The shape of the world is a disaster. It is embarrassing. It is unbecoming. It is frustrating and it’s maddening. I am embarrassed for this so called “superior” race of human beings. Today I am embarrassed to belong to the German people. Today I say shame on you Europe.
This could end this blog posts. Everything is said. But for the sake of my own mental health I need to untangle what is going on, my feelings, my reaction my utter helplessness when looking at the world…
Last weekend the European countries have voted. It is more frightening than I had expected. And I tend to have a pessimistic streak. All over Europe right wing parties are on the rise. I am speechless how this happens. I am lost why anyone would want to vote for what they stand for. I am scared it will not stop here. History is repeating itself. And we are watching. We are part of it. We are all to blame. We do not speak up. Or we do not speak up enough.
I am guilty of this. For my own mental health I try to not get too deep into politics. I try to forego uncomfortable discussions. I do not want to see the devastating news. I don’t want to read about war in Ukraine, killings in Gaza, attacks on refugees and stabbings of police man. I don’t want conflict dominating my news stream on social media. I don’t want the news stations blaring terror stories at me right after waking up. But by behaving like this, aren’t I complicit on the shape of this world? Maybe not in the big spectrum on world politics. But politicians get voted by me and my neighbor. At least right now. At least in Europe. How long though.
I grew up in a communist country (German Democratic Republic). I know what it is like to not openly say what you think. When the Stasi (secret service) is knocking on your door asking where your father is. I know what it is like to not admit to Christian faith in fear of being repressed and singled out. I know what it means when your vote doesn’t count and is a farce. I have seen it and lived it. I do not need a redo. I will forever be thankful for my parents and other brave people who have fought for my right to grow up in a Democratic society.
And yet here we are 35 years later. Even worth here we are 80 years later. Only one generation and our sense of humanity lost again?
When I was in my early teenage years I have read up on so many witness accounts of the holocaust. Books, stories, movies. Everything I would get a hold of. It was a morbid fascination as I just couldn’t grasp how it happened. It was so clear that just a few people needed to stand up against the few. Just right in the beginnings. Nothing would have escalated. I swore to myself back then – and my diary is testament to it – that I would act differently. That it would not happen again. That I will never live to see it happen again.
But I do. I see social media comments that could have easily been words on brick walls 80 years ago. And I am doing nothing besides being uncomfortable. Sometimes I report the account. What else is there to do? I watch the news and feel overwhelmed. I believe others are better equipped than me to handle the situation. And I fear I am one of many with these thoughts. One of many who do not act. Who do not stand up. Who do not open their mouth. And with that we are complicit.
And it is not just Germany. The elections have shown it for Europe to be true. But look to other continents. Other countries. Right wing ideology can be found anywhere. It may still be hidden. It might have come bubbling up in the past years. So I ask what do you do? Are you as complicit as I am?
And the more important question is: What can we do?
I want to believe that my online friends, my bubble is not happy with this development, with this shape the world is in. I do not know of anyone online or in my real life community who is sympathizing or even voting for a right wing ideology. Who is believing this bullshit? But it does exist. Its here. It’s around us. It is hollowing out society from within.
So what can we do? I wish I had an answer. One that is suffice. One that lets me sleep at night. I don’t. And this helplessness is the worst. Today my mind is unsettled. I am trying to from ideas, actionable steps, possible solutions.
For today I feel on the brink of something. Something has to give. And it looks like it is my comfort zone that needs to go. It is time to acknowledge that promise my 14 year old self made. I will not see this happen again. It is time to do something. It is time to not just be aware and silent.
But I do not know how.
Maybe starting with a list… Half thought ideas that tumble around in my head:
- Donate to institution that educate about history and democracy.
→ @verlaggegenrechts – publisher against right ideology
→ Gegen Vergessen – an organization educating about democracy by keeping history in our conscience - Do not look away and read the news, to really understand.
- Talk to people to not feel so helpless. → I will suggest this topic for our next church group meeting asking to discuss what we can do.
- Share projects, books, movies that educate so history doesn’t not repeat itself.
- Pray. If it helps great, if not, no hurt done.
- Check my own biases, prejudices and fears.
- Search out Instagram profiles and resources and follow them, give them support and reach. → @herzkater – educates about radicalization
This is one of those posts that I do not know how to wrap up. This topic is far from done being discussed. Please add your thoughts, your ideas, best practices, book recommendation or anything else you can contribute to our all sanity. It’s time to shape the world to a better.
The cover photos says: Today was the future in the past
10 comments
Ugh, Tobia. I was so shocked when I found out about the results on Sunday (and it made me even more upset that my mail-in ballot didn’t make it and I couldn’t cast my vote for a better future). I have such a hard time understanding how people can vote for hate.
I stumbled upon one person in my Instagram feed who expressed joy over the outcome of the election, but I don’t know, she started following me because she followed other expat accounts, so I followed her back but didn’t interact so I had no idea what kind of political leanings she had. I know nobody else in my own “bubble” (locally here or online) that supports the right-wing party and I am happy, but also a little frightened to realize just how many people are out there who are not afraid to admit they don’t care about history repeating itself.
I also feel pretty helpless. I don’t know what we can do to stop this madness, It all feels pointless, but of course, we can’t think like that. I am glad to hear this is also on your mind and you’re trying to come up with things that can be done. Thank you for writing about this. It’s so important to talk about it.
Thank you San. I was really hesitant to post this. I was almost taking it offline again. I usually don’t post about this kind of stuff but I was so frustrated and depressed. It as you said it is so important to talk about and not be quiet. Because right now we are more. But we need to step out of our comfort zone and make our voices heard. It is not easy. And I really have no clue how and what but maybe admitting that is the first step because we are starting to talk about it. I think this is something we need to keep adding too and building upon.
I have started reporting accounts on social when I see very obvious hate speed and right wing leanings. It won’t help much but you never know… The most important thing is to not interact and give them more reach.
I don’t even know where to start. I have so many of the same feelings that you do. For me it isn’t just one side, it’s both sides of the extreme and the majority of us Americans fall right smack dab in the middle. Unfortunately there are so many voices that are much louder than ours and they seem to gain the most traction. I think many of us feel that even if we do say anything we won’t be heard and will be shouted down. I think many of us just want to take care of our families and don’t want or even have the time to do anything. I think many of us are afraid of losing jobs, friends, and family so we don’t rock the boat. I don’t know what to do either. I know I don’t agree with much of anything that is going on around me but have no idea where to start to be heard.
I agree both extremes are something to be aware off however I do believe the right one is more problematic. Maybe it is due to the German history… even though we had terror from left wings too in our history. I think in Germany the mainstream is also right in the middle but some are just so fed up and feel like some of the extremes listen more. Which of course is usually not true or the fact. Being in communications it is just so scary to see that the democratic parties really have no idea how to use social media and new technologies and just leave that playground to the extreme parties.
I am sure many of us – me included – just want to be living a happy life and see that our loved ones are happy. And while I do believe that is a noble and justified goal I also believe there is a time when the greater good takes a priority too. Because if we only focus on our own well being – and at least for me I am rather privilege so I will not be the first to see changes happing and effecting my life – we will let it go on too long until it is too late.
It is a very unpleasant thing to be at and ponder. I was afraid to publish that post but I think we really need to step out of our comfort zone here and have the tough conversations.
This was such a thoughtful, well-said post Tobia. I share so much of your helplessness and feelings of complicity without really knowing how to move forward. I cannot anything, but I appreciate your working through your feelings here in such a thoughtful way.
Thank you Suzanne. I was not sure about this post. It’s uncomfortable to admit to being complicit and not having much of a clue to work through it. But it’s good to know I am not alone. Maybe just talking about it helps us to find strategies.
I’m with you, the state of the world really does puzzle me. Why are there so many wreckers? I know it’s heaps easier to tear down than build-up, but we must do better. We have compulsory voting in Australia, which tends to keep our politics towards the centre. I mean, we have our nuts on both extremes, but generally, they are unable to win the centre where the majority of the population lies. However, our current opposition leader took a wrecker’s position during the referendum for a Voice for our First Nations People as well as on other issues, which is why I won’t be able to vote for his party in the next election. I think social media and the way bad actors can leverage it to sway people’s votes is a big factor in political events. I am dismayed at the sheer destructiveness and anti-social behaviour, at both small and large scales, of some people. I just don’t understand why people behave that way.
I don’t understand it either. It’s just so unnecessary. I wonder what would happen if the emotion of envy be eliminated from this world. I have an inkling that many things would be so much better. Or maybe have a few more female leaders. It may be a better way to live.. maybe. But I doubt there would be as many insecure and narcissistic female leaders. It’s just sad and infuriating.
Thank you for posting this, Tobia, against your fears! These are scary times, and we must do what we can to defeat the extreme right. For me, in the United States, that means voting, and donating money to the left (though I do not donate much), and writing letters to try to help those who are undecided to vote to bring reasonable people into power. IT IS HARD, but also, IT IS IMPORTANT. I also worry that what I do is not enough, and wonder what I can do that is more. I absolutely do NOT want to be complicit to fascism!
Thank you for all you do and that you don’t want to be complicit. It is really hard. I am wondering about the letter writing. Do you write to people you know or random people and strangers?