The German model of multiculturalism has suffered an unequivocal fiasco
To denote this motley “quota” a special term had to be invented. The previous one – “foreign worker”, Fremdarbeiter – was compromised during Hitler’s time. The result was the politically correct Gastarbeiter – a word understood worldwide without any translation. And one that many in its homeland would like to forget today.
The End of Patience
After the first wave of guest workers, a second and third wave flooded in, followed by waves of close and distant relatives of immigrants, political and economic refugees from all corners of the Earth, compatriots whose ancestors left the fatherland in time immemorial... Today, out of Germany's 82 million population, 15.6 million have foreign roots (including about four million Muslims). In absolute numbers, this is a record for the European Union. Until this autumn, it was believed that "guests" had full moral and legal right to come to the German monastery with their own rules – to adhere to the way of life they were accustomed to in their homeland. This bold doctrine, which assumes that equal coexistence of cultures leads to social harmony, was called "multiculturalism." However, for the Russian ear, the German version of the term – Multikulti – is much more telling. "The yacht sailed exactly as it was named."
The story of fifteen-year-old Berliner Domitian E., told by the tabloid Bild, is unfortunately typical. The teenager, living in the Charlottenburg district, was transferred from a gymnasium to a secondary school due to poor academic performance. With the start of the school year, Domitian's life turned into hell. "I was bullied for speaking German," the student recalls. In total, there were 29 students in the class, of whom only two were Germans. The rest were Arabs and Turks.
The problems, of course, are not limited to secondary education. In a number of German cities, there are neighborhoods where it is unsafe today to speak either German or any other European language. Including, according to the publication "Russkaya Germaniya," Russian as well. The youth patrolling these quasi-ghettos look for the slightest excuse to show who is boss. Often, territories predominantly inhabited by Muslim migrants completely slip out of government control. The most famous example is the Marxloh district in Duisburg, which has perhaps become a household name in Germany. The police have essentially capitulated to youth gangs that have established their own rules there. It has reached the point where representatives of the German political elite become victims of xenophobia from migrants. Federal Family Minister Kristina Schröder admitted this in particular: she has repeatedly heard herself called a "German bitch."
It is telling that the minister dared to publicize her sad experience of multicultural interaction only now, when a heated debate on the migrant problem has erupted. This autumn in Germany, it was as if a dam had burst: everything that everyone knew but was afraid to say became the subject of debate. Six months ago, such a thing was completely unthinkable. To the heavy cross of political correctness, which all civilized countries bear today, was added the burden of historical guilt for the deeds of the Nazis. As a result, democracy and openness in the most liberal FRG ended where the topic of interethnic relations began. About "guests" – either good or nothing.
What caused the current upheaval in public consciousness? The answer may be the title of a book that appeared in mid-summer and immediately became a bestseller: "The End of Patience." The author, juvenile court judge Kirsten Heisig from Berlin's Neukölln district, died under unclear circumstances a few days before the release of her study: her body was found in a forest belt. It is difficult to say to what extent the death may be related to Heisig's professional activities (the official version is suicide), but the content of the book involuntarily suggests that very thought.
Without sparing the delicate feelings of readers, the judge describes in detail the criminal quagmire into which the migrant-inhabited neighborhoods of the German capital are sinking: 80 percent of all juvenile criminals, according to Heisig's estimates, come from Arab and Turkish families. Among migrants living on social welfare, poorly educated but disdainful of menial work, there are their own concepts of good and evil: someone who has not been in prison is not considered a real man here.
Lessons of German
"The End of Patience" ranks second on the list of the most popular new releases on the German book market. In first place is the book by former Bundesbank board member Thilo Sarrazin, "Germany Abolishes Itself." It is this book that should be considered the starting point of the turmoil of minds. Even though Sarrazin essentially said nothing fundamentally new. He simply expressed everything he thinks about migrants. And he thinks very, very poorly of them – especially Muslims. Among the qualities inherent in this part of the population, Sarrazin included, in particular, natural laziness, criminal tendencies, and insufficiently high IQ. Like, all they can do is produce "girls in headscarves." And German burghers, who in turn are becoming fewer and fewer, pay for this "demographic explosion." In short, "we are abolishing ourselves."
The initial reaction of the establishment was predictable. A chorus of voices condemning the 'racist' Sarrazin included both the government and the opposition. Angela Merkel expressed her conviction that the board of the Bundesbank would not tolerate the presence of a person with such views. At the same time, the leadership of the SPD, to which the troublemaker belongs, began the procedure of expelling him from the party ranks. But then something unexpected happened: the more obstruction Sarrazin faced from above, the more serious support he found from below. Experts began talking about a crisis of the entire political system. Let us recall: we are talking about a country that is the leading European economy, the backbone of the European Union. A crisis of statehood in this Euro-subject is not like the pitiful debt problems of Greece.
The authorities were thrown into confusion. At one moment, Angela Merkel declares that one should not taboo the fact that young Muslims are characterized by an increased propensity for violence. At another, she reports that 'mosques will influence the appearance of German cities more strongly than before' and calls for not seeing anything bad in this. Then she personally awards the Potsdam Prize – 'for contribution to the struggle for freedom of speech' – to the Danish artist Kurt Westergaard, who became famous for his cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad.
The German President Christian Wulff also made his contribution to the fluctuations of the general line. In a speech dedicated to the 20th anniversary of German unity, he stated that Islam is as much a part of Germany as the Judeo-Christian culture. Wulff, of course, meant well – to calm passions. But as a result, he poured such a portion of oil on the fire that the flames shot up to the sky.
Wulff's capitulationist remarks, in the opinion of many Germans, brought heavy Bavarian artillery into battle – Horst Seehofer, the premier of Germany's richest state and concurrently leader of the Christian Social Union. The Bavarian left no stone unturned from the peacemaker president's theses, declaring that multiculturalism is dead and should be replaced by Leitkultur (can be translated as 'leading culture' or 'culture of the titular nation'). In addition, Seehofer proposed his own plan for reforming migration policy, the first point of which asserts that 'Germany is not a country of immigrants.' Among other things, the Bavarian proposes introducing tough sanctions against 'guests' who have overstayed their welcome and are living off the hosts. If you don't want to work or study, you lose your benefits.
Such was the disposition before the chancellor's historic speech at the congress of the Youth Union. The situation required taking a stand. Having made a routine curtsy to the president – Islam is undoubtedly 'part of Germany, and this is visible not only from the footballer Özil' (a player on the national team), – Merkel essentially endorsed the main theses of the 'hawk' Seehofer. Migrants must not only be appeased but also strictly demanded of. They must obey the laws and know the German language. No more references to cultural distinctiveness. Muslim girls must participate in all school-wide activities, including swimming lessons. Moreover, 'we do not need migrants who burden our social system.'
...The same thing can be observed today throughout the rest of Europe: almost all, even the most liberal governments, are moving to limit the reception of guests from 'alien cultures.' This process is quite natural. Old Europe has clearly overdone the dose of hospitality. But in this correction of mistakes, as in any business, the main thing is to observe moderation. In other words, Germany should, of course, be above falsely understood political correctness. But by no means über alles.
Andrei Vladimirov.
