I Will No Longer Remain Silent

Interview with Gabriele Baring, family therapist from Berlin

By Renate Lilge-Stodieck/Epoch Times Germany Staff
Mar 03, 2007

Gabriele Baring, family therapist from Berlin.

BERLIN—Two days after the family therapist and Berlin resident Gabriele Baring had seen the NTDTV Global Chinese New Year Gala performance in Berlin, she shared her impressions and thoughts in an interview with The Epoch Times in Germany.

Epoch Times Reporter (ET): Mrs. Baring, what brought you here? What made you decide to talk about your perception and impressions on the NTDTV Global Gala on February 28 in Berlin?

Gabriele Baring (GB): The performance touched me! Indeed, it touched me deeply! I can only tell you what I often think. It is appalling to see how much harm is caused by the violence of these communist dictators in China. That is what I want to talk about.

Something is causing deep agony in my soul, since I planned the Himalaya book as editor of MERIAN magazine 22 years ago [Editor: a famous monthly cultural magazine]. We had to leave out Tibet, because no one was allowed to enter it at the time. Back then, I had to do the research at the Tibetan border secretly and under adventurous conditions, because it was an area that was restricted by the military. Since that day it tortures me what happens to that country, its people and the Dalai Lama.

No country invites him officially. When he visited the United States, the Clintons had to arrange a private meeting: Hillary invited him for tea, the President attended "purely by chance."

Fortunately, in Germany Otto Graf Lambsdorff is taking action in the matter of Tibet and the Dalai Lama. I was relieved to find out that our present Chancellor of the Federal Republic is more sensitive than her predecessors concerning this topic and seems to be following a new path.

In my opinion, the communist despots in China give expression to their personal neuroses and propensity to violence at the great cost of their people. This is deeply shocking and dangerous—and not only disastrous for their country and its present population. They will have to, like any other individual, bear the consequences of their actions. And with them their families, children and especially grandchildren will suffer.

Gabriele Baring, at the border from Nepal to Tibet in 1983, reporting for the MERIAN magazine. (The Epoch Times)

According to the latest results of psychological research, the later generations often have to atone for what their ancestors did, because they identify with the victims and suffer on behalf of them. Consequences include severe physical and psychological diseases.

ET: What impact did the NTDTV Spectacular have on you?

GB: I admire how the NTDTV's Gala performance dealt for example with the persecution of Falun Gong. I think they found a serene, charming and touching way of bringing this difficult and sad topic on stage. In the light of this gentleness it is outrageous, that the communists dare to call the Falun Gong movement a dangerous sect and defame them—unfortunately rather successfully from time to time. That is unbelievable.

I admire the Taiwanese. They managed to become democratic and economically successful. I wish them a very positive future as a reward for their efforts and hope they will be a shining example to China.

ET: Are you aware that in international relations Taiwan is constantly being excluded?

GB: No, I was not aware, but I will now try to get more information on that.

I hope that the Tibetans and the Chinese in exile will not break down, that they keep up their strength and that they will pass it on to others. I got to know a few and was very much impressed by them. They are example for the all of as!

ET: Were there any especially impressive experiences during your journey through the Himalayas 22 years ago?

GB: In Katmandu, the capital of Nepal, when I was doing research for the MERIAN book Himalaya, I lived in the hotel Vajra, owned by Sabine Lehmann. The hotel library was under the responsibility of the former secretary of the Dalai Lama. Tibetan friars were invited to stay there for free. It was the most beautiful hotel I have ever been to, and I have slept in hundreds of hotels. Beautiful, because it was a vibrant place and emanated strength. It is now more than 20 years since I experienced this special spirit into which I got the chance to immerse and it is still nourishing me.

I wish the NTDTV's Gala group the worldwide success they deserve. The dancers found a formidable way to approach the people and to touch their hearts.

The Epoch Times is proud to join with New Tang Dynasty T.V. and Sound of Hope Radio in co-sponsoring NTDTV's Chinese New Year Spectacular. This article is one of a series meant to introduce this unique and important event.

The Epoch Times wishes its readers a Happy New Year in the Year of the Boar!