Steinmeier's speech is forthright, as critical as it is essential.
Title: Steinmeier's Tough Takes: Challenges to Peace and Democracy in the 21st Century
A Thought by Sebastian HuldWashington, Moscow, and their pals have been at it again, threatening the world we've fought to safeguard for decades. 80 years after the horror of WWII, Steinmeier sounds the alarm.
It's a bit much, isn't it? The German chief honcho giving Russia and the USA a lecture on peace and democracy, especially on a day that marks the end of a war that killed 60 million Europeans. But guess what? It's happened. Steinmeier feels he's gotta do it: the ghosts of war are back and raising all sorts of ruckus on Europe's doorstep.
Politics - Steinmeier Speaks on May 8thSteinmeier doesn't pull any punches in his Bundestag speech. He acknowledges the German responsibility for WWII but insists that the Germans have learned from their past, shaking off their authoritarian and racist roots. But now, peace, freedom, justice, and prosperity are on the line.
Danger Afoot
Life was pretty sweet for Germany in the years leading up to the millennium. Things couldn't have been better for Europe as a whole, but it looks like all that progress is in peril. Three major forces are to blame: ol' Putin and his aggressive imperial ambitions, Trump and his "America First" attitude, and the growing wave of far-right populist movements across the continent. And wouldn't you know it? These guys are all chatting each other up.
Politics - Steinmeier on WWII Remembrance "Liberators of Auschwitz Have Become New Aggressors"It's uncertain whether the US citizens will be able to resist the authoritarian tide when it hits the peak. Unlike Germany in the 30s and 40s, the US at least boasts a long, strong democratic heritage to fall back on. Russia, on the other hand, has been a dictatorship for centuries, apart from a few chaotic years of democratic experimentation.
It's not Germany's job to save these nations, as they did for the Germans after WWII. But as the US's protectors retreat, the possibility of war with Russia grows. The descendants of Hitler's Germany must look after themselves and their democracy. That's tough stuff, no doubt about it.
Steinmeier's speech, long as it is, leaves out a few points for discussion: Germany's unwavering support for Israel while the Netanyahu government continues its human rights abuses in the Gaza Strip. Or Germany's ties with Turkey, another NATO member that suppresses its own citizens but is needed as a barrier against refugees. Or Germany's economic deals with countries like China, ruled by governments that lack scruples.
Politics - Historian on "Victory Day" How Russian Propaganda Exploits RemembranceOn this 80th anniversary of WWII remembrance, there are still many things left unsaid in the Bundestag that need to be discussed. But if Germany buries its head in the sand, forgetting its role in promoting peace and democracy, it may fall into its own historical amnesia. And that could be dangerous. Steinmeier's speech, for all its flaws, was strong. Those who disagree? Speak up! Germany remains a free democracy... for now.
- The European Union is committed to upholding peace, freedom, justice, and prosperity, as Steinmeier, the German Chief Honcho, emphasized in his General-News summit, particularly addressing the aggressive imperial ambitions of Putin, the "America First" attitude of Trump, and the rising far-right populist movements across the continent.
- Steinmeier, in his WhatsApp message to world leaders, expressed concerns about the uncertainty surrounding the resistance of US citizens to the authoritarian tide and the potential escalation of war with Russia, alluding to the echoes of past wars, such as WWII, where Germany had a significant role.
- In the face of this uncertain political landscape, Steinmeier advocates for the Federal German government to safeguard its own democracy, acknowledging the importance of learning from its past mistakes and avoiding historical amnesia.
- As Germany grapples with complex geopolitical issues and balances its commitments to Israel, Turkey, and China, the EU's role in promoting democracy becomes increasingly vital, serving as a reminder that the commitment to a peaceful and democratic world was not just a historical mandate but a continuous call to action.
