I've been reading...

The inextinguishable Symphony: A True Story of Music and Love in Nazi Germany by Martin Goldsmith. It's an interesting look into the personal lives of two young musicians and their fledgling romance preceding the outbreak of World War II. This Jewish couple find themselves in the Kulturbund deutscher Juden (Culture Association of German Jews) along with all the other Jewish artists in Germany, evicted from their normal jobs in Germany's orchestras and other arts institutions. It tells of there plight during the ever increasing restrictions on Germany's Jews up to and during the beginning of the war. During this time they continued to play in the Kulturbund orchestra until they were able to obtain visas and emigrate to America in June of 1941.

The most striking portion of the book is chapter 24, a group of letters sent to the newly emigrated couple by their family asking them to do all they can to help them get out of Europe. In many cases there wasn't much one could do to help family, you were lucky enough to get out yourself. One letter sent from the father of the young husband was particularly berating. The author (a son of the couple) makes this poignant statement:

Try as I might, I cannot imagine what my father must have thought and felt when he opened that letter in his cozy apartment in New York. What lacerations of guilt and fear and pity must have scarred his soul! To have his own father, trapped in unspeakable surroundings, level such accusations of indifference and selfishness at him must have been unbearable.

Two thoughts came to my mind while reading this book. First, America has a great history of freedom and the level and consistency at which we have lived as a country is unparalleled. The men and women who with determination and persistence built this country have given us a great gift of liberty and well-being. This story reminded me how great our country is and how liberating it was for many people during the evil times of the Nazi Reich.

Secondly, I think the reason chapter 24 hits me the way it does is because I feel in some way the same as those Jews who made it out yet were forced to leave family in Europe to die. I am not Jewish nor did I leave any family in Europe or anywhere else, but I, like a lot of Americans can find it easy to become complacent about the rest of the hurting world while I'm in my "cozy apartment". In our case it's much easier to be complacent than for the Jewish emigrants of the 1930's and 40's. We haven't gone from oppression to liberty as they did. We don't get the full impact of the magnitude of our freedom because for many of us it's normal. The sad irony is that we who are now in a great position to help those in need, often times feel little guilt or pity for them. I'm reminded of the orphans in Haiti that I had the chance to meet. I was able to see how well I am living here in America.

Who, if not I; who, if not Christians, will be humble servants of God and care for those he loves. Why should we be complacent lovers of self. The Lord Jesus Christ isn't.

Jesus's command to His disciples could be applied to us as believing Americans: Freely you received, freely give.

Some NPR links:
Inextinguishable Symphony
The Inextinguishable Symphony Continues
Goldsmith in Germany