English: The Fall of the Berlin Wall, 1989. The photo shows a part of a public photo documentation wall at Former Check Point Charlie, Berlin. The photo documentation is permanently placed in the public. Türkçe: Berlin Duvarı, 1989 sonbaharı (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In this insightful Guardian article, novelist Jenny Erpenbeck writes, ‘We can imagine what it means to lose everything – and that provokes either our empathy or our fear‘.

Source: The refugee crisis is forcing Germans to ask: who are we? | Jenny Erpenbeck | Opinion | The Guardian

Today, I also pick up two other articles focussing on Germany‘s refugee crisis, one from the NYT that empathises and the second from the Gatestone Institute that focuses on the fear.

I have discussed this subject with German friends and they seem to share the viewpoint of Jenny Erpenbeck.

I am sympathetic and empathize with the refugee crisis but also understand the emerging fear. However, it is important to remember that it is the terrorists who are fanning the fear.

In these difficult times, we look to our leadership and as the NYT article concludes the US, fear-ridden, has passed the torch to Germany. Unfortunately, Obama gives priority to seeing ‘Star Wars’ and golf, rather than providing empathy.

Thoughts?