ZanaWoodArtZ  

An alien’s view

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I came to the United Stated from Germany about eight years ago. Before I was born, my parents lived as social workers in different countries of Africa. Their experience with other cultures had a deep impact on how I was raised. And, it shaped my identification as “German” and my view of nationality in general.

I always felt privileged to be born in one of the so called “first world countries”. I was wrapped in a functioning social system, both on family and state level. Living in Germany I never missed to vote, I protested for different reasons and discussing politics is common in Germany. Still, I never considered myself to be a political person. This is just what people do in Germany. Show flag for what they believe in or what they think needed to be changed. And most of all, for not being silent. Silence is the beginning of all evil - as we all know from history.

We “Germans” grew up with the guilt of Nazi Germany on our shoulders, the killing of six million Jews, along with a high number of political opponents, homosexuals, Roma, Sinti and disabled people. The list is even longer, including the soldiers of the allies who died in battle. That Hitler was able to come to power did not happen overnight. It was more than a century long process of imperialism, patriotism and strengthening of nationalistic thinking combined with supremacy worldview in many countries, resulting in the indescribable human catastrophe of Germany’s National Socialism.

After the war, first there was silence in Germany. But as a Nation, we started to deal with our guilt openly in different ways. One example is that Germany’s National Socialism is a very important topic in school. I don’t say that the historical reappraisal in Germany was faultless or that all that needed to be done was done - neither on international nor on national level. If that was true, Germany would not have to deal with the upcoming of the right wing like so many other countries all over the world. But one thing is true for Germany: We are not silent. We remember. We learn from our horrible past to work towards a better future.

I think, most of us are aware of how much we all are shaped by our families, but also by the social and cultural aspects of the countries we live in. But, first by living in other countries and in particular living in the United States let me truly understand how deep this influence is.

Putting my feelings about the Capitol riots in words is not easy. There is so much to say and much of it has already been said by other people. I - along with many American people and many people in the whole world - knew from the day President Trump got elected, that he could become dangerous. I understand that many people felt left behind, betrayed by the system and disconnected from the American politicians, seeing them as “not one of their kind”. I know also that many people who voted for the Republican Party strongly condemn the storm on the Capitol and are disgusted by how democracy has been violated in its roots. I hope some of them are able to open the eyes for the facts now.

Living through president Trump’s successful attempts to spread hatred between Americans and also between America and other countries for the last four years was very difficult for me. I don’t believe in nationalities. I don’t believe in “one country first”. And I don’t believe that there is one “greatest country” in the world. All countries have their individual strengths, but also their failures. From where I stand, we as one human kind have to deal with very serious issues that we can only overcome together. On a national level this is also true for the United States.

From an alien’s perspective, I see the foundation of many of our problems in the United States in the deeply ingrained patriotism that exist in this country. I am aware that this statement is not acceptable for some of the readers. It seems that an unwritten law exists to never criticize the American patriotism. It is not that I don’t understand your love for your country. The United States have done much – but not only – good for the world. The country is astonishingly beautiful, American people in general are friendly, caring and polite, and democracy is one of the highest values of this country. So yes, you can have patriotic feelings for your country. But, you can only be a true patriot, if you don’t blind yourself for the negative aspects that come with the good.

Besides that, there is one other aspect in particular which is most troublesome for me. The silence I experience in this country on so many levels. This silence has to stop. I know from myself how hard it is to keep the dialogue with people who don’t think like me. I struggle because of different reasons, but in the political context first of all because I am a foreigner. So who am I to criticize someone for the way one was brought up and what shaped one's believe system and worldview? What does it help if I try the keep a dialogue, when people do not even listen to their children, brothers and friends? So I often felt silenced, overwhelmed and unable to make a difference. As much as some of you. But we have to be honest with ourselves. It was also because of our silence that the Capitol riots could have happened. That said, I think we are all guilty.

And, there is not only the need to open yourself up to people of the other political side. Even more important is the need to deal with the failures happened in American history - not only the recent history. The roots for this country’s issues go far back, provided by a system that is built on true capitalism, as well as social and racial inequality. Only by allowing ourselves to deal with our failures (personal and as a nation), we are able to learn.

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And only then there can be change for a better future.