On the bottom of the full page it it says that the ad is a paid message from the Church of Scientology International from a grant from the International Association of Scientologists. It's purpose is to focus attention on the alarming resurgence of violence in Germany.
Some sixty years later, in June 1993, award-winning American jazz pianist Chick Corea was banned from performing at the Track and Field World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany. The reason: his religious beliefs.
In the 1930s, Jews were the target. In the 1990s, it is the members of the Church of Scientology such as notable jazz great Chick Corea.
"Religious apartheid" is alive and well in the new Germany.
Sixty years ago, the few voices that raised themselves against anti-Jewish discrimination had, according to the Nazis, been bought off by "international jewish banking interests." Thus, there was no basis to their complaints.
Today, the German press was told by that country's ambassador to the U.S., Immo Stabreit, that American Senators and Congressmen protested this discrimination against a distinguisted American artist because they had been "bought off" by the Church of Scientology. There was no basis to such an allegation.
Others expressed their outrage over this violation of religious freedom, including blues guitarist B.B King, pianist Dave Brubeck and entertainer Bill Crosby. Many United States Senators and Congressmen likewise protested the blatant discrimination.
But in spite of such pressure, state officials who issued the ban against Corea would not rescind it. And the German federal government also refused to take action.
The result: three weeks ago, officials of Helmut Kohl's Chirstian Democratic Party in yet another state began to pressure concert organizers to cancel a Chick Corea concert, again because of his religious beliefs.
In the 1930's as the descrimination in Germany gradually came to light, history shows it was only the tragic beginning.
Don't stand by and watch history repeat itself.
Write to President Bill Clinton. Urge him to take strong and effective steps to stop hatred and discrimination against religion and ethnic minorities in Germany:
President Bill Clinton
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Washington, D.C. 20500 USA
Send copies of your letters to:
Commission of Security and Cooperation in Europe
234 Ford House Office
Building Washington, D.C. 20515 USA
U.S. Representative Tom Lantos
Co-Chairman - Congressional Human Rights Caucus
2183 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515 USA
Dr. Helmut Kohl
Federal Chancellor
Adenauerallee 141
5300 Bonn 1
Federal Republic of Germany
For your free copy write to:
Church of Scientology International
6331 Hollywood Blvd., Suite 1200
Los Angeles, CA 90028-6329
or call (202)543-6404