The EU election results make political action necessary again, but many are tired. Our columnist recommends a large cup of coffee.
Important: continue to hold the flag against racism high Photo: M. Golejewski/adorapress
There is that relief when someone says something clearly racist. For example, directly eliminating the N-word. Then I know where I stand: then there will be no more doubts. Because racists rarely come up to you directly and say, “Hey, I'm a racist and I'm going to treat you like trash.”
Since that's not the case, I sometimes stand there and wonder: Is this person just rude? Or have I done something wrong? Is she mean to everyone or just me? Or is he acting completely normal and I'm just imagining it all?
Overt racism, on the other hand, creates clear conditions. The European election results are one of those moments: a brief relief from disillusionment. Is everything as bad as I thought? Yes. Just like. Reality check!
I know: we didn't need that. The cards were already face up on the table. But often such shocking moments are the impetus for something through figures, facts and clear images. It is no longer possible to look the other way and deny that something needs to be done. We have to… Rise up against the right? Make noise against the right? Show that racism has no place here?
No wake up call, no wake up call
We just had all this. We didn't need any new evidence. The publication of the investigation into the right-wing Potsdam think tank occurred only five months ago. This was followed by the largest anti-right demonstrations in the history of this country.
About three weeks ago a video went viral in which some rich people from an island shouted “Germany, the Germans, foreigners out” and recorded themselves with confidence and good humor. Also in this case: there is no longer any reason to doubt. Racism is real and it is among us. There was enough outrage. There was great horror and media attention.
Last Sunday, election Sunday, the next test of racism. And give the right and right-wing extremists even more concrete parliamentary power. What do we do with this?
These election results are not a wake-up call or a wake-up call. They are the opposite of: “Time to get up!” They are tired. This is the statement I heard most frequently from activists this week: They are tired.
We are definitely not “indivisible.”
I admit it: my style would be to roll my eyes about it in public. Now here's something to write about the fact that we can't afford to be tired. It doesn't help anyone to tell you how tired you are. And also: activism is sometimes exhausting. Antifa is not a welfare program. Did you think it would be easy to defeat racism? We are still here in Germany.
But I don't write a text like that. Because it would have to end with hope. Or at least with a call to action. Something about “solidarity” and “going out into the streets.” Unfortunately I don't feel that way. Because we had that a few weeks ago, six months ago and again and again in between and before that.
“We are more”? There may not be so many of us anymore and we are certainly not “indivisible.” So I accept the general tiredness and fall in line. One thing is clear: closing your eyes and sleeping in is not an option. It would hit hardest those at whose expense the election campaign in Europe was carried out. Refugees who come here in search of protection and a safer life. So we must prepare a large cup of the strongest coffee.