Multiculturalism Ain't Going Anywhere, Baby!
The idea that multiculturalism is a failure is nothing more than narrow-minded and short-sighted, according to Berlin's CDU State Secretary for Youth, Falko Liecke. Multiculturalism is a reality, and it's here to stay. However, it requires some careful handling, especially when it comes to politics. Just showing up when there's trouble isn't enough – it's crucial to invest time, take an interest in others, and accept what works and what doesn't.
Growing up laced with multiculturalism in 80s Berlin, I can attest to its success. Greeks, French, Israelis, Turks, Americans, and Arabs were all part of my Steglitz grammar school. Sure, we had our fights, but at the end of the day, it didn't matter whether someone was Jewish, Muslim, Christian, or even a non-believer. We were all just part of the same school, living and learning together.
Fast forward to the mid-2000s, and the international school my kids attended was bursting with colors – names, origins, and identities that often left us guessing. Inviting kids with diverse backgrounds to birthday parties was the norm, and it somehow managed to work.
Now, it's easy to point fingers and call me a bubble-dweller. I've lived elsewhere, and I know firsthand there were challenges in those places, too. But let's not pretend that troubles from the new German states were any easier to integrate than someone from Indonesia, South Africa, or Japan.
If you don't like it here, if you don't want to integrate, then pack your bags and leave. But for those who do, we should welcome them with open arms. Those who commit crimes or refuse to integrate, however, should be dealt with firmly and fairly. Anti-Semitism has no place in Germany, and we should be just as radical towards those who condone such views.
I am proud of Germany's diverse community. I cherish the memories of living in a city teeming with ethnicities, visiting various markets, and speaking different languages. I will continue to believe in multiculturalism, no matter what the extremist bigots or biased politicians may say.
Politicians, across all sides, should take a long, hard look at themselves. Instead of placing blame on others, they should focus on improving education, addressing relevant issues in schools, and increasing funding for programs that cater to multicultural youth.
So, let's embrace multiculturalism – not as a political narrative, but as a comprehensive approach to coexistence. Let's stop viewing the world in black and white, and start looking for answers in the beautiful shades of gray. And let's make sure that those who make a positive impact on our society are celebrated, not ignored or undermined.
