Jedem Das Seine

It is with a heavy heart writing this due to the depths of evil and hate. After graduating from college (December 1989), I pledged to serve in the United States Army. One of the caveats was my first duty station be in Germany which ended up being Schweinfurt. 

A couple of Sergeants told us about this place which just opened over the weekend. They recommended we visit. A few days later three soldier friends and I set on a journey that would be one of the most profound I have ever taken. 

Our planning was awful because we were going to a city in East Germany with nowhere to stay. Fate sometimes brings beauty when we were befriended on the train by an East German man who would extend us a stay at his $5 per month apartment. In a few weeks, this same apartment would be renting for $500 per month due to the collapse of the Berlin wall. He would need to move as a result. 

The place is Weimar, East Germany. The first night while partying, we ran into a bunch of Skinheads/Neo Nazi’s. They confronted us because one of my friends had black skin which is why they hated him. The four of us were clearly outnumbered by these punk teens who in the end retreated with no harm. 

It was a chilling reminder what lay ahead in the morning. Buchenwald, one of the cruellest and in humane concentration camps with a sign at the entrance gate “Jedem Das Seine”  The meaning “To Each His Own” or “To each what he deserves”.  Speechless. 

It has been open to the public for a few days.  The morning was gloomy where the stench of evil and darkness filled the spiritual realm as well as the physical place. It was as if time stood still preserving the blood on the table with knife marks, ashes in the stoves, and a frayed rope still hanging. The gas chamber was closed to the public and rightly so. 

I have several pictures one of which is of the stoves with the ashes still inside. The pictures with the rope and blood did not turn out. It is estimated 56,000 people were murdered.  The air of death was heavy to the soul even for an atheist like me. Death that happened 40 plus years ago. Haunting. 

This brings me to why the reminder of the past. There have been some people comparing these death camps to the recent influx of illegal immigrants flowing into the United States from various nations. 

It shows the intellectual dishonesty and the little mindedness of individuals to compare our current immigration situation to a place where millions were murdered. Today, people can just ask to go back to where they came, and our government would oblige. This was not an option for those in concentration camps. Oh, if that were only the case. 

The United States has laws which Congress makes, the President signs and carries out, and the Judges decide if they are constitutional.  A Republic fails when individuals or a group decides what is the right way to carry out the law outside of the Executive Branch of Government. 

Our Congress, local government officials, judges, & law enforcement have declared certain cities as sanctuary or have decided not to help federal agents carry out the mission set forth by the President in the removal of individuals. The unbelievable part is a Judge has ruled for the removal of said individuals. When the rule of law no longer is constituted, chaos is sure to insert its ugliness like we are seeing across the United States. 

There was no public outcry when President Obama did the same thing that President Trump is doing which goes back to my point, intellectually dishonest and little minded people. A society does not get to dictate what laws they are going to enforce and what ones they will not.  

Which brings me to my Christian side. What would Jesus suggest is right? He would certainly advocate for helping our neighbors in love, but he would also be respectful of the rule of law especially those committing crimes. Tell the family of a loved one killed by an illegal immigrant they have a right to be here in the US but their loved one who was murdered does not. That won’t go over well. 

This is why many people can't understand why the Religious Right cares more about Judges than illegal immigrants.  The United States of America was founded on Judeo-Christian values, we need to live those values which includes the rule of law set forth by our Founding Fathers.  

Jesus tells Christians the same to love the Lord God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength and to keep his commandments.  The second one is to love our neighbor.  God gave each of us commandments we are to follow.  He tells us these are not grievous (see my last blog on LOVE).

But what would Jesus do.  This is clearly speculation on my part but knowing Jesus this is what I would guess He would probably do in Love. The story of Jonah and the whale is a reminder for those who disobey God. 

1. Jesus would tell the Illegal Immigrants to pray and fast for an answer from God for what is His will and plan for their lives. Read and meditate on the word of God.  Seek an answer from God that His will be done.  

2. Jesus would tell the leaders of the countries to clean their house and country of corruption, drugs, violence, gangs, and anything else that is terrorizing these people to leave their country of birth or citizenship. 

3. Jesus would tell the United States Congress to write the law, the President to sign and carry out the law and the Judge to rule if the law is Constitutional.  

4.  Jesus would tell the Church to pray and fast and provide His Love to those in need.  He would remind them it is "His Will" be done, not their will be done.  

5.  Jesus would tell ICE, ICS, & CBP to be as humane as possible and treat them as you would treat those you Love.  

6. Jesus would tell the people, He knows the beginning and the end.  His will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.  It is His will, not ours.  

That is the comfort we have by the Grace of God.  It took a major war to end the death of millions in concentration camps.  My hope is God's love and peace is allowed to shine bright even in the midst of this storm.