Something To Be Proud Of?
During the World Cup held in Germany in 2014, the world got a taste of how tourist-friendly Germany is—or rather, how friendly Germans can be!
Before the World Cup, too many people from around the globe had still been harbouring slightly biased opinions about Germans.
Obviously, these one-sided opinions had been fed on Germany's National Socialist (Nazi Germany) past. Ironically though, up until today, it is still the negative news, coward attacks on foreigners or burning refugee camps, that seem to hit front-page press headlines worldwide, and continue to feed this one very one-sided view.
Before the World Cup, too many people from around the globe had still been harbouring slightly biased opinions about Germans.
Obviously, these one-sided opinions had been fed on Germany's National Socialist (Nazi Germany) past. Ironically though, up until today, it is still the negative news, coward attacks on foreigners or burning refugee camps, that seem to hit front-page press headlines worldwide, and continue to feed this one very one-sided view.
What I really
missed in the world press, was positive reactions as to what Germans were doing
to help refugees at the peak of the refugee crisis.
There were, and are
still incredible acts of genuine hospitality being carried out here and it warms
me to see all this happening. Where I
live, you see the locals accompanying small
groups of refugees on visits to the authorities, doctors, and basically helping in every way they can. Communities are doing their best to provide fast and
non-bureaucratic help for refugees; individuals, young
and old, are organizing themselves to help where
they can.
Many Germans and foreign residents are going out of their way to help tackle the refugee crisis.
The majority of Germans stand behind Merkel's welcoming
attitude towards refugees and support the government's commitment to supporting
refugees.
However, it's one thing to offer people in need
immediate aid but a totally different issue to integrate needily, traumatized and
desperate (even impatient) people into a new country; a country with
other values, other role models and a completely different attitude
towards living life.
Welcoming other ethnicities into a country does not make good for wrongs, nor does it serve as a plaster to cover an ugly scar.
Only a strong united nation—one that has learnt and made peace, but not forgotten its past, a society that proudly embraces its own customs and traditions,—can truthfully embrace diversity. Inclusion will take time and a great deal of patience on both sides.
For now, the saviour mentality and prejudice are still too prominent a feature in this society.
Welcoming diversity, in theory, does not mean that the locals have understood it in practice (yet).
theory and practice. But, in practice, there is."
- Jan L.A. van de Snepscheut
“Diversity is being invited to the party. Inclusion is being asked to dance.”
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| “Diversity is being invited to the party. Inclusion is being asked to dance.”-Vernā Myers |
