Protestantismo em Revista, volume 09 (Ano 05, n.1) - Faculdades EST

Revista Eletrônica do Núcleo de Estudos e Pesquisa do Protestantismo (NEPP) da Escola Superior de TeologiaVolume 09, jan.-abr. de 2006 – ISSN 1678 6408did it too.” The difference is of course what you wanted to achieve by lying, he adds.Peter wants rather for the true story to come to the fore, with all its dubious shadows.And he feels compassion with all those who shared their lives behind the wall – andcalls it a community of solidarity of the subdued.Everyone consents that they are doing rather well now. They are not awarethat they need to dig into the past, and have found very practical way of coping.They all tell that by doing their normal work, continuing to be professionals, theyhave worked themselves into lives they are content with. We could go into moredetail with the different stories of coping. They are however of a similar kind. Theycope through continuing to work, through seeking the company of friends orcolleagues. Even the seemingly loneliest one among them mentions with affection afriend in America. Naturally, no one misses the dictatorship, but they are also eagerto expand on and tell about the qualities of life which they experienced. One of themwas rather proud to have come through the period without any glamour but with afair amount of decency. Peter emphasises that he cannot and will not negate his ownlife.Life as it HappensI ask myself whether hard conditions as in the former dictatorship of EastGermany, following the dictatorship of Hitler from which some of them hadchildhood memories, have taught people to appreciate everyday life and graspwhatever opportunities that comes along. One of the students I conversed withduring my interviews told me of a wonderful life in the isolated KirchlicheSprachenkonvikt. There, students lived without the rights of normal students. Butthey also felt out of reach of the Stasi. They owned almost nothing, living very poorlywith two sets of trousers and sweaters – but they were able to discuss profound textsof Augustine, Kant, Barth day and night. This does not, of course, foster the ability toDisponível na Internet: http://www3.est.edu.br/nepp 114