The Power of a Passport
“There is no such thing as a bad day when you are in a room in which there is a door handle in sight,” Gerda Weissmann Klein told the crowd. “You are in freedom,” said the 87-year-old Holocaust survivor.
The next thing I remember is the woman seated next to us capturing our attention and saying “I’m glad I’m not the only person who cries at these things.”
We’ve spent the last few days at The Guiding Lights Weekend here in Seattle. It’s been all about celebrating what it really means to be a citizen (hint: it has nothing to do with paperwork) and reclaiming our democracy and humanity as active people who care. You know, because in any situation whenever we don’t step up, we help the other side. And that sucks.
The day before her 21st birthday, Klein received her own healthy dose of humanity.
At the time, having been in hiding and in captivity for 6 years, she weighed only 68 pounds and hadn’t had a bath in three years. One of only 120 women (of thousands) who survived a 350 mile death march, Klein had lost everything.
Every possession.
Every family member.
Every friend. Her closest friend, in fact, died in her arms.
And then, on that day just before her 21st birthday and in a nearly unfathomable turn of events, everything changed. She was found in an abandoned bicycle factory that was meant to be the site of her death. Shortly after being rescued by American troops, Klein met the man who would later become her husband. United States Army Lieutenant Kurt Klein is, according to Gerda, responsible for making her feel human for the first time since childhood. The act was simple:
He held a door open for her and let her precede him.
When she declared to him that she was a Jew, he told her that he was as well. He was born in Germany and had immigrated to the United States to escape Nazism. Both of his parents, too, had been killed.
This weekend, which coincidently coincided with National Passport Day, Klein closed by telling us that her most treasured possession is her passport. It reminds her of of the day she knew that she wanted to be an American, the day she was liberated. She spoke of the freedom and the protection that a passport represents.
Oh, to live in a country – a democracy – where we can come and go as we please, enjoy freedom and build community. It’s an unrivaled luxury that we must not take for granted. And it’s a right that we must fight for on behalf of those people who deserve the same opportunity. Whether it’s the freedom to move freely or the right to enjoy basic human rights, people out there in the world need us to lend our voices.
As was said a lot this weekend, let’s all work to shift the story from “me” to “we” because we’re all better off when we’re all better off.
wow, great story. i think we often take the luxuries offered by our respective native countries for granted. its great to be reminded occasionally how lucky we are.
Writing this made me think about your experience with immigration (which was another big topic this weekend).
Goosebumps. Thanks for this.
Goosebumps… tell me about it! You should have seen us hearing her tell this story in person. One of the most moving things I have ever experienced.
Quite a sobering statement and a refreshing post. I know I’m one of those people guilty of forgetting the liberty and options I have available to me in this life!
Yep… same with us. And then we take a second and think about the Holocaust or Civil Rights – and realize that it wasn’t that long ago and that injustices persist around the world.
Wow, I can’t even begin to imagine what she must’ve gone through. This is truly an amazing story!
Seriously, Ali, we were sitting in stunned disbelief listening to her. What a story of courage and love, and what a way to reinvigorate our passion for building a better world.
This is something I feel so often. It’s crazy to thing that this current life, this day, right here, has been the work of the entire human race that has ever lived. I mean, this is it!
I’m thankful to be fortunate enough to be a global citizen and a US one too.
Beautifully put!
A powerful story. I’ve read her book ‘All But My Life’ and it is equally moving.
Ah, cool… I’ve now got the book on my list.
I would have loved to hear her tale in person. it is amazing when you think about what some people have gone through and they still come out the other side with a great appreciation for life.
It is incredible to think that hardship can be the catalyst for such a powerful life. We want to keep that in mind through any rough patches that may come.
Beautiful story! A great reminder that freedom is not free, and that there are still social injustices that must be fought against every day in other parts of the world. Great post, guys!
We say it all the time… “Freedom is not free.”
Great message and reminder guys. Having the freedom and being able to come and go as we please really is a blessing. My grandfather came to the US to escape communism in China, so I too am so grateful!
Thanks for the comment, Mark! We’re making it a goal to be even more grateful. Freedom is SUCH a big deal – even today.
This just gave me goosebumps. I think we Americans are the first to take our freedom for granted. This is just one more reason (out of MANY) that we should honor and support each other in a global community. It’s our neighbors on this planet who remind us how special America is.
Slightly off-topic. I just got back from the CARE national conference where we met with congressman and senators to advocate for foreign aid…I was reminded by a staffer that we are one of the few countries where citizens have the access and the right to lobby their government.
How easy it is for us to forget how blessed we are!
Great reminder… the ability to demand an audience with our elected officials = wow/
Let’s get together to discuss these topics (and less weighty stuff, too!).
We are all better off when we are all better off- great line. Love the idea and your story.
CHILLS.
What a great story! I think for some of us, travel is something we take for granted, but when faced with a situation where you have absolutely nothing left, it puts a whole new spin on the ability to go somewhere.
And I echo Jade’s comments. “We are all better off when we are all better off.” What a great sentiment!
Wonderful heart touching story! Loved reading it.
Have a nice week ahead guys:)
Such a powerful story. It would be a privilege to hear someone like her speak. I wish that when folks like this came to a city, their visit got as much attention and publicity as the latest big concert or sporting event.
So true, Scott. Depressing, but true!
Truly a moving story. Thanks for the words of wisdom, too.
“In any situation whenever we don’t step up, we help the other side.”
This, YES.
Travelling through Asia for the past few months has brought home to me just how lucky and blessed I was to have been born in the U.S. After talking to Chinese high school students about how they dreamed of doing a trip like what I’m doing – but being constrained by society, family demands, and especially extremely complicated visa procedures – I’m just amazed at how easy it is to pass through borders with a US passport. Granted, I got held at the Russian border for an hour or so and questioned intensely, and often visas-in-advance can be much more expensive for Americans than other citizens…but the fact of the matter is that I *can* do it at all. It never ceases to amaze me!
While we were in Berlin last year, we visited all of the major holocaust exhibits, including the Topography or Terror. It was very depressing – to think that so much propaganda can fill people with hatred. It’s really hard to understand how all that can happen.
Germans who were communists, political opponents, gays, and Jewish were all exterminated under Hitler’s regime. It gets me thinking about all the victims, as well as the brave people who did stand up against this – unfortunately to their own demise.
What a moving story. Thanks so much for sharing it — it definitely makes you sit down and think about what’s truly important in life.
This is truly a moving story. Thank you for sharing it with us.
This is such a touching story. It’s incredible what some people have gone through and how they got to where they are today. Thank you for sharing this story.
Thanks! It’s one of our favorite memories from the year so far.