Germany's Humanitarian Dilemma

A timely reminder of Germany's constitution of opening its doors

I saw these banners posted in front of the Semperoper or opera house in Dresden:
Open our eyes.
Open our hearts.
Open our doors.
Human dignity is inviolable.

-- Article 1 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Germany

They immediately made me think of the Syrian, Iranian and Afghani refugees Germany took in since the summer of 2015, when thousands of them were stuck at Hungary's main train station. Today there are about 1.4 million of them in Germany, grateful to be safe from war and persecution.

Merkel visiting refugee children taking classes in school

However, Chancellor Angela Merkel's generous humanitarian action has cost her politically, with native Germans not happy with the massive influx of people who are not one of their own, even though these refugees must integrate and learn how to speak German to be able to thrive.

Our tour guide in Frankfurt blamed Merkel for the current economic situation. He said when he was a child, his father could easily provide for him, his sister and mother, afford a car and take a holiday once a year.

Today the 40-year-old said he and his wife both work -- they don't have children yet -- and they can't afford to buy another car.

Did he not understand that this situation is happening all over the world, not just in Germany? This is not because of the refugee influx. And they wouldn't be competing for his job -- they would be taking the jobs Germans wouldn't want to do.

His dislike of Merkel is misplaced.

I am grateful she has taken in these refugees, and that she has welcomed dissidents like artist Ai Weiwei and Liu Xia, the wife of Liu Xiaobo to Germany.

Liu Xia (centre) and Ai Weiwei (right) meet up in Berlin

It is because Merkel grew up in East Germany since she was an infant and had experienced communism first hand until the age of 35.

Following a series of election setbacks, last October, the Chancellor announced she will step down in 2021 when her term ends. Merkel will also not seek re-election as the head of the Christian Democratic Union of Germany.

Hopefully in the future, Merkel will be vindicated for taking in the refugees not only because of the humanitarian crisis, but also boosting Germany's population to keep the economy going. But for now though, you can feel unease between native Germans and their new neighbours.

Which is why these banners in Dresden are so apt for what is happening today, a reminder to open our eyes, hearts and doors.

Berlin's Power Centre

The Brandenburg Gate symbolizes peace and unity in Germany and Europe

After our museum hopping, we headed to the Brandenburg Gate, the iconic symbol of Germany as well as of unity and peace. On the subway, the carriage windows are covered in the Brandenburg Gate logo. To see it in person is impressive.

The 18th century neoclassical monument was built on the orders of Prussian King Frederick William II. It is built on the site of the former city gate, located on the western part of Berlin's city centre. When King Frederick William II commissioned the gate, it was meant to represent peace.

Designed by Carl Gotthard Langhans, the gate features 12 Doric columns that form five passageways. At the top of the gate is a quadriga, a chariot drawn by four horses that were sculpted by Johann Gottfried Schadow.

A detail of the quadriga, a chariot drawn by four horses

The design of the gate was inspired by Propylaea, the gateway to the Acropolis in Athens, Greece.

When the Nazis ascended power, they appropriated the gate as a party symbol. During World War II the gate was damaged by bullets and nearby explosions. One of the horse's heads survived the war and is kept in a museum.

After Germany surrendered at the end of the war, both governments of West Berlin and East Berlin restored the gate as best they could. However, when the Berlin Wall was built dividing the city, that prevented access to the gate from 1961 until 1989, when the wall finally fell.

As a result of the wall being torn down, the gate again represented freedom and the desire to unite Berlin.

A short walking distance from the Brandenburg Gate is the Bundestag, or the German parliament. The building itself is called Reichstag. It's an impressive, large building that was enhanced with a glass dome designed by Sir Norman Foster that visitors can climb up to. However, you need to book tickets in advance so we couldn't get in. Something to keep in mind for next time...

The Reichstag, the building that housed the Bundestag

The building was opened in 1894, and it was mysteriously set on fire in 1933 -- probably by the Nazis -- who used the incident to suspend people's rights, arrest communists, and increase police action in the country.

By taking advantage of people's fears, Adolf Hitler was able to rise to power, as he portrayed himself as anti-communist.

The Reichstag was not fully repaired after the fire, and then it was further damaged by air raids. When the Cold War began, the building was basically left unused because the Berlin Wall was built right next to it, and the seat of government of West Germany moved to Bonn in 1949.

From 1961 to 1964, architect Paul Baumgarten reconstructed the building, stripping it back to its former glory.

When Germany was finally reunited in 1990, the ceremony was held at the Reichstag building, but it wasn't until two years later that Foster won the architectural contest to reconstruct the building, that was finally completed in 1999. The large dome gives visitors a 360 view of the city.

The German Chancellery that has some funny nicknames

Adjacent to the Reichstag is the German Chancellery where Chancellor Angela Merkel lives and works. Our taxi driver called it "Merkel House". The contemporary building that was opened in 2001 is the largest government headquarters building in the world at 12,000 square metres, which is 10 times the size of the White House.

Because of its massive size, the German Chancellery has some interesting nicknames. Because of its round shaped windows and cubic form, it's been called bundeswaschmaschine or "federal laundry machine" and elefantenklo or "elephant loo".

Free At Last

The picture just say it all -- Liu Xia at Helsinki airport on the way to Berlin

There are two things to be thrilled about today!

The last four boys and their coach were taken out of the Tham Luang cave today. It is a miracle they all made it out safely considering how dangerous it was for the rescuers to get to them.

The boys and their coach have evacuated the cave safely

They are all now in hospital to check for any infections and hopefully they will be reunited with their families soon.

But we are also elated that Liu Xia is finally free!!!

This morning she boarded a flight to Berlin, stopping in transit in Helsinki where she emerged from the plane with arms wide open with a big smile on her face.

Despite not being charged with anything, the 57-year-old had been under virtual house arrest since 2010 when her husband, Liu Xiaobo, won the Nobel Peace Prize. Her flight to Berlin comes days before the first anniversary of Liu Xiaobo's death from liver cancer.

Hopefully leaving China will help Liu Xia start a new page in her life, and get better, as she was suffering from clinical depression, and needed medication just to sleep.

Liu Xia has been suffering from clinical depression

Interestingly AFP reporters managed to visit her in her Beijing apartment on Monday but saw no signs of her packing up and preparing to leave.

Her flight coincides with Premier Li Keqiang's visit to Germany, where he told Chancellor Angela Merkel yesterday that Liu Xia would be released soon for medical treatment.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a daily press briefing that Liu had gone to Germany "to treat her illness according to her wishes", adding the issue was not "diplomatic in nature".

The Chinese are trying desperately to paint this as giving Liu the freedom to move, but really she has been pleading to leave for years. A few months ago she raised the alarm when she hinted she would rather die than stay in China.

Hua Chunying asking why all the questions about Liu Xia

At today's briefing, Hua was also annoyed that Hong Kong reporters were asking many questions about Liu. One question asked was why Liu Xiaobo and his wife weren't allowed to leave the country for medical treatment, but Liu Xia was able to leave now.

"I think your colleagues from Hong Kong are especially interested in the issue. Why are you so interested? I believe there are far more areas for you to follow," Hua replied.

Trying to downplay an important question just shows how much the Chinese are keen to avoid answering it.

While Liu is physically free, she may not speak out much as her younger brother Liu Hui is still in Beijing.

Regardless, we can only hope that being out of China will be good for Liu Xia and that she can create a new chapter in her life -- in freedom.