By Caelan Monkman
Our last day in Berlin with a set itinerary was full of. In the morning, I went to Ibn Rushd-Goethe Moschee, the only modern liberal Mosque in Germany. There we met with Imam Mohamed El-Kateb, who spoke to us about the mosque’s history and mindset. He explained how their Muslim worship community chooses to interpret the Quran through a more modern, liberal lens. I have never been in a Mosque of any sort before, so this was an incredibly unique and eye-opening experience to get to learn more about the Islamic faith, and specifically Islam within the context of a progressive mosque.
From the Mosque, we took public transit to Oranienburg, where we grabbed a quick lunch before walking to Sachsenhausen concentration camp. We were then led on a guided tour of the concentration camp. I visited the Dachau concentration camp four years ago, and though I feel that it perhaps somewhat emotionally prepared me for the visit to Sachsenhausen, I don’t think any amount of time can fully prepare you for the feelings a place like that evoke. The level of hate-fueled violence that humanity is capable of is equally frightening and saddening. The tour served as an important reminder of the importance of remembering history in order not to repeat it- something that we, as journalists, must bear the responsibility of ensuring.
In the evening, we went to a lovely Vietnamese restaurant, where we had a farewell dinner, reflecting on the past week and even playing a quiz about some of the things we had learned throughout the trip. Though the day (and trip as a whole) was full and, at times both physically and emotionally tiring, I am extremely grateful for the opportunities I got to experience while in Berlin, and the many lessons I learned that I will take back with me-both in journalism and in life.