GG, I write from a remote location, being an ex-pat in Germany since the days of Peanut v Peabrain (aka 1976). Yesterday and 10 days ago I took part in Frankfurt's peaceful, stationary rally/demo (+/- 20,000 participants) against the AFD, the local version of MAGA, which also happens to be a political party with representation in many "s…
GG, I write from a remote location, being an ex-pat in Germany since the days of Peanut v Peabrain (aka 1976). Yesterday and 10 days ago I took part in Frankfurt's peaceful, stationary rally/demo (+/- 20,000 participants) against the AFD, the local version of MAGA, which also happens to be a political party with representation in many "state" assemblies and in the Bundestag since we have a multi-party, parliamentary system. Rallies like that have been occurring for the past several weeks all over Germany, big cities (Berlin had 150,000 attendees last Saturday) and small, where the attendees amount to half or more of the population (OK, many come from "outside" the town).
What finally shook the broad population out of their lethargy (the AFD has formally existed for a decade or so), was a meeting, evesdropped upon and videoed by a crew of investigative journalists, between recognized neo-Nazis and some AFD representatives, including a close advisor (now, belatedly, fired) of the deputy leader of the party in which the topic was "remigration". That means to them, sending non-German appearing, sounding, being, acting immigrants "home", even those who "improperly" received German citizenship!! In other words, deportation of lawful citizens. Know anyone in the US who has talked about mass deportations if HE gets to be in charge?
OK, with Germany's history, perhaps it was to be expected that, in addition to the anti-semitic comments accompanying the anti-Israel demonstrations due to Bibi's Gaza campaign, some reaction would eventually occur. It remains to be seen what ultimate effect this has, but "polls" are already showing reduced public support for the AFD.
Wow, you’ve been gone since 1976? That’s extreme prescience. I’ve been following AFD since the Syrian mass migration. I’m so conflicted about migration; it’s a natural human response to so many crises, but it’s also very destabilizing to the receiving society. I recall reading a detailed math/population analysis that, because of the significant differences in birth rates between native Germans and arriving Syrians (mostly males, admittedly), the fears of a cultural takeover were well founded, and would occur in a short period of time. Germany was making more of an effort than most host countries at assimilation, so it seemed they might escape the more dire predictions. I also felt there was some hypocrisy on the left regarding cultural protectionism in general; more “primitive” cultures seemed legitimately in need of “protection”, but when advanced cultures felt threatened by a foreign influx, that was proclaimed “racist". It’s a conundrum that still intrigues me. You should write a Substack; you’re in a fascinating perch for observation.
Attempting to stop migration has been a loser's game since forever.
Attempting to stop cultural change has been a loser's game since forever.
Modern civilization, our modern nations have been built on the corpses of past civilizations and populations. With rare exceptions, people are where they are because people migrated there in response to environmental, economic, or political pressure.
Yup, I totally agree. I just embrace being an observer in real time, with more sentience than prior societies. I enjoy reading layman’s archeological stories in the media, now more fascinating with DNA revealing elements of migration that were previously unavailable. What a window into the past! Yesterday’s archeologists could only dream of such a view. It gives me a euphoria that feels almost transcendent.
Amidst the fecal fiesta of day-to -day life, there is a magnificent and aw[e]ful (using awful in its original sense) story that has been unfolding since... forever. We are surounded by unfathomable things and great beauty, even in dire circumstances--indeed, often because of dire circumstances.
GG, I write from a remote location, being an ex-pat in Germany since the days of Peanut v Peabrain (aka 1976). Yesterday and 10 days ago I took part in Frankfurt's peaceful, stationary rally/demo (+/- 20,000 participants) against the AFD, the local version of MAGA, which also happens to be a political party with representation in many "state" assemblies and in the Bundestag since we have a multi-party, parliamentary system. Rallies like that have been occurring for the past several weeks all over Germany, big cities (Berlin had 150,000 attendees last Saturday) and small, where the attendees amount to half or more of the population (OK, many come from "outside" the town).
What finally shook the broad population out of their lethargy (the AFD has formally existed for a decade or so), was a meeting, evesdropped upon and videoed by a crew of investigative journalists, between recognized neo-Nazis and some AFD representatives, including a close advisor (now, belatedly, fired) of the deputy leader of the party in which the topic was "remigration". That means to them, sending non-German appearing, sounding, being, acting immigrants "home", even those who "improperly" received German citizenship!! In other words, deportation of lawful citizens. Know anyone in the US who has talked about mass deportations if HE gets to be in charge?
OK, with Germany's history, perhaps it was to be expected that, in addition to the anti-semitic comments accompanying the anti-Israel demonstrations due to Bibi's Gaza campaign, some reaction would eventually occur. It remains to be seen what ultimate effect this has, but "polls" are already showing reduced public support for the AFD.
Wow, you’ve been gone since 1976? That’s extreme prescience. I’ve been following AFD since the Syrian mass migration. I’m so conflicted about migration; it’s a natural human response to so many crises, but it’s also very destabilizing to the receiving society. I recall reading a detailed math/population analysis that, because of the significant differences in birth rates between native Germans and arriving Syrians (mostly males, admittedly), the fears of a cultural takeover were well founded, and would occur in a short period of time. Germany was making more of an effort than most host countries at assimilation, so it seemed they might escape the more dire predictions. I also felt there was some hypocrisy on the left regarding cultural protectionism in general; more “primitive” cultures seemed legitimately in need of “protection”, but when advanced cultures felt threatened by a foreign influx, that was proclaimed “racist". It’s a conundrum that still intrigues me. You should write a Substack; you’re in a fascinating perch for observation.
Attempting to stop migration has been a loser's game since forever.
Attempting to stop cultural change has been a loser's game since forever.
Modern civilization, our modern nations have been built on the corpses of past civilizations and populations. With rare exceptions, people are where they are because people migrated there in response to environmental, economic, or political pressure.
Yup, I totally agree. I just embrace being an observer in real time, with more sentience than prior societies. I enjoy reading layman’s archeological stories in the media, now more fascinating with DNA revealing elements of migration that were previously unavailable. What a window into the past! Yesterday’s archeologists could only dream of such a view. It gives me a euphoria that feels almost transcendent.
Amidst the fecal fiesta of day-to -day life, there is a magnificent and aw[e]ful (using awful in its original sense) story that has been unfolding since... forever. We are surounded by unfathomable things and great beauty, even in dire circumstances--indeed, often because of dire circumstances.
When you apprehend it, it IS transcendent.