Where they burn books ...

I first traveled to Berlin just after the fall of the Wall and I fell as well - in love with the city. Such adoration is not uncommon, and there is even a phrase for it, from an old Marlene Dietrich song: "Ich habe noch einen Koffer in Berlin" - "I've still got a suitcase in Berlin".

I have visited and even lived in Berlin since that initial infatuation. With each visit I wander the streets, visit the museums, and return to my favorite haunts. I have spent so much time just meandering that I actually know Berlin better than any other metro area! Although the city is young in terms of years (it was really only a hodge-podge of villages until the 18th century), so very much has transpired that there is much to learn.

One place of return is the Bebelplatz, located across from Humboldt University along the Unter den Linden. I return there to be reminded of one significant event: at that spot on May 10, 1933 Nazi students and members of the Hitler Youth piled up and burned as many as 20,000 books, including those by Ernest Hemingway, Jack London, & Helen Keller. After World War II a memorial consisting of a glass plate (pictured) through which one can view empty bookshelves was built. Next to it is a plaque with a quote from a play by Heinrich Heine, lamenting the forced conversion of Muslims to Christianity in Spain: "Dort, wo man Bücher verbrennt, verbrennt man am Ende auch Menschen" - "Where they burn books, ultimately they will also burn people."

Which brings us to the so-called Christian church in Florida which is sponsoring "International Burn a Qu'ran Day" on the anniversery of 9/11. Such an action is reprehensible; it no more represents Christianity than destroying the Twin Towers represents Islam. To destroy the holy book of another religious tradition is itself an act of terrorism and betrays the core values of the Christian faith.

In Nazi Germany they burned books and the Christian church remained largely silent. Thank God that many Churches in America are not remaining silent, but speaking out against such vile behavior. I urge every person who claims the Christian faith to encourage prayers of support for our Muslim brothers and sisters during the time of worship. A moment of silence will not do - too often silence is seen as acceptance.

I have learned much from my time on the road and perhaps the most important lesson is that there is a time for silence and a time to speak out. Now is the time to speak out.