Great article, especially because the refugees get to speak their mind which is relatively rare in German media! In the region of Jena and Weimar, although it was and is an intellectual hub, good journalism is more than scarce. I used to study in Jena and shared the article on my Facebook profile and friends keep commenting that it would be nice if the reportage got translated into German. Do You have any intent to do so?
I hope we will get a follow up in October on what happened with the three sisters. What will be their status once they are notified in October?
1
And I hope there is a follow-up on the political state of affairs across Germany before, during, and after the elections in September.
For those who can read German, there is: www.spiegel.de
(They also have an International section for English speakers.)
For those who can read German, there is: www.spiegel.de
(They also have an International section for English speakers.)
I think the design of the first graph (age/gender distribution of Germans and migrants) is unfortunate. The uninformed might take a casual look and conclude that migrants now outnumber german 18-25 males by a factor of 4 or 5. Not likely to happen to many readers, but that statistic representation, properly snipped from screenshot and "weaponized" with a suitable slogan is exactly the thing that reinforces opinions in a certain segment of people, let's call them breitbartologists...
While the data is relevant, I feel that the trees should have been separated or overlaid with absolute numbers to not only make it clearer but actually to make intentional misrepresentation impossible. Maybe combined to show the absolute growth of 18-25 male group.
Distilling data into statistic eyecandy is an art, but the artist must never forget that often the skill of making sense of an artful statistic is atrophied in a lot of people...
While the data is relevant, I feel that the trees should have been separated or overlaid with absolute numbers to not only make it clearer but actually to make intentional misrepresentation impossible. Maybe combined to show the absolute growth of 18-25 male group.
Distilling data into statistic eyecandy is an art, but the artist must never forget that often the skill of making sense of an artful statistic is atrophied in a lot of people...
1
Thank you for these stories about people and a nation that does so much more for those displaced by war and civil conflict, than Australia. Which instead puts refugees in concentration camps (yes - I do mean that word deliberately, in the original British sense from the Boer War) on Manus Island of Papua-New Guinea and Nauru (an island nation in its own right).
I've just finished reading an autobiography of a woman displaced from Pomerania in 1945, as a six year old. Now living successfully here in Canberra for the past 55 years.
Yes - I do support refugees services operating out of Malta, in Afghanistan and in Sydney (for those lucky enough to make it past our barriers).
Yet - more help is needed. Always.
I've just finished reading an autobiography of a woman displaced from Pomerania in 1945, as a six year old. Now living successfully here in Canberra for the past 55 years.
Yes - I do support refugees services operating out of Malta, in Afghanistan and in Sydney (for those lucky enough to make it past our barriers).
Yet - more help is needed. Always.
1
What an amazing story. I think Weimar makes an interesting case, because it's just between the big cities and rural areas, and just between prosperous and poor. You get a pretty good picture of Germany when you visit the town.
Of course this is all difficult. No one was pretending it would be easy. But I guess it's a good thing that people tackle the task of integration instead of just waiting for it to happen, as in the past. We will have problems in the years to come. But I have hope that sometime in the future the hard work will pay off.
Of course this is all difficult. No one was pretending it would be easy. But I guess it's a good thing that people tackle the task of integration instead of just waiting for it to happen, as in the past. We will have problems in the years to come. But I have hope that sometime in the future the hard work will pay off.
3
What many may not realize is that as beautiful and historical as Weimar is, it is located in Thüringen -- a former state of the DDR (East Germany), which until the re-unification of Germany, had no great familiarity with non-Germans.
It is also one of the German states that has a substantial rate of unemployment, which may in part expain why there has been such resistance to placing so many migrants & refugees there.
It is also one of the German states that has a substantial rate of unemployment, which may in part expain why there has been such resistance to placing so many migrants & refugees there.
2
Thanks for your reply. As you might have noticed, I come from Thuringia and am familiar with the situation here.
It is not quite that easy. East Germany still has a higher unemployment rate than the West, but it got a lot better in recent years. Also, Thuringia has the lowest unemployment of the states in the former East. (See also http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/File:Unemplo... for a comparison with other European regions.) There is also a social safety net in Germany, so being unemployed here is not the same as in the US.
Most importantly, Weimar is a quite open city in a rural area. Just like in the US, there is a noticeable difference between cities and rural areas and in Weimar both mix. If you look at the last state election results, the vote is roughly split between conservatives and the far left. The far right came up with less than 10 percent (AfD+NPD), fewer than the Greens with 14 percent. (http://www.wahlen.thueringen.de/datenbank/wahl1/WAHL.asp?wahlart=LW&...
It is not quite that easy. East Germany still has a higher unemployment rate than the West, but it got a lot better in recent years. Also, Thuringia has the lowest unemployment of the states in the former East. (See also http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/File:Unemplo... for a comparison with other European regions.) There is also a social safety net in Germany, so being unemployed here is not the same as in the US.
Most importantly, Weimar is a quite open city in a rural area. Just like in the US, there is a noticeable difference between cities and rural areas and in Weimar both mix. If you look at the last state election results, the vote is roughly split between conservatives and the far left. The far right came up with less than 10 percent (AfD+NPD), fewer than the Greens with 14 percent. (http://www.wahlen.thueringen.de/datenbank/wahl1/WAHL.asp?wahlart=LW&...
1
What you say is all well and good. But at this point, all it would take is another attack like the one we had in Berlin last year, and the far-right numbers would change.
There is still a lot of hostility and anti-immigrant sentiments in the both the East & West, and the closer the election comes the more we'll be hearing from all sides.
And while I don't think Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) will make it into the Bundestag -- I don't count them out just yet.
There is still a lot of hostility and anti-immigrant sentiments in the both the East & West, and the closer the election comes the more we'll be hearing from all sides.
And while I don't think Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) will make it into the Bundestag -- I don't count them out just yet.
Both sides HAVE moved, it seems to me. Germany moved when they invited millions pf refugees to come to GERMANY, which is not a primarily Muslim country. The migrants CHOSE Germany, and they must have had some idea that this old culture would not make huge concessions to migrant cultural preferences. I think it's enough to welcome them to come and stay, and provide them with the resources to live their lives. The rest is up to them. They must behave as guests. Muslim countries don't make ANY concessions to foreign culture.
6
@ChesBay
Actually it wasn't Germany that moved, it was Angela Merkel who moved for Germany -- and many Germans felt left out, and still resent her for making that decision without them. Especially since it resulted in not only thousands Syrians escaping a war zone, but others from elsewhere who came flooding into the country for purely economic reasons.
No doubt this will be a major topic she'll be facing in her bid for re-election come September.
Actually it wasn't Germany that moved, it was Angela Merkel who moved for Germany -- and many Germans felt left out, and still resent her for making that decision without them. Especially since it resulted in not only thousands Syrians escaping a war zone, but others from elsewhere who came flooding into the country for purely economic reasons.
No doubt this will be a major topic she'll be facing in her bid for re-election come September.
2
Sometimes it is worth acknowledging what one German Chancellor can personally achieve that betters humankind.
Chancellor Merkel has been a beacon of hope in a world that turns its back on the poor and displaced of our world.
Chancellor Merkel has been a beacon of hope in a world that turns its back on the poor and displaced of our world.
2
Maybe many (especially among the migrants) do not realized how much germany has moved already. We have shown a certain resilience against the problems that come with unchecked mass migration. This is already a big concession, but we still have to stress this over and over again.
This is what journalism can be with resources and support. Amazing. Loved every delicious word.
Great piece. Weimar is a beautiful city and very culturally important to Germans. It's pretty hard to integrate into German society, however. There are a lot of traditions and complex structures that Germans revere and there are high expectations on immigrants to fit in with these quickly. There are third-generation Turkish immigrants in Germany that are still not integrated into 'mainstream' German culture because of the difficulties. There is also a lot of prejudice against foreigners, especially in the former East.
Even as a white European I found it hard to integrate when I lived there, despite speaking 'accent-free' fluent German according to most people I met. At the same time, I valued and respected Germany as a modern European leader and their social values were similar to my own. It seems some of the Syrians profiled in this piece were still clinging to their own cultural norms e.g. on homosexuality. That is not a recipe for successful integration.
As someone who has lived in a number of countries as a foreigner, I do believe that you have to adhere to the norms of the country you are in if you want to stay there. It is respectful to your fellow citizens of the country and it is just common sense because you will do better and thrive.
Even as a white European I found it hard to integrate when I lived there, despite speaking 'accent-free' fluent German according to most people I met. At the same time, I valued and respected Germany as a modern European leader and their social values were similar to my own. It seems some of the Syrians profiled in this piece were still clinging to their own cultural norms e.g. on homosexuality. That is not a recipe for successful integration.
As someone who has lived in a number of countries as a foreigner, I do believe that you have to adhere to the norms of the country you are in if you want to stay there. It is respectful to your fellow citizens of the country and it is just common sense because you will do better and thrive.
5
"True integration only comes when both sides are willing to move"
Wrong attitude!
Somebody who leaves his/her country to find a better life in another country or to be out of a war zone and takes the decision to move to the Western world, to a country so different from the one he/she is leaving has to accept and adapt to the chosen country. The receiving people can help, but they do not have to "move".
Wrong attitude!
Somebody who leaves his/her country to find a better life in another country or to be out of a war zone and takes the decision to move to the Western world, to a country so different from the one he/she is leaving has to accept and adapt to the chosen country. The receiving people can help, but they do not have to "move".
25
Let's face it. The time of "Willkommenskultur" and "Wir Schaffen Das!" is over.
After taking in nearly 1 million refugees and migrants two years ago, the landscape has definitely changed.
Even family and friends in Germany who once saw Angela Merkel's humanitarian response to the suffering in Syria, are now saying enough is enough.
Trying to accommodate this massive influx has been no small feat. People forget that (West) Germans are still paying taxes for the re-unification with East Germany, and since the Wall came down, real-estate and property costs have boomed, making affordable housing a thing of the past.
These mounting costs are only part of the resentment felt by many; on top of providing housing, food, clothing, and instruction, comes the additional tasks of assimilating very different and foreign cultures that often stand at odds with the everyday freedoms often taken for granted.
What I wonder is given the choice, how many Syrians would actually go back? -- and how long is Germany going to cope with this, plus their over-extended families, when so many of its own citizens are falling below the poverty line?
Questions like this are sure to asked ahead of the elections in September.
The future of Angela Merkel will most assuredly depend on the answers.
Nice work on the stories. Danke.
After taking in nearly 1 million refugees and migrants two years ago, the landscape has definitely changed.
Even family and friends in Germany who once saw Angela Merkel's humanitarian response to the suffering in Syria, are now saying enough is enough.
Trying to accommodate this massive influx has been no small feat. People forget that (West) Germans are still paying taxes for the re-unification with East Germany, and since the Wall came down, real-estate and property costs have boomed, making affordable housing a thing of the past.
These mounting costs are only part of the resentment felt by many; on top of providing housing, food, clothing, and instruction, comes the additional tasks of assimilating very different and foreign cultures that often stand at odds with the everyday freedoms often taken for granted.
What I wonder is given the choice, how many Syrians would actually go back? -- and how long is Germany going to cope with this, plus their over-extended families, when so many of its own citizens are falling below the poverty line?
Questions like this are sure to asked ahead of the elections in September.
The future of Angela Merkel will most assuredly depend on the answers.
Nice work on the stories. Danke.
14
"The future of Angela Merkel will most assuredly depend on the answers."
Watch us voting for Merkel for a 4th term while you are at odds with your president already after 100 days.
And i don't like your attitude, wasn't america once the country where 'everything goes' while germany ought to be the country of the 'berufspessimisten' or pessimists by contract ?
Maybe the refuge challenge change us, maybe were will become more self-confident with standing up to a tough moral ground. Maybe we back politician even if they make unpopular decisions.
Watch us voting for Merkel for a 4th term while you are at odds with your president already after 100 days.
And i don't like your attitude, wasn't america once the country where 'everything goes' while germany ought to be the country of the 'berufspessimisten' or pessimists by contract ?
Maybe the refuge challenge change us, maybe were will become more self-confident with standing up to a tough moral ground. Maybe we back politician even if they make unpopular decisions.
Mathias -- so interesting that you are planning to vote for Merkel again and bragging about it. The only reason we have a President Trump is because of Merkel and her suicidal "refugee" policy. Marine LePen has probably gotten thousands of votes because of Merkel and last but not least Brexit is a reality largely because of Merkel. Have fun voting for her one more time.
3
@Weitz
First off. I'm half-German, so I have a say in this.
And you seem to make the mistake of thinking that ALL Americans voted for Donald Tump. Stimmt nicht.
Just for the record.
Trump won by a minority of votes, and an outdated technicality called the "Electoral College"...I suggst you Google it.
Noch was.
You know nothing about my sogenannte "attitude".
Best to ask questions before jumping to wrong conclusions.....Nicht wahr???
First off. I'm half-German, so I have a say in this.
And you seem to make the mistake of thinking that ALL Americans voted for Donald Tump. Stimmt nicht.
Just for the record.
Trump won by a minority of votes, and an outdated technicality called the "Electoral College"...I suggst you Google it.
Noch was.
You know nothing about my sogenannte "attitude".
Best to ask questions before jumping to wrong conclusions.....Nicht wahr???
2
While I agree with many commentators here that immigrants should adapt to the host culture, people should realize how difficult that can be. Try this "what if" scenario: What if civil war and genocide was tearing apart Europe, and the Gulf States offered to take in refugees. What if the European refugees were given housing, Arabic language classes, and permission to work. Then, what if residents of the Gulf States said the refugees are welcome to stay, but they must adapt to their Gulf culture. Gays must remain totally closest or risk severe punishment, women will have limited opportunities for work and will not be able to do many daily tasks around town without a male relative, if in Saudi Arabia women will not be able to drive, free expression of religion (aside from Islam) will be mostly prohibited, women will cover themselves despite their own preferences. How many Europeans would gladly adapt to their new home if this were the case? The cultural differences between liberal Europe and conservative Muslim countries seems just too big for many people to migrate and adapt easily.
I'm quite happy in LA with our Latino immigrants. While differences with traditional Anglo culture exist, they seem much more surmountable. And don't get me wrong, I support accepting Syrian refugees in the US. I think it comes down to how many and how concentrated they are that make the difference.
I'm quite happy in LA with our Latino immigrants. While differences with traditional Anglo culture exist, they seem much more surmountable. And don't get me wrong, I support accepting Syrian refugees in the US. I think it comes down to how many and how concentrated they are that make the difference.
3
I was recently in Norway and did not meet one single person who had anything positive to say about the influx of refugees to their country. They confided in me and said they could not share their viewpoint(s) with other Norwegians in fear of being labeled racist. These were very politically correct people too. When I was asked my opinion I just replied, "religious oil and secular water". It was so glaringly obvious that it is not a good state of affairs there. In the future there will be a very strong backlash, guaranteed.
12
Thank you for a thoughtful and nuanced series of articles. Reading it, I kept thinking of the American immigrant experience. We are far enough removed from mass immigration, it is easy to forget how alien Italians, Eastern Europeans, and Chinese immigrants seemed. Three generations later, it all just seems quaint. But it was not quaint in 1910. They weren't considered "white." Catholicism was seen as a threat to the Protestant majority. Some states banned teaching in foreign languages. It was ugly. It takes decades for real integration to happen.
1
I heard the story of another refugee on VPR (Vermont Public Radio) - the story she had related about herself on a Ted talk. THAT LADY WAS A REFUGEE. She had a handful of items in some sort of hand carry sack, and she was with 4 youngsters, 1 brother and 3 children. The lady had been in refugee camps all across the eastern shores of Africa and was originally from South Sudan. She was truly being persecuted by criminals raiding the camps and at one time she had to run a few hours after having given birth. I had tears in my eyes after hearing that story and I am a very hardened man. I could KILL her tormentors without a second thought. It was very upsetting to hear her ordeal.
These alleged refugees from Syria are nothing but economic migrants. They want to choose one place over another where they want to live. They are coming like VIPs with bags of luggage and cell phones and thousands of dollars in their pockets. These Syrians are NOT refugees. They do not face persecution based on their race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion. They have a civil war there and must see that war to an end, either belong to one side or other.
Australia has identified this Refugee affair absolutely correctly. When a person can pay thousands to a smuggler they are not a refugee and these Syrians are not refugees.
I am of the opinion they all need to be returned to Syria and if they want to migrate then apply using correct immigration process.
These alleged refugees from Syria are nothing but economic migrants. They want to choose one place over another where they want to live. They are coming like VIPs with bags of luggage and cell phones and thousands of dollars in their pockets. These Syrians are NOT refugees. They do not face persecution based on their race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion. They have a civil war there and must see that war to an end, either belong to one side or other.
Australia has identified this Refugee affair absolutely correctly. When a person can pay thousands to a smuggler they are not a refugee and these Syrians are not refugees.
I am of the opinion they all need to be returned to Syria and if they want to migrate then apply using correct immigration process.
14
Don't speak for Australia.
Our refugee policies - for the past 16 years - have been the epitome of callous indifference to suffering, base use of refugees for short-term political gain, and a betrayal of anything those "Christian" politicians may have once mouthed.
"Suffer the little children" ? Passing on by, on the other side of the road ?
Australia's only honorary citizen is Raoul Wallenberg - one of my everlasting personal heroes.
Our refugee policies - for the past 16 years - have been the epitome of callous indifference to suffering, base use of refugees for short-term political gain, and a betrayal of anything those "Christian" politicians may have once mouthed.
"Suffer the little children" ? Passing on by, on the other side of the road ?
Australia's only honorary citizen is Raoul Wallenberg - one of my everlasting personal heroes.
Syrian husbands forbidding their wives from working in Germany, preferring entitlement and handouts because of their cultural norms...sigh. Again it seems like the men are getting in the way.
9
whoever refuses to assimilate should just go back where they are from. simple as that.
6
The cognitive dissonance present in contemporary society about Islam stems from an unwillingness to defend Western civilization today. "Progressives" have in recent decades made it priority #1 to mentally reprogram our youth to believe that the West is inherently evil, and that the "rest" of the world is a Utopia of daffodils and cuddly bunnies.
"Western Civilization" is nowadays taught as something to be embarrassed about. It is presented as a story of colonialism, fascism, and the evils of Israel, with some mansplaining, man-spreading, transphobia, and bi-erasure sprinkled throughout. It is no longer "cool" among people my age (millennials) to be patriotic and proud of the West's immense achievements throughout history.
If one wants to maintain one's culture, one has to respect one's culture. Cultural relativism and cultural masochism will be the end of the West as we know it, with Salafism (an absolutist ideology) eagerly awaiting its turn to fill this cultural vaccum.
It is time to wake up now. Too much is at stake. Imagine if the worst case scenario plays out and a Houellebecqian future is written for us: Sharia in Europe. If not the West, then where? Where will *those* refugees who yearn for freedom be able to flee to if the West as we now know it no longer exists?
"Western Civilization" is nowadays taught as something to be embarrassed about. It is presented as a story of colonialism, fascism, and the evils of Israel, with some mansplaining, man-spreading, transphobia, and bi-erasure sprinkled throughout. It is no longer "cool" among people my age (millennials) to be patriotic and proud of the West's immense achievements throughout history.
If one wants to maintain one's culture, one has to respect one's culture. Cultural relativism and cultural masochism will be the end of the West as we know it, with Salafism (an absolutist ideology) eagerly awaiting its turn to fill this cultural vaccum.
It is time to wake up now. Too much is at stake. Imagine if the worst case scenario plays out and a Houellebecqian future is written for us: Sharia in Europe. If not the West, then where? Where will *those* refugees who yearn for freedom be able to flee to if the West as we now know it no longer exists?
11
Here's a question: do you think Martin Luthor King was a patriot? After all, he pointed out the failures and hypocrisy of American culture while calling on the oppressed to rise up. Yet he did it because he believed in the promise of America, believed that it could be better than it was.
Criticism is not lack of respect. Only insecure, authoritarian people see it that way. Thoughtful, sincere criticism is an act of love. Remembering our failures as well as our triumphs is an act of respect. Trying to get our country to live up to its own ideals is an act of patriotism. One of our ideals is religious freedom. I don't agree with all aspects of any religion, including Islam and Christianity. I'd make a terrible Muslim. Yet I don't feel threatened by anyone living their own beliefs as long as it doesn't hurt anyone else. I don't need everyone to be like me in order to feel safe. Do you?
Our ideals have always been most endangered by those who cling to an idealized past and view any hint of change as a threat to their identity.
Criticism is not lack of respect. Only insecure, authoritarian people see it that way. Thoughtful, sincere criticism is an act of love. Remembering our failures as well as our triumphs is an act of respect. Trying to get our country to live up to its own ideals is an act of patriotism. One of our ideals is religious freedom. I don't agree with all aspects of any religion, including Islam and Christianity. I'd make a terrible Muslim. Yet I don't feel threatened by anyone living their own beliefs as long as it doesn't hurt anyone else. I don't need everyone to be like me in order to feel safe. Do you?
Our ideals have always been most endangered by those who cling to an idealized past and view any hint of change as a threat to their identity.
2
In the past Germany had little experience with colonialism and immigration; therefore, German citizens are ill prepared for the current crisis; especially in terms of effective communication. Inhabitants of the UK, USA, Australasia, Canada and France through colonialism and immigration have often encountered a multitude of spoken varieties of English / French and can decode all types of accents, strange grammatical constructions, contextually inappropriate vocabulary and so on. Germans by contrast have great difficulties decoding their language when it is spoken by a non-native speaker. This inability to decode less than perfectly spoken German is one side of the integration equation. I have seen migrants from the Arab world and Eastern Europe rebuffed or humiliated by Germans, many times, on the basis of their less than perfect spoken German. Varying values, different world views are issues which citizens of the receiving country could discuss for hours but if the imagination and flexibility required to decode what the newcomer says in less than perfect German is lacking, all will be lost and the newcomers will seal themselves off.
Another problem - many Germans, because of their historical experience, deny that they are German, stating instead they are “Europeans”. The whole fraught issue of German identity persists and if such identity issues have not been resolved, how can locals assist newcomers in integrating?
Another problem - many Germans, because of their historical experience, deny that they are German, stating instead they are “Europeans”. The whole fraught issue of German identity persists and if such identity issues have not been resolved, how can locals assist newcomers in integrating?
As a german, i totally disagree with this comment.
What has colonialism has to do with migration, do you think refugees are some kind of weird tribes that have to be studied before you can interact with them.
And about immigration, every 5th person living here is a migrant, and we have a huge diversity of nations, they have been coming from. Only a few countries (US among them) has such a diversity. We have experience.
And finally looking at the sheer numbers of refugees, and comparing it to other countries, and considering that we a getting things done (wir schaffen das), i do believe we really do not have to worry to much about our history or strange accents.
What has colonialism has to do with migration, do you think refugees are some kind of weird tribes that have to be studied before you can interact with them.
And about immigration, every 5th person living here is a migrant, and we have a huge diversity of nations, they have been coming from. Only a few countries (US among them) has such a diversity. We have experience.
And finally looking at the sheer numbers of refugees, and comparing it to other countries, and considering that we a getting things done (wir schaffen das), i do believe we really do not have to worry to much about our history or strange accents.
@Mathias Weitz of Frankfurt am Main
The rationale and logic of my argument has been completely missed. It's about language and exposure to variations by the NSs.
“Weird tribes” (not my term), btw, is an utterly derogatory term, which belongs to the outer reaches of prejudice.
There is a large migrant population in Germany and many (esp. the Turks) even to the third generation are still considered foreigners by the locals, though born, schooled and raised in Germany. I’ve lived in Germany for over a decade, speak excellent German (as stated by Germans), and have experienced prejudice every single day, in daily encounters, because I am not German. And I hear of the same prejudiced encounters experienced by Russians, Americans, Bulgarians, Koreans, and Lebanese with whom I am acquainted. If, in Germany, you look different or sound different - you will probably be either patronised (the cute, exotic foreigner) or rebuffed - but seldom treated as an equal.
The rationale and logic of my argument has been completely missed. It's about language and exposure to variations by the NSs.
“Weird tribes” (not my term), btw, is an utterly derogatory term, which belongs to the outer reaches of prejudice.
There is a large migrant population in Germany and many (esp. the Turks) even to the third generation are still considered foreigners by the locals, though born, schooled and raised in Germany. I’ve lived in Germany for over a decade, speak excellent German (as stated by Germans), and have experienced prejudice every single day, in daily encounters, because I am not German. And I hear of the same prejudiced encounters experienced by Russians, Americans, Bulgarians, Koreans, and Lebanese with whom I am acquainted. If, in Germany, you look different or sound different - you will probably be either patronised (the cute, exotic foreigner) or rebuffed - but seldom treated as an equal.
1
Thank you so much for this truly great article.
I am German and currently writing my Master's thesis in International Management about refugee integration, their expectations towards the German labor market, and the role(s) of businesses and particularly HR in the integration process. This great piece sheds much needed light on the feelings, opinions, fears, and expectations of migrants in our country. Unfortunately, in German, many talk about the wave of immigrants as a "crisis". This unflattering word has entered everyday language. We should all, German or not, make it an experience, integrate migrants, support refugees in any way we can; I think only we together can make sure that everyone benefits from the current situation. Be it by finding a job, filling a position, or ultimately turning the demographic development around. Yes, there are many challenges. Yes, there are many refugees in Germany, the majority being Muslims, whose religious practices we don't have much experience with or knowledge about. However, I believe Ina Schörnig is right when she says that both sides need to move.
Thank you again for this masterpiece!
I am German and currently writing my Master's thesis in International Management about refugee integration, their expectations towards the German labor market, and the role(s) of businesses and particularly HR in the integration process. This great piece sheds much needed light on the feelings, opinions, fears, and expectations of migrants in our country. Unfortunately, in German, many talk about the wave of immigrants as a "crisis". This unflattering word has entered everyday language. We should all, German or not, make it an experience, integrate migrants, support refugees in any way we can; I think only we together can make sure that everyone benefits from the current situation. Be it by finding a job, filling a position, or ultimately turning the demographic development around. Yes, there are many challenges. Yes, there are many refugees in Germany, the majority being Muslims, whose religious practices we don't have much experience with or knowledge about. However, I believe Ina Schörnig is right when she says that both sides need to move.
Thank you again for this masterpiece!
4
Thank you for this piece of welcome advice. During the 1960s, Australia
welcomed our first migrants from Turkey. There was a great deal of negative reaction, especially as they were generally our first experience of Muslims.
Especially as there were many veterans still alive who had fought their fathers and grandfathers at the landings of Gallipoli in 1915. Forgetting that Turkey had later committed troops to the Korean War - and that Australian and Turkish troops had fought side by side as allies.
Now a major mosque in Sydney is called the Gallipoli Mosque and Islam is a religious belief practised amongst others (despite the right-wing rants of some of our politicians).
No culture is impervious to change.
welcomed our first migrants from Turkey. There was a great deal of negative reaction, especially as they were generally our first experience of Muslims.
Especially as there were many veterans still alive who had fought their fathers and grandfathers at the landings of Gallipoli in 1915. Forgetting that Turkey had later committed troops to the Korean War - and that Australian and Turkish troops had fought side by side as allies.
Now a major mosque in Sydney is called the Gallipoli Mosque and Islam is a religious belief practised amongst others (despite the right-wing rants of some of our politicians).
No culture is impervious to change.
Based on demographics alone, immigrants having more many more children than their German counterparts, Germany could have Sharia law within 30 years. I struggle to understand how progressives turn their backs on western civilization and all of its positive attributes.
21
The majority of the immigrants are young men, not young families who are coming to Germany and having large families.
The logical consequence of a Moslem majority is not sharia law. Lebanon is 70 per cent Moslem and does not have sharia law.
Western civilisation is founded on the basis of the Roman / Christian Church and Greek / Roman learning. Who exactly are the progressives and which positive aspects of Christianity and Graeco-Roman learning are they rejecting?
The logical consequence of a Moslem majority is not sharia law. Lebanon is 70 per cent Moslem and does not have sharia law.
Western civilisation is founded on the basis of the Roman / Christian Church and Greek / Roman learning. Who exactly are the progressives and which positive aspects of Christianity and Graeco-Roman learning are they rejecting?
The Germans who wish to extend a hand to all refugees are good but naive people. Those refugees who are willing to conform to European civilization's secular attitudes towards religiosity and liberal attitudes towards gender relations and women's rights ought to be welcome here. It took a lot of effort to remove the oppression of the churches and to end the second-class nature of women's citizenship, and we shouldn't be willing to throw those achievements away just so foreigners won't feel challenged. If they want to come here, they must learn to accept how we do things in our part of the world. If they can't give up Islam then they can stay in the Islamic world. There are plenty of places in the Islamic world other than Syria that they could go to.
21
Cultural integration is very hard. In business school, as classmates were learning hard skills like valuation in the context of M&A, I remember how my professor emphasized that successful acquisitions relied on cultural integration (and price paid for target) more than anything else.
I would expect that given their clinical efficiency, Germans have figured out what to do regarding cultural integration - for both sides. A clear strategic vision, Education, and open communication (e.g. address of personal fears: how does this impact me personally) is paramount.
Education is necessary. Not just in language, but in civics and values. Behavior can be shaped, but you have to clarify what's acceptable and what's not. Unquestioned respect for law (lives and property), equality of women, and zero tolerance for homophobia: These are values that need to be reinforced.
It's easy to look down on the beliefs of certain people who are different from us. But, before we bask in our own sense of superiority, let me remind people that in this day and age in the glorious United States of America, (after 30? years) companies still educate people on sexual harassment...No doubt, we've come a long way, but we're not done, and we needed to set standards of behavior, train people regularly, reinforce the message, and lay down the consequences.
So, let's not underestimate the power of making our values known, educating people, and having consequences for bad behavior... it will still take time.
I would expect that given their clinical efficiency, Germans have figured out what to do regarding cultural integration - for both sides. A clear strategic vision, Education, and open communication (e.g. address of personal fears: how does this impact me personally) is paramount.
Education is necessary. Not just in language, but in civics and values. Behavior can be shaped, but you have to clarify what's acceptable and what's not. Unquestioned respect for law (lives and property), equality of women, and zero tolerance for homophobia: These are values that need to be reinforced.
It's easy to look down on the beliefs of certain people who are different from us. But, before we bask in our own sense of superiority, let me remind people that in this day and age in the glorious United States of America, (after 30? years) companies still educate people on sexual harassment...No doubt, we've come a long way, but we're not done, and we needed to set standards of behavior, train people regularly, reinforce the message, and lay down the consequences.
So, let's not underestimate the power of making our values known, educating people, and having consequences for bad behavior... it will still take time.
2
The German government has forgotten to whom they are responsible and accountable. Endless sums have been spent to accommodate a million plus foreigners while Germans who have paid taxes for years have been left to fend for themselves. The German safety net has failed their own citizens as the liberal focus drifted towards people with no intention of adopting the German culture but rather imposing their own medieval culture on Germans. It is the fashionable thing to do. Perhaps Merkel's roots in communist East Germany is the basis of her flawed perspective.
11
Yep. Kind of like here in the US. Liberals get all excited about the new arrivals (illegal immigrants) and want to feel the warm fuzzies from helping them, but they show nothing but contempt for struggling citizens.
9
You've hit on one of the reasons the dems lost big last year. The obsession with immigrants ( legal or otherwise), open borders, multiculturalism etc by the left and the democrats, while neglecting ordinary citizens helped pave the way for trumps ascendency. No one wants to believe that their government is more concerned with the needs and rights of others to the exclusion of their own. This is not to say we or the euros haven't or don't want to help the less fortunate, but that can't come at the expense of regular citizens.
12
I love the subtle diversions present throughout this article. For example, why does the NYTimes say that hundreds of North African men were merely "accused" of sexually assaulting hundreds of women in Cologne?
Why can't this newspaper just be honest and say that hundreds of North African men *did* sexually assault hundreds of women that night?
What about the fact that migrants attempted a repeat of this sexual mob assault the following New Year's Eve as well, only to be prevented from doing so by heavy police presence?
No mention of the German teenager who was raped and killed by an Afghan migrant despite the fact that she was volunteering in her local refugee center either?
Also not mentioned is the fact that migrants/refugees are currently on their best behavior while their asylum cases are being reviewed. However, once the verdicts are given, there will be no more incentive for good behavior. This is when the floodgates will open. Those "stares" that the young women describe in this article could end up escalating into far worse scenarios.
One must be realistic and honest here. One wants to believe that integration is achievable, but as a fan of facts and statistics myself, I have no reason to believe that this current wave of mass Muslim immigration will end up with better results than previous waves.
Why can't this newspaper just be honest and say that hundreds of North African men *did* sexually assault hundreds of women that night?
What about the fact that migrants attempted a repeat of this sexual mob assault the following New Year's Eve as well, only to be prevented from doing so by heavy police presence?
No mention of the German teenager who was raped and killed by an Afghan migrant despite the fact that she was volunteering in her local refugee center either?
Also not mentioned is the fact that migrants/refugees are currently on their best behavior while their asylum cases are being reviewed. However, once the verdicts are given, there will be no more incentive for good behavior. This is when the floodgates will open. Those "stares" that the young women describe in this article could end up escalating into far worse scenarios.
One must be realistic and honest here. One wants to believe that integration is achievable, but as a fan of facts and statistics myself, I have no reason to believe that this current wave of mass Muslim immigration will end up with better results than previous waves.
15
Why so many americans can not admit, that in average 3.9 people (of 10000) in the US die by homicide, while in germany the rate is only 0.9. And much of this four time higher rate is due to these ridiculous gun laws.
(data from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_intentional_homicide_....
It is frustrating what happened in cologne and elsewhere, and every incident is one incident to much. But when taking a sober look at the statistics, this fearmongering is more than just a little over the top.
And it is not all about us (germans). Many of these refugees will prosper, get skills, this is also statistics and happened in all the immigration waves before. This is an essential to prevent syria, and neighbouring countries turn into failed states, once this war is over.
With all this pro and cons think of this like this: the US and other western countries are trying to change the middle east for decades. The US invested billions in bombs and lost thousands of soldiers and the situation turned from bad to ugly. So let us germans try to invest billions in people, and also endure some pain, and see how we fare.
(data from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_intentional_homicide_....
It is frustrating what happened in cologne and elsewhere, and every incident is one incident to much. But when taking a sober look at the statistics, this fearmongering is more than just a little over the top.
And it is not all about us (germans). Many of these refugees will prosper, get skills, this is also statistics and happened in all the immigration waves before. This is an essential to prevent syria, and neighbouring countries turn into failed states, once this war is over.
With all this pro and cons think of this like this: the US and other western countries are trying to change the middle east for decades. The US invested billions in bombs and lost thousands of soldiers and the situation turned from bad to ugly. So let us germans try to invest billions in people, and also endure some pain, and see how we fare.
2
Oil and water.
5
@Mathias Weitz
Classic diversionary response by bringing up gun crime in America. I am completely aware of the statistics, so there is no need to educate me about them.
However, your argument about gun crime is a total non sequitur. Does America have a huge problem with guns? Yes. Should guns be far more regulated? Of course.
But does it then necessarily follow that the West might as well *also* import the problems of Jihad and sexual assault? What kind of logic is that?
So just because we already have problem A, we might as well add to our problems by introducing problem B?
It's as if an obese person said "well, I am already overweight so I might as well take up smoking too."
Totally ridiculous logic.
Classic diversionary response by bringing up gun crime in America. I am completely aware of the statistics, so there is no need to educate me about them.
However, your argument about gun crime is a total non sequitur. Does America have a huge problem with guns? Yes. Should guns be far more regulated? Of course.
But does it then necessarily follow that the West might as well *also* import the problems of Jihad and sexual assault? What kind of logic is that?
So just because we already have problem A, we might as well add to our problems by introducing problem B?
It's as if an obese person said "well, I am already overweight so I might as well take up smoking too."
Totally ridiculous logic.
5
The story is a pleasant surprise because initial enthusiasm in Germany tends to die away rather quickly in the drab day-to-day struggle. It was quite remarkable that it took only a few months after reunification before an Westerners soured on those "bloody Easterners" and an ugly longing set in for the "good ole' Wall" that kept the demanding Easterners out. Weimar was part of East Germany where despite of lip service to international friendship, mistrust of any foreigner was official state policy. The Weimarians, as any East German, had to pass a cultural shock and an adaptation of their own. The economic conditions were such that the onus was on them to leartn the new rules or perish. It is therefore remarkable how many in that city seem to remember their own difficulties and don't wish the Syrians to suffer the same. Chapeau!
2
During the Second World War, 60 million perished. Of these, 20 million were young Russian men fighting a Nazi invasion.
Imagine if these 20 million men had just decided to flee to, say, America, instead of defending their nation against fascism. The Nazi Empire would currently extend all the way to Vladivostok.
But that is exactly what is currently happening with young male migrants from Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan today. Instead of fighting for their countries, they are seeking a new, better life in Europe.
It might sound harsh, but a dispassionate analysis can only lead one to conclude that they should be fighting in their home countries against the theocratic fascists who are currently sweeping through them.
And this all derives from a rotten double standard held by too many Westerners: an expectation that Western males (with their "toxic masculinity" no doubt) are obliged to fight for their countries, while delicate, victimized Muslim men should be generously welcomed into advanced societies.
By the way, where are all the female migrants? Why have they been left behind if their home countries are so dangerous?
Imagine if these 20 million men had just decided to flee to, say, America, instead of defending their nation against fascism. The Nazi Empire would currently extend all the way to Vladivostok.
But that is exactly what is currently happening with young male migrants from Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan today. Instead of fighting for their countries, they are seeking a new, better life in Europe.
It might sound harsh, but a dispassionate analysis can only lead one to conclude that they should be fighting in their home countries against the theocratic fascists who are currently sweeping through them.
And this all derives from a rotten double standard held by too many Westerners: an expectation that Western males (with their "toxic masculinity" no doubt) are obliged to fight for their countries, while delicate, victimized Muslim men should be generously welcomed into advanced societies.
By the way, where are all the female migrants? Why have they been left behind if their home countries are so dangerous?
28
Most Syrian refugees are either women or children. Syrian rebels have been fighting for longer than WWII existed, and frankly they would have already kicked out Assad had not Russia come to his aid. You are delusional if you think that Syrians are the "delicate" ones compared to Westerners.
You tried to make two major points, and you are factually incorrect on both. Please add comments, not just parrot talking points you heard on conspiracy websites.
You tried to make two major points, and you are factually incorrect on both. Please add comments, not just parrot talking points you heard on conspiracy websites.
It's easier to run than fight. They expect our military to go and straighten it all out for them. Then when it is done, do any of the refugees return? Doubtful.
7
@SomebodyThinking
And your comment is one of straw-man diversions. I mentioned three countries. And the people coming from the three *combined* are mostly male. Fact.
A war against fascism must always be total war. Every military-aged man in Syria should have enlisted to fight *WITH* Assad, not against him. For Assad is leading the only faction that even comes close to being able to govern the country once more.
Who are these "rebels" that you speak of, by the way? The head-chopping al-Nusra, who the US gleefully funded and armed, for example? Even the secular ones, do they have enough manpower to win the war, let alone govern once the war is over? Have you learned absolutely nothing from toppling dictators in Iraq, Libya, and Egypt?
Get real.
And your comment is one of straw-man diversions. I mentioned three countries. And the people coming from the three *combined* are mostly male. Fact.
A war against fascism must always be total war. Every military-aged man in Syria should have enlisted to fight *WITH* Assad, not against him. For Assad is leading the only faction that even comes close to being able to govern the country once more.
Who are these "rebels" that you speak of, by the way? The head-chopping al-Nusra, who the US gleefully funded and armed, for example? Even the secular ones, do they have enough manpower to win the war, let alone govern once the war is over? Have you learned absolutely nothing from toppling dictators in Iraq, Libya, and Egypt?
Get real.
5
This goes to show that Isalm is incompatible with our western values. It is the reason that Mr. Bashar is having an easier transition into Germany than his peers. We must really re-evaluate our immigration policy for the sake of the security of our modern society.
20
Thank you for this! After reading all the early stories 1-2 years ago of refugees arriving, I was really interested to see follow up. I'm so impressed by the commitment of the German government and its many citizens in working alongside the refugees to acclimate to each other and help make the transition a success for both sides.
2
My son visited Germany in December 2016 and interviewed several social workers and political scientists who are involved in the refugee resettlement, for a paper for his graduate degree in social policies (at an American university). He allowed me to listen to the tapes. All of the German workers he interviewed had a common theme of a positive desire to assist the Syrians to feel welcome and assimilate, but with the reality that it will take one or two generations for real assimilation. Embracing the right of refugees to maintain a sense of their culture is certainly expected, but all refugees, regardless of where they are from, must understand that conforming to certain social norms of any country that they immigrate to is also expected, especially when they include contemporary rights for females, expectations to learn the predominant language of the country, and become educated or vocationally trained to be financially independent (no permanent, government welfare support), in order to care for themselves and their families.
13
Amazing! 900 hours of free language classes, plus free healthcare, housing and some pocketmoney!....And we thought we were soo accomodating by reluctantly taking in around 10.000 Syrians. Shame on us, given that, grace to Bush, we own this mess actually. Time for Merkel to call Donald and and say: you owe me 14 billions!
Thank you though, a very insightful reportage, highlighting the complexities of being in another "land"....
Thank you though, a very insightful reportage, highlighting the complexities of being in another "land"....
19
Svenbi, why don't you write a check to Merkel? You and all liberals love to spend other peoples money on your causes to feel good - but you don't support these causes with your money.
Put your money (not everyone else's) where your mouth is!
Put your money (not everyone else's) where your mouth is!
7
Nope. We don't have to take in endless refugees. Let Merkel do her own thing.
5
It's all about the money. Germany has an ageing population. Germany could pay endogenous Germans to take care of the elderly, the young and the sick. It's much cheaper, however, to hire unskilled immigrants who cant speak German properly and are prepared to work for peanuts. Learn the basics of labour economics and labour markets. Follow the money.
13
That argument is the Ponzi scheme of capitalism and western culture. That you need an ever growing population to continue further down the road of quantity over quality. The easy question is- where does it end? When do you have enough people or, really when do you have too many? Most scientists think most countries and the planet are far over populated now. We need a new way of thinking about economies and the world that supports us. The ongoing insanity of unlimited population growth on a finite planet is reaching its easily predicted conclusion- resource, wildlife, ocean, open space etc depletion and the inevitable increase in human misery. You would not continue to stuff people into your home with no thought to the future. Why in gods name do we continue to think it can work on a global scale??
17
In a world with far too many people, refugees and conflict Germany or any other stable country does itself a disservice by throwing the doors open to millions of immigrants. Taking in millions (billions if every unhappy person is allowed to come) will lead to economic and social chaos. Islam has no history of tolerance or democracy. The west will be far better off helping these people solve their problems at home (starting with birth control) and Islam can do its part by having the reformation it should have had hundreds of years ago. Africa alone produces 30 million extra new people/year. Should the west take all of them in-when Africa can't take care of its people now? Drowning the west in a sea of never ending immigrants will serve only to produce a third world west.
31
If another country in a foreign culture gives me a home when mine is destroyed, it seems the obligation is on me to learn their ways, their language. The two-way part of the street was in them giving me sanctuary when I otherwise had none.
39
There is a difference between integration and assimilation. We do not ask for the latter.
4
This daunting challenge of integrating two very different cultures could have been avoided if the wealthy and oil-rich portions of the Muslim world had opened there arms to these refugees. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, etc. took very few but could have taken them all. For that matter, how many did Russia or China take in?
34
The wealthy, oil rich portions of the "Muslim" world don't want the trouble these refugees bring with them, either
2
So far this article seems to be about fairly superficial -even though confusing and annoying at times - differences. While cross-cultural values can force us to broaden our view, the deeper differences are hidden in a deep-rooted world view, and its subtle effects on a culture. That is much deeper, and conspicuous even in a cosmopolitan city where native-born populations prefer their own enclaves. The superficial differences are short-term and able to be absorbed.
3
Gender equality should be a non-negotiable issue -- if refugees don't accept this, Germany/Europe is not the place for them. Refugees must integrate into the host country, not the other way around.
Women should not have their rights challenged by new arrivals, who question their right to equality in implicit and explicit/violent ways. The casual harassment and violence, which does not get it any statistical report, is just staggering. And crimes by refugees are on the increase.
Unfortunately this article shows that an even larger "parallel society" is on its way to forming in major German cities, where Western mores, customs, and legal system are rejected/mocked in favor of tribal and familial ties.
Women should not have their rights challenged by new arrivals, who question their right to equality in implicit and explicit/violent ways. The casual harassment and violence, which does not get it any statistical report, is just staggering. And crimes by refugees are on the increase.
Unfortunately this article shows that an even larger "parallel society" is on its way to forming in major German cities, where Western mores, customs, and legal system are rejected/mocked in favor of tribal and familial ties.
48
Thanks for sharing these stories as they certainly help to put a human face on an issue that I have been grappling with from afar. This particular exchange left me wanting more though. I would love to have heard Anas' response to Eric's rather straightforward argument.
“You benefit from the rule of law in this country,” Eric said. “You have to trust the system.”
“That is the problem,” Anas explained. “We don’t trust the system.”
Eric said, “You have food, a home, all because of the system.”
IMO it goes to the very heart of the fears (justified or not) of the native population.
“You benefit from the rule of law in this country,” Eric said. “You have to trust the system.”
“That is the problem,” Anas explained. “We don’t trust the system.”
Eric said, “You have food, a home, all because of the system.”
IMO it goes to the very heart of the fears (justified or not) of the native population.
27
Anas continued to try to argue that the German faith in their system was preventing the country from being flexible and moving forward at a rate fast enough to keep up with the numbers of migrants it was trying to take in and process.
On the one hand, he was right. In the year after the nearly 1 million people arrived here, the country's Interior Minister came up with a new, digitally driven form of processing them. This was a huge leap forward and only possible after the failures of the existing system led some refugees to take advantage of the generous benefits, or even allowing potential terrorists like Amri, the Berlin truck driver, to slip through.
But some of Eric's ultimate realization that all the best intentions may not be enough for integration to ultimately succeed, are rooted in Anas' refusal to understand that German success is rooted in the common support and respect for its very cumbersome bureaucratic system.
On the one hand, he was right. In the year after the nearly 1 million people arrived here, the country's Interior Minister came up with a new, digitally driven form of processing them. This was a huge leap forward and only possible after the failures of the existing system led some refugees to take advantage of the generous benefits, or even allowing potential terrorists like Amri, the Berlin truck driver, to slip through.
But some of Eric's ultimate realization that all the best intentions may not be enough for integration to ultimately succeed, are rooted in Anas' refusal to understand that German success is rooted in the common support and respect for its very cumbersome bureaucratic system.
7
Interesting. I chewed over that exchange as well. Being used to the concept of "benevolent autocrats", I suspect they see their good fortune thanks to Mama Merkel (who personally invited them!) as opposed to the "system".
I think what explains that attitude is their deep sense of mistrust for the administrative machinery of (any) state. Not surprising, as the same sentiment exists across the developing world, not just Arabs or Muslims, where they've seen authoritarian rule supported by the state and/or a well defined elite class that's figured out how to game the system. There's a default perspective that the bureaucracy of the state doesn't help the common man (woman), and so everyone is trying to determine what's the short cut I need to get ahead. There's always a "short cut" (term and approach I found fascinatingly common, indeed desirable, in India).
Part of their adjustment process is to appreciate the concept of equal protection and equal access for all citizens. Simple things like a line where no one can cut into ahead of them based on connections and privilege!
I think what explains that attitude is their deep sense of mistrust for the administrative machinery of (any) state. Not surprising, as the same sentiment exists across the developing world, not just Arabs or Muslims, where they've seen authoritarian rule supported by the state and/or a well defined elite class that's figured out how to game the system. There's a default perspective that the bureaucracy of the state doesn't help the common man (woman), and so everyone is trying to determine what's the short cut I need to get ahead. There's always a "short cut" (term and approach I found fascinatingly common, indeed desirable, in India).
Part of their adjustment process is to appreciate the concept of equal protection and equal access for all citizens. Simple things like a line where no one can cut into ahead of them based on connections and privilege!
4
I appreciate the additional context, but I still contend that Anas’ argument is misguided. I was struck by how generous and well thought out the German government’s plan is. Not only are the migrants being offered language lessons and housing, but they are also being provided with a monthly stipend. Like any bureaucracy I‘m sure that there are inefficiencies and frustrations for those who are forced to interact with it, but what is the alternative? One option is for the system to evolve as it seems to have done here (another gold star for the German system). If the German system is unable to accommodate the number of migrants it agreed to take in, then another option would be for it to not take any more in and thus the spigot would be shut off completely. Surely none of the migrants would be advocating this approach.
I think what the Germans and their government have tried to do here is beyond admirable and they should be commended for it regardless of whether or not it turns out to be the right thing to do for Germany. That said, it should not be incumbent upon the system (the one German nationals have consented to live by through democratic means) to change to accommodate the migrants. As noted in the article I agree that integration is a two-way street, but Anas and similarly thinking migrants must remember that many Germans have been living on that street for generations and feel like they have already gone above and beyond to hold up their end of the bargain.
I think what the Germans and their government have tried to do here is beyond admirable and they should be commended for it regardless of whether or not it turns out to be the right thing to do for Germany. That said, it should not be incumbent upon the system (the one German nationals have consented to live by through democratic means) to change to accommodate the migrants. As noted in the article I agree that integration is a two-way street, but Anas and similarly thinking migrants must remember that many Germans have been living on that street for generations and feel like they have already gone above and beyond to hold up their end of the bargain.
4
All very positive thus far, I reasonably doubt this is the actual case and wonder if we will find a more balanced and unbiased approach in the future.
9
If the immigrants don't like a country, they should go back.
I can't walk into a neighborhood , in a different state, and expect the people to accept me unless I conform , to a certain extent , to the way they live!
Isn't that what "freedom" is all about ?
I can't walk into a neighborhood , in a different state, and expect the people to accept me unless I conform , to a certain extent , to the way they live!
Isn't that what "freedom" is all about ?
18
They can't go back - their country is in a state of civil war.
With regard to Syria, there is no country to return to. A different State, so if I move to Texas I am expected to have a Cowboy hat/boots, attend church and/or like and watch football, rodeos and worst of all vote Red. If unwilling to conform I should not be able to live there even though I may just want to work toward a better life for myself and family. The new residents don't always want to turn local culture upside down or convert their neighbors, just to live quietly while not having their kids harassed or property vandalized
Very empathetic column.
Just keep in mind, the refuge crisis is just 1 1/2 years ago, and we have taken in 25 times as much refugees per capita than canada, which is already considered to be very generous.
We have a looming election in september, and the only right wing party (AfD) is down to single digit. But the opposing pro-refugee party (Grüne) is also single-digit.
And this is not the first refugee surge in recent german history. When the wall came down, the level of migration was similar high and lasted for several years. We have today more than 6 million russians living in germany, they alone outperform the whole muslim society.
Therefore it is so important to remind, that most of this 'crisis' now has moved forward into a daily struggle for becoming part of the society, with frustration, annoyance and the need to preserve some personal identity on both sides. It is no joyride, but is for sure not the downfall of europe.
Seeing how the US getting so agitated, so many people blowing their mind over the muslim refugees, it is so important to realize the average persons, who had been in these frightening large crowds streaming through europe, that still keep haunting the perception of so many.
Just keep in mind, the refuge crisis is just 1 1/2 years ago, and we have taken in 25 times as much refugees per capita than canada, which is already considered to be very generous.
We have a looming election in september, and the only right wing party (AfD) is down to single digit. But the opposing pro-refugee party (Grüne) is also single-digit.
And this is not the first refugee surge in recent german history. When the wall came down, the level of migration was similar high and lasted for several years. We have today more than 6 million russians living in germany, they alone outperform the whole muslim society.
Therefore it is so important to remind, that most of this 'crisis' now has moved forward into a daily struggle for becoming part of the society, with frustration, annoyance and the need to preserve some personal identity on both sides. It is no joyride, but is for sure not the downfall of europe.
Seeing how the US getting so agitated, so many people blowing their mind over the muslim refugees, it is so important to realize the average persons, who had been in these frightening large crowds streaming through europe, that still keep haunting the perception of so many.
9
“The dog is a he, but the table is a she. They have no logic.” No different from proper Arabic: the word for car (sayārah) is female and the word for pen (qalam) is male. Is there logic in this?
23
the table is "he".... by the way. Der Tisch.................
1
Table in German is male, maybe they were thinking of table top, which is female ;-)
1
The sun is female in Arabic and German and male in French!! The main reason reason why I like English is it being genderless!!
10
Thank you for these stories. It gives a deeper look into the lives of refugees, both the challenges and rewards. I was impressed with the German government efforts to teach language, culture and skills. I wish the United States was doing this. Good luck to all the participants. I hope they and the people around them meet with open hearts.
11
Thank you, Andrea.
The German government has dedicated a lot of money and thought to make this process of integration work. It’s certainly not without its challenges, but the rewards could be enormous in this country, with an aging population and where 691,000 jobs went unfilled last year.
The German government has dedicated a lot of money and thought to make this process of integration work. It’s certainly not without its challenges, but the rewards could be enormous in this country, with an aging population and where 691,000 jobs went unfilled last year.
6
Ridiculous. The answer to an aging population is not to stuff more people in, it is to embrace the possibility of finally arriving at a sustainable, population that can live in harmony with its environment and its economy. Helping the "aging population" to live productive, full lives and to contribute as long as possible will work. Ever more immigrants won't. Ignore your feelings and try looking at the numbers for a change.
6