Growing uncertainty, even Fears and anger. Federal President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier urged the Federal citizens in the face of tensions in the society to more dialogue. Germany must not drift apart.
The political and social dispute in Germany has become louder and more violent in the year 2018. Often the talk of social division and alienation between politicians and citizens. Just in the so-called social media is the rage. Since it is not often debates or exchange.
Federal President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier addresses the growing sharpness of the dispute, in his Christmas address: “Since it is gifted, since the noise and the daily outrage is.” He had “the impression that we Germans always have to talk less to each other. And even more rarely do we listen to each other.” And Steinmeier warns insistently, to stay in the conversation, even if you have different views and to each other disputes. Because that belong to the democracy.
Involvement of each and every
“Our democracy is strong!”, the Federal President said. He learn every day, and millions of people in Germany is ensured. For each and every individual who is involved in the neighborhood, in Clubs, in politics. And all those in hospitals and old people’s homes or in police and fire service, in these Christmas days, contribute to.
Steinmeier combines his affirmation of the strength of the democracy, with a reminder, which can also be a warning: “Our democracy is only as strong as we make them. It builds to the fact that we say our opinion, for our interests to argue.” For the own opinion, to respect the opinions of others. “At the end of a compromise, this is not a weakness, but that’s what we do! The ability to compromise is the strength of democracy.”
The view from abroad as a warning
It is the second Christmas speech of Frank-Walter Steinmeier as Federal President. Unlike in the previous year, he mentioned in his speech, this time also other countries. “What happens when societies are drifting apart, if one side can talk to the other, without the sparks fly, as we see in the world around us.”
Steinmeier Theme Yellow West-Protest
Steinmeier called the “burning barricades in Paris”, “deep political divisions in the United States, in great Britain before the Brexit, tear samples for Europe in Hungary, Italy and elsewhere.” The German, “in the middle of Europe, of course, are not protected against such developments,” he urges us. This makes his call for a dialogue, to fight, to stay Together with all the more force.
“More talk”
“In our country there is uncertainty, there are Fears, there is anger,” warns the Federal President. And that is precisely why the conversation of the people is with him in the coming days, so important. At the Christmas dinner, with Relatives and Acquaintances. “How good that we are discussing; as well, that we talk to each other! If I’m allowed a wish for our country is one, then more of the same!”
“We are all” Germany
Because of the noise and the outrage of some people, Steinmeier said, get him “the Silence of many others.” More and more people would prefer to be “back among their own kind, in their own bubble, where all are of one mind – even a opinion about it, who is not one of them”. Against such exclusion, he affirms: “One is tomorrow: We all belong to this country, regardless of origin or skin color, way of life or favorite team.”
Steinmeier himself – about the Federal government informed the office of the President in the past few days – sitting at Christmas, at the table of the family. On Christmas eve, he visited with his wife Elke Büdenbender his mother in Brakelsiep in the region of lipperland. This is only a few kilometers from his birthplace Detmold, in the North-East of the Federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia. And on the Christmas days in the home of Mrs Büdenbender to the victory of the country, around a hundred kilometres to the South.