 1945 the allies marched into Flossenburg. On April 30,1945, Hitler committed suicide by taking a cyanide capsule, then shooting himself.