Comments on: Welcome Home, Melissa and Happy Birthday!

By: Jen

Jen — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 15:20:14 +0000

Dana, thanks for the input on the asylum question. I guess the heart of my question is -is there a need, whether it’s official “asylum” or not, for people to be taking in these families who are trying to get out of Germany. The logistics of coming all the way over to the U.S. I think would deter most, and certainly they would want to be closer to home in the hopes of a change in the law and to be near family.

Mama Squirrel - I appreciate your kind words!

Lynn - Thanks for coming by. I agree, the extent to which a country will go to guarantee complete uniformity with the the state is frightening.

Heidi - Excellent insight. The most sinister part of this whole thing is, as you said, the majority of people are unwilling to “buck the status quo” — too timid, too uncaring for the sufferings of their fellow man, too mindlessly trusting of their government.

By: Heidi

Heidi — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 16:24:21 +0000

When change comes slowly and with the veneer of “good for (insert cause close to emotional investment)” it is truly terrifying to see the freedoms individuals will give up. Once the freedoms are gone, then those who are unwilling to buck the status quo maintain the new normal.

Germany is a complicated and complex environment. We Americans have short memories. Europeans do not. We think in terms of decades, they in terms of centuries. Don’t underestimate the impact WWII and Hitler is still having on the government, the hearts of the people and the motivation to eliminate anything which would appear “different” from civilized and normal society.

At least that’s what I think.

By: Lynn

Lynn — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 15:29:20 +0000

I’m glad you wrote about this. I had not heard that she had returned to her family. It is scary the extent that country will go to.

By: Mama Squirrel

Mama Squirrel — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 12:34:18 +0000

Once again you have put this together in a way that does more than just give the facts–thank you, linking.

By: Dana

Dana — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 20:49:33 +0000

I doubt they would be granted asylum, but that does not mean they cannot legally immigrate, or take up residence. It is much easier to move around in Europe (almost like moving from one state to another.)

Although there were two young men who had been granted political asylum from the US in Germany while I was there.