Wow,this is so similar to what my father's family experienced in and after WW2 ,my grandfather was a biologist,pioneer in the electrone microscope,he was taken by the Russians from Germany in their version of operation paperclip and was placed into the golden prison in Russia and forced to continue his scientific work but in regards to the influence of atomic energy into the human cell. After lots of dramatic turns of events he managed his family (wife and 3 children ) to be picked up from Germany where they had lived "in transition" between trains and train stations for 3 years,and they were flew out to Russia. My dad grew up in the golden prison,for 10 years,until Adenauer took a train to Moskau to negotiate that the scientists where freed and could come back to Germany.
They were sent to east Berlin and escaped to the other side days before the wall was build.
On the other side the British secret service was waiting for them and picked them up...they interrogated my grandfather for a whole week,and then they were released into the west.
My dad then moved to Munich and met my mum there...so I was born in Munich as well.
Yes,no outer freedom without inner freedom indeed. I didn't stay in Germany either but have been living in Peru now for the last 21 years.
One of my paintng teachers - a true master - escaped communist China. He was head of a very reputable art school, one day a student asked "who should you follow?". My teacher answered "your own internal wisdom or self". He was arrested the next day and sent to a hard labor camp. He met his wife here though. She was a master herbalist Chinese Dr and her family was killed for coming from this highly educated and skilled lineage. He served several years here and then was forced to make paintings of Mao. He - like your father and family - was helped by Americans to escape. First he came to the US, became a citizen, then brought his wife and son here. I learned so much from him, traditional oil painting being one of these things!
What a story.. so many great topics - the importance of dreams and hope, the power of perseverance.. and rather surprising turn to good ending, which in my opinion really makes a great lesson about the world for everybody - there is providence, whatever we deem its source to be ..
I really appreciate the work you bring and this story is no different we stand on the shoulders of giants and it sounds like your father was a good man pushed to the extremes that most wouldn't understand or be able to cope with. Thankfully there are people like yourself sharing experiences of what would happen if we stand back and just do nothing to stop it . Emotional heart felt moments in the posts you and Laura have shared recently are full of love that comes through so thankyou
What a harrowing journey your father went through, I am glad he was able to release and heal. I definitely needed to read this today because it carries an important reminder of our capacity to endure and thrive. Thank you and your father!
This reads like scripture for exiles and seekers—part ancestral memoir, part sacred gut-check.
Your father’s escape isn’t just a tale of Cold War desperation—it’s a living parable about the price of freedom and the unseen scars it carves across generations. Trauma doesn’t always scream—it often hides in silence, in migraines, in that faraway stare across a dinner table. You honored that silence without becoming it. That’s holy work.
And this line? “What good is external freedom if you’re still a slave to your desires, unconscious wounds, or social conditioning?” Brother, that’s straight from the monastery of hard-won truth.
Thank you for reminding us that freedom isn’t a flag or a ballot—it's a threshold in the soul, and crossing it requires guts, grace, and generational alchemy.
A socially conscious society isn’t the problem -it’s corrupt leaders hijacking this ideal -but really delivering facism.
We need to step out of labels left right etc and build societies with benevolent accountable leaders - not rulers .
A society that respects sovereignty and runs like a well run loving household and community . All contribute and all own the resources while encouraging personal success and growth .
No profit from essential services like health education transport etc .
A society that provides for the less fortunate - as we are all human and can fall into poor health , redundancy etc at any time .
Whatever this is labelled - it can’t be disputed as a safe secure society
Regular performance audits of leadership and checks and balances and transparency is a must too.
Labels have been demonised as a weapon to give illusion of choice - but it’s the same greedy machine we must dig deep as individuals and put all hate division distraction programming aside and unite and work towards safe societies for all .
Thanks for sharing g some of your personal and family history. As much as story is part of Maya, it is also what shapes us, and when we can hear the stories of others, it becomes easier to understand where they are coming from. Of course, we also have to let go of our personal and collective stories eventually.
And one more thing, I had a brilliant teacher, who largely mentored
me into working my calling(profession) with stories. And for a long time, as a teacher of sorts, story was a major teaching tool.
Wow,this is so similar to what my father's family experienced in and after WW2 ,my grandfather was a biologist,pioneer in the electrone microscope,he was taken by the Russians from Germany in their version of operation paperclip and was placed into the golden prison in Russia and forced to continue his scientific work but in regards to the influence of atomic energy into the human cell. After lots of dramatic turns of events he managed his family (wife and 3 children ) to be picked up from Germany where they had lived "in transition" between trains and train stations for 3 years,and they were flew out to Russia. My dad grew up in the golden prison,for 10 years,until Adenauer took a train to Moskau to negotiate that the scientists where freed and could come back to Germany.
They were sent to east Berlin and escaped to the other side days before the wall was build.
On the other side the British secret service was waiting for them and picked them up...they interrogated my grandfather for a whole week,and then they were released into the west.
My dad then moved to Munich and met my mum there...so I was born in Munich as well.
Yes,no outer freedom without inner freedom indeed. I didn't stay in Germany either but have been living in Peru now for the last 21 years.
One of my paintng teachers - a true master - escaped communist China. He was head of a very reputable art school, one day a student asked "who should you follow?". My teacher answered "your own internal wisdom or self". He was arrested the next day and sent to a hard labor camp. He met his wife here though. She was a master herbalist Chinese Dr and her family was killed for coming from this highly educated and skilled lineage. He served several years here and then was forced to make paintings of Mao. He - like your father and family - was helped by Americans to escape. First he came to the US, became a citizen, then brought his wife and son here. I learned so much from him, traditional oil painting being one of these things!
Beautiful. I’ve been thinking a lot about “inner authoritarianism.” Your words and your work crystallize this for me.
Thank you for sharing the fascinating story of your family.
A beautiful telling of life experience. It evokes gratitude for the gifts I’ve been given.
Loved that Bernard. Thank you.
What a story.. so many great topics - the importance of dreams and hope, the power of perseverance.. and rather surprising turn to good ending, which in my opinion really makes a great lesson about the world for everybody - there is providence, whatever we deem its source to be ..
I really appreciate the work you bring and this story is no different we stand on the shoulders of giants and it sounds like your father was a good man pushed to the extremes that most wouldn't understand or be able to cope with. Thankfully there are people like yourself sharing experiences of what would happen if we stand back and just do nothing to stop it . Emotional heart felt moments in the posts you and Laura have shared recently are full of love that comes through so thankyou
Regards
Shannon
X - @SGgreening
Truly beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing. 🙏❤️
What a harrowing journey your father went through, I am glad he was able to release and heal. I definitely needed to read this today because it carries an important reminder of our capacity to endure and thrive. Thank you and your father!
Thank you, this is helpful.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful story with so many lessons and powerful reminders weaved throughout it.
This reads like scripture for exiles and seekers—part ancestral memoir, part sacred gut-check.
Your father’s escape isn’t just a tale of Cold War desperation—it’s a living parable about the price of freedom and the unseen scars it carves across generations. Trauma doesn’t always scream—it often hides in silence, in migraines, in that faraway stare across a dinner table. You honored that silence without becoming it. That’s holy work.
And this line? “What good is external freedom if you’re still a slave to your desires, unconscious wounds, or social conditioning?” Brother, that’s straight from the monastery of hard-won truth.
Thank you for reminding us that freedom isn’t a flag or a ballot—it's a threshold in the soul, and crossing it requires guts, grace, and generational alchemy.
May we all write the book our fathers couldn’t.
Thank you for sharing. It brings me hope not to give up.
Beautiful story .
A socially conscious society isn’t the problem -it’s corrupt leaders hijacking this ideal -but really delivering facism.
We need to step out of labels left right etc and build societies with benevolent accountable leaders - not rulers .
A society that respects sovereignty and runs like a well run loving household and community . All contribute and all own the resources while encouraging personal success and growth .
No profit from essential services like health education transport etc .
A society that provides for the less fortunate - as we are all human and can fall into poor health , redundancy etc at any time .
Whatever this is labelled - it can’t be disputed as a safe secure society
Regular performance audits of leadership and checks and balances and transparency is a must too.
Labels have been demonised as a weapon to give illusion of choice - but it’s the same greedy machine we must dig deep as individuals and put all hate division distraction programming aside and unite and work towards safe societies for all .
Thanks for sharing g some of your personal and family history. As much as story is part of Maya, it is also what shapes us, and when we can hear the stories of others, it becomes easier to understand where they are coming from. Of course, we also have to let go of our personal and collective stories eventually.
And one more thing, I had a brilliant teacher, who largely mentored
me into working my calling(profession) with stories. And for a long time, as a teacher of sorts, story was a major teaching tool.
Onward.