August 25th/26th 2018, Chemnitz, Saxony, Germany: Daniel Hillig, a German man of Cuban heritage, antifascist, is stabbed to death - allegedly by two refugees. The next day, hordes of Nazis hunt people of colour in the city.
August 27th: The Nazis organize what they call a "funeral march" - several thousands of Nazis attacking people of colour again, giving Hitler salutes and showing their naked asses. So much for mourning. For the first time (that I am aware of) there are more people demonstrating on the right-wing side than in the counter-demonstration. While the Hitler salute is illegal in Germany, the cops do nothing against them. While there are bottles and other stuff being thrown by the Nazis, cops are pointing their water guns at the antifascists. While the Nazis do all the things that lead to left-wing people being violently punished by cops at other demonstrations (e.g. the G20 protests in Hamburg), cops turn a blind eye today. There are thousands of counter-demonstrators, even more Nazis present, and only a few hundred cops. The proportions are worse than for every football game. Some might conclude from this that it's not wanted to hold Nazis back.
There are demonstrations like this almost every day now. In Chemnitz, but also in Dresden. The Nazis are violent, harassing and physically attacking people of colour, journalists, and antifascists. Most media outlets still hold back from calling them Nazis or right-wing extremists and still call them "worried" or "mourning". However, everyone who is against Nazis is called left-wing. In my opinion, left wing wouldn't even be a bad thing, but it simply isn't true.
It'd be easy to say that all of this popped up surprisingly. It didn't. When in 2015 the first massive bunch of refugees came to Germany, racist voices started to become louder. The Alternative für Deutschland (alternative for Germany), a racist party, was formed and got more and more successful. Bit by bit it got more accepted to say racist things out loud, after all, those people were "just worried", bit by bit it got more en vogue for people not being openly racist to be aggressively centrist, claiming that Nazis and antifascists were equally bad. People are still claiming that.
One thing that helped Nazis to get this loud again was the discourse being shifted more and more to cater to them. The CDU/CSU (Christian/conservative party), one of the major parties in Germany, increasingly discusses more racist views, even the social democrats are in the center at best nowadays. Increasingly more threatening statements got excused and played down again and again. Nazis are given a huge platform in talk shows and similar outlets. The general idea seems to be to listen to Nazis and their so-called "worries" to solve the problems they see so they can't use them for their hate and violence. It's a noble and well-meant approach - it just doesn't work.
The other huge factor in the uprising of the Nazis is the silent majority that doesn't say anything when facing racist worldviews - and equates Nazis and anti-fascists who don't stay silent. It all seems incredibly bizarre. People have been comfortably waiting for it to get so bad that even us white people who are not targeted by racism can't turn a blind eye to it anymore. And some are still trying to.
Another factor that played into the Nazis hands perfectly was the exaggeration of the so-called refugee crisis. This term has been incredibly present in the media for the past three years, and in my opinion, it was made much more of a big deal than it ever actually was. Yes, it started out pretty chaotic - after all, there were thousands of new people suddenly in Germany that no one really knew how to deal with first. It was a new extreme situation. But you know what? I think it was handled pretty well - no one who was in Germany before had a worse life or huge problems because of it. Now some might say that there has been a lot of crimes happening from the hands of refugees. And that is true. However, there have been a lot of crimes happening from the hands of people born and raised here as well. It is a fact that there are no more refugee offenders than non-refugee offenders. It is logical that when there are more people, there's more crime. The proportion stays the same though. It is also logical that in the age of the internet, people are painfully more aware of crimes happening around them than before the internet was such a wide-spread thing. That plus the prioritization of refugee offenders over non-refugee offenders in the media leads to a bizarre distortion of the public perspective that is not very close to the truth. The thing is that no one is saying that individual refugees can't be shitty people and are generally perfect human beings. Refugees are just as little of a homogenous group as German citizens are, neither in being perfect nor in being all bad. If only Saxons would put as much energy in making that clear as they put into defending themselves of being generalized as Nazis because they are so common here... However, no one ever gets tired of assuming that this is what antifascists think.
All of this is happening an one hour drive away from where I live.
Saxony's prime minister Michael Kretschmer refuses to see an actual Nazi problem but worries more about the image of Saxony. Dear Michael Kretschmer, dear everyone who worries about all people in Saxony being seen as Nazis now: We have a bigger problem than our image right now. I will stand for having to explain that I am antifascist every time I mention that I am from Saxony if it means that our very real and very bad Nazi problem gets taken seriously.
I was at none of the demonstrations. Mostly because those were always during my working hours this week. But to be brutally honest: I don't know if I had gone if I had been available. Because I am scared. I am very very scared of Nazis, especially with my constantly decreasing trust in public authorities to manage situations like this. And even with me not going to the demonstrations, I am also scared of going home alone at night right now (which I have to when working the late shift), mostly because it's important to me right now to be visibly antifascist, so I wear my jackets with antifascist patches, but that might make me a target. I can only imagine how people of colour feel right now. I can leave that patches at home. They can't.
It's all a big mess. We got a big mess happening over here. I'd love to say that I had done everything in my power to stop that from happening, but I haven't. I am personally co-responsible to all of this happening right now. All of us could have done more. I have been silent too. Not every time, but too many times when facing racism, I have been silent. Even though a lot of people around me have constantly been annoyed by me talking a lot about racism and Nazis being a problem, even though people have called me to radical and too extreme in my attempt on anti-fascism, I have not been annoying enough, not been loud enough. I realized that when I mentioned to a colleague this week that I was worried about friends who may have gone to Chemnitz to demonstrate and who I haven't heard of again yet and she had to ask me what side my friends were on. I thought it was obvious. It wasn't.
So this is ground zero for me and everyone to do now, the very least: Making clear what side you are on. Not only not agreeing but visibly and audibly dis-agreeing with Nazis. Even if all you reply to racist remarks is "I disagree", it is something. Don't let them believe that you agree just because you didn't say otherwise. Yes, that includes friends and family and it hurts. But it has to be done.
Another thing all of us can do is to look out for each other. If you can't go to demonstrations yourself for whatever reason, at least listen out for your friends who are going, make sure they got home safely again, take care of their mental well-being afterward. Also, reach out for your friends of colour twice as much. If you can, offer people who otherwise can't go to demonstrations but would to look after their children or pets. If you can, offer your friends to help them to pay for train tickets to Chemnitz. Support people who demonstrate against Nazis.
Thirdly, criticise the media and the police when necessary. Don't stay silent on unhelpful phrasing in the news or cops turning a blind eye to Nazis. Hold them accountable for their part in this.
And last but not least, as usual, go and vote in each and every election you come across. Because if Nazis win elections, shit will hit the fan. Seriously. We can not let this happen.
To all readers from outside of Germany: Please look out for us as well. Reach out for your friends living here. Spread the word about what's happening right now. Especially since our oh so precious image might take a hit or two - don't shut up. Please make our officials aware that you are seeing what's happening here and that you don't approve of it - so that they finally start acting.
Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts
2.9.18
16.8.18
#MenAreTrash - A discourse
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| Embroidery by Fembroidery (Instagram), please check her out and give her all the love and money! |
Now the first reaction to hashtags like #MenAreTrash are defensive ones. That is just natural - no one wants to be insulted, that's normal. The problem is that this defense very quickly turns into aggression - "I am not trash because I am a man, you deserve to be raped and killed" is a thing I have read way too often in the past few hours. Let me make one thing clear: When you're trying to proof that you are not an asshole, behaving like one and threatening others is propably not the best approach unless you really, really want to confirm the original statement. Now if that was only the reaction of very few people, that would be almost ok. Would be bearable. But it isn't. It's so so many.
Another reaction that is incredibly common is people arguing that aggressive hashtags like #MenAreTrash are a not helping the cause and only paint feminism in a bad light (and provoking reactions like the one above). That it would be the better approach to discuss peacefully and friendly. While I agree that this would be the ideal way: It doesn't really matter anymore how you talk about feminism. Ninetynine percent of the time, you won't be taken seriously anyway. You will be laughed at, belittled at best, insulted and threatened, at the worst you will actively experience physical and sexual violence or even be killed. These are all things that happen at a shockingly high rate when women speak out for equal rights, no matter how calm and friendly they are being. No matter what a fucking ray of sunshine we are being while trying to discuss this, we will get the same reactions. So why should we always take the high road? Why not yell out all the anger and frustration that sticks to our hearts all the time, each and every day, if it makes no difference anyway? To me, #MenAreTrash is an outlet for all the things we usually don't say, all the anger we bottled up over the years, everything we usually swallow in the naive hope that we could somehow be understood and be taken seriously, that we somehow could induce reconsideration and change if we just stayed calm while our counterparts give us shit. That's the thing: No one tries to police the tone of the ones we are talking to. But everyone asks us to be nice and polite while being harrassed and threatened, additionally to all the micro-aggressions we endure on a daily basis when feminism/sexism isn't even the topic. It's frustrating. And this is what is exploding right now with this hashtag. This is a telling-off.
Basically, #MenAreTrash is like when two people fight face to face and one calls the other one an asshole. Not necessarily because the other one is definitely and irreversibly an asshole, but because you are so incredibly angry about the actual reason for the fight. And when the other person just says: "Sure, you have absolutely legit criticism here with all the arguments and stuff but you called me an asshole so I won't listen to anything you just said no matter how reasonable it is!" - well, they can't be helped then.
So the overall insight of this is: Feminism is angry. Feminism is uncomfortable. Because it sometimes has to be - at least, it got people talking. Maybe, some day, they'll also start to listen. And then, only then, we can start to work on the problem all together.
14.2.18
Why I won't delete my Facebook
The last few days have been rough. Really rough. I had a lot of discussions with alt-righters and alt-right apologists, about if the left are just as bad and dangerous as the alt right and so on. The last few days have been frustrating and demanding and have cost me an awful lot of enegery. My blood pressure is propably way beyond a healthy level right now and there have been moments where I really wanted to break down in tears due to all the frustration. All of those discussions were held on Facebook, in various comment sections. There was the one in the comment section of a statement a local goth club made after being called out for firing DJs and bar staff for being openly antifascist (as in, against nazis, not more not less), quote: "We're against all kinds of extremism." as if being against literal nazis is that much of a radical idea. There was the one in the comment section of a newspaper article about the commemoration of the bombing of Dresden in World War II which the alt right used to talk about everything but the bombing of Dresden in World War II (namely, they talked about refugees and Angela Merkel, both have nothing to do with World War II), got blocked with a sit-in by the left counter demonstrators who they then beat up also using pepper spray while the police turned a blind eye and even encouraged their violence. And there are all the different smaller discussions I keep having. Throughout the past days, my fiance suggested that I should consider deleting my Facebook because clearly, it is something that hurts, exhausts and stresses me. He does have a point there, if I deleted my Facebook (or at least stopped going to those comment sections or even just stopped participating in them), I would be way less stressed and not constantly angry, upset, in a horrible mood. Here is why I will stay on Facebook, keep going to those comment sections and keep discussing:
1. Discussing with the alt-right shows them that not everyone is on their side.
Sometimes it is as simple as that: Those comment sections basically belong to the alt right and their supporters nowadays. I know what to expect when I go there and that I will be disgusted by their ignorance, inhumanity and hate. They feel like when there's no one interfering with their comments, they're right, especially since they are so many that the opposite happens, they keep agreeing each other. Discussing with them shows them that not everyone is agreeing.
2. Discussing with the alt-right shows minorities that someone is on their side.
No, I don't think all the energy I put in discussions like that make a change in alt-right peoples minds. It's very unlikely I can make them question their own stances. However, people who are targeted by the alt-right might feel better if racist/homophobic/transphobic/sexist/etc. comments are interfered with. People who are targeted by them and people who think alike will not feel alone not thinking like the alt-right. Which leads us right to the next point.
3. Discussing with the alt-right might influence the opinions of people who have not "chosen a side" yet.
Especially young people may not have an opinion on many political topics yet and they may learn stuff and get to know different viewpoints from reading discussions like this. If they only get to see the racist rethoric, they might just take it as a given, no one is disagreeing so it must be right. By having discussions on social media, we help undecided peope get more than one viewpoint and different approaches to toppics to build their own opinions from.
4. Discussing with the alt-right... simply because someone has to.
Someone has to fight, for all the reasons above and more. Now you might wonder why I specifically have to, since it obviously hurts me. The answer to that is as sad as it is simple: Who if not me? In both discussions I wrote about in the beginning of this post, I was the only one discussing against the alt-right. Sure, people liked my comments which signals approval, and that does help me a bit to not feel alone and unheard, but it would have helped a lot more to know that if I lost all energy to discuss, someone else would take over. Or someone giving arguments I don't think of in the moment or can't give because I don't know things they know. Or simply someone supporting me in this fight. This is supposed to be a team effort, and I felt very alone in the past few days discussing with several people simultaneously all on my own.Which is innitially a reason why I feel like I have to keep going.
So I won't delete my Facebook, I will keep going to comment sections and interfere with their filterbubble. I really hope that this post might motivate some of you reading this to actively participate in discussions more. When we give up because of demotivation, exhaustion or whatever, they have won. If we are many, we can take turns so others can take breaks. Stay active, peeps.
1. Discussing with the alt-right shows them that not everyone is on their side.
Sometimes it is as simple as that: Those comment sections basically belong to the alt right and their supporters nowadays. I know what to expect when I go there and that I will be disgusted by their ignorance, inhumanity and hate. They feel like when there's no one interfering with their comments, they're right, especially since they are so many that the opposite happens, they keep agreeing each other. Discussing with them shows them that not everyone is agreeing.
2. Discussing with the alt-right shows minorities that someone is on their side.
No, I don't think all the energy I put in discussions like that make a change in alt-right peoples minds. It's very unlikely I can make them question their own stances. However, people who are targeted by the alt-right might feel better if racist/homophobic/transphobic/sexist/etc. comments are interfered with. People who are targeted by them and people who think alike will not feel alone not thinking like the alt-right. Which leads us right to the next point.
3. Discussing with the alt-right might influence the opinions of people who have not "chosen a side" yet.
Especially young people may not have an opinion on many political topics yet and they may learn stuff and get to know different viewpoints from reading discussions like this. If they only get to see the racist rethoric, they might just take it as a given, no one is disagreeing so it must be right. By having discussions on social media, we help undecided peope get more than one viewpoint and different approaches to toppics to build their own opinions from.
4. Discussing with the alt-right... simply because someone has to.
Someone has to fight, for all the reasons above and more. Now you might wonder why I specifically have to, since it obviously hurts me. The answer to that is as sad as it is simple: Who if not me? In both discussions I wrote about in the beginning of this post, I was the only one discussing against the alt-right. Sure, people liked my comments which signals approval, and that does help me a bit to not feel alone and unheard, but it would have helped a lot more to know that if I lost all energy to discuss, someone else would take over. Or someone giving arguments I don't think of in the moment or can't give because I don't know things they know. Or simply someone supporting me in this fight. This is supposed to be a team effort, and I felt very alone in the past few days discussing with several people simultaneously all on my own.Which is innitially a reason why I feel like I have to keep going.
So I won't delete my Facebook, I will keep going to comment sections and interfere with their filterbubble. I really hope that this post might motivate some of you reading this to actively participate in discussions more. When we give up because of demotivation, exhaustion or whatever, they have won. If we are many, we can take turns so others can take breaks. Stay active, peeps.
6.2.18
Question your authorities
Let me start with explaining the viewpoint I am writing this from to you. I am privileged. I am white, I am European, I am able-bodied, and I am female (which does comes in handy when you are in a case other than sexualized violence against you). Also, I have never comitted a crime. Still, I have a personal problem with the police. I reported crimes three times in my life, and every time I felt belittled and not taken seriously. Now I can deal with that in the case where someone took the money I forgot in the ATM (which is, in my opinion, not even necessarily a crime, just not the nicest thing to do especially when the one who actually owns it is poor). I can not deal with that in the case where a random guy punched me in the face in the middle of the street because I was just walking past. No, officer, you can't see anything, but you couldn't see internal bleeding either and that would still be really bad, right? So I have been the victim, the reporting person most of the time when I dealt with police and was truly disappointed. Then there was that one time last year when I went to a protest. Going to a protest is something that takes a lot of willpower for me. I am hella scared of protests because I have been knowing people all my life who went and came back with injuries. We are talking anti-nazi protests - some where caused by the nazis, some where caused by the left who though it was really clever to throw stuff from a distance where they would only hit their own people, and some injuries were from the cops. I guess we all remember the protests against the G20 summit in Hamburg in Summer 2017 where shit went loose. Cars burning, people throwing bottles, none of this is okay. However, what is even less okay is police violently attacking peaceful protesters. You know, the ones who didn't throw bottles or set cars on fire. The majority. That shit happened, and while people who threw bottles and hurt no one with them get 3 years in jail, there are apparently no consequences for the cops. That is the main reason I have to gather all my strenght, hype myself up with angry music and gather a group of friends around me to even go to protests. Now when I went to the protest, I went peacefully. I am too scared to be violent. I could never physically attack a person simply because I am afraid of them hitting me back. Fear makes me a pretty peaceful person. So I went there, walked, showed my face, shouted my opinion, all within the law. I was exercising my right to protest. I was exercising my duty to protest against nazis. We all were. Suddenly, someone yelled "Run!" and when I turned around I saw a group of heavily armoured cops running towards us and they did not look like they'd stop. So I turned back around and ran away, didn't get far because I am clumsy, instead I tripped and fell down... and did not get up again on my own. Just accepted my fate and that I would propably die here trampled to death by the police for literally doing nothing wrong. Instead, my friends picked me up and I did not die, only got a few bruises and abrasions.
So overall, I have never been the perpetrator, never actually got in trouble with the police, and I still do not feel like I could trust them at all. Serve and protect is a lie to me. And I am lucky. I am privileged.
Now yesterday I saw the video of 18-years-old Bethany Nava getting pulled off the train by a police officer and eventually getting arrested. It all started with her having her feet up on the seat in the train. Not really that big of a deal. Now of course that got people discussing wether or not the cop overreacted. A lot of people believe that she should just have put her feet down and everything would have been alright. Here starts the thing: In the video, we can't see wether or not she didn't do that, naturally because people do not start filming when there is merely a conversation. Nava herself says she put her feet down immediately and in her story, it doesn't really sound like even getting her off the train was reasonable. However, even if I was to play devils advocate and not believe her story and assume that she did in fact not do what the cop asked her to do, arresting her including getting her handcuffed is too much in my opinion and getting her off the train would have been perfectly enough as a consequence. That Selena Lechuga, who came to Navas aid, was arrested too, is completely off the table in means of being ok. That's the last thing I will discuss.
The thing is, I am kind of okay with people discussing wether or not it was reasonable to arrest them. What I am not okay with is that the argument used most is something along the line of "he's a cop, he has every right to arrest her, it's the law". I hate that so many people just let cops do whatever they want because they have a badge. I hate that so many people just accept laws as they are. I hate that neither cops nor laws are questioned very often.
Cops are people. After all, they are humans like all of us, only that they wear uniforms, badges, batons, tasers and guns. Since they are humans, they can make mistakes. They are not infallible. It's important to keep that in mind. More importantly though, since they are human, they are not incapable of abusing their authority and position of power. And since they do have that authority and position of power, and because they carry weapons, they should be held up to higher standards than civilists, because their mistakes, their wrongs can end a lot worse more often than the ones civilists make. And when a cop makes a mistake, that is even more important, they should be held accountable for them. That's the biggest problem here.
Now after sharing that video, I had a (very peaceful, factual) discussion with a facebook friend of mine about it. They believe that, since Nava filed a claim against that cop, there will be justice according to what the law is regarding this case - if he did something wrong, he will be held accountable, if not, he won't. The thing is, laws are made and executed by people too. People, humans, who are, again, not incapable of doing wrong. Of misjudging a situation. Or, even worse, are not incapable of abusing their authority and position of power to make and execute laws as they please. Laws are not infallible too.
There are two things I want to use specifically to emphasize my point:
1. Homosexuality was forbidden by law in Germany until 1994. That's the year I was born. That is not at all long ago. That is not ancient history. Someone made that law because they thought homosexuality was bad. No one changed that law until 1994 because they didn't think it was important. People could have been persecuted for homosexuality in Germany until 1994. They were not, because while it was still the law no one executed it. Because they questioned it and found it was stupid. However, it wasn't important enough until 23 years ago to scrap it - and if there were homophobic cops and judges, people still could have been persecuted for being gay. Would people still say it would be ok because it was the law and therefore it must be right?
2. In the age of smart phones (including cameras), it is very easy to film incidences. This is what happened here, and there is alot of proof in that video that may help to tell wether or not this officer was in the right or wrong and, if the later, get him held accountable. But we all remember Eric Garner. You know, Eric Garner, who got killed by cops? Who was arrested for the mere speculation that he might illegaly sell cigarettes? Who actually was the good guy in this situation because he stepped in and ended a fight? Who was killed because the cops arresting him for nothing used an illegal chokehold? That incident was on camera too. Someone died, someone else filmed it, we have all the proof we need and the law is on Eric Garners side. The cop who killed him walked free. Instead, you know who got persecuted? The guy who filmed it. The guy who delivered the proof that didn't do shit. When cops aren't held accountable for killing someone with an illegal chokehold, why should one trust that they will be held accountable for doing less?
We have no reason to blindly trust police officers. We have no reason to blindly trust laws. Instead, we have a duty to always question them to prevent what stands at the end of the row - a police state, a dictatorship even. Sounds dramatic, but this is what we are risking if we keep doing this. Question your authorities, kids. Who if not us?
So overall, I have never been the perpetrator, never actually got in trouble with the police, and I still do not feel like I could trust them at all. Serve and protect is a lie to me. And I am lucky. I am privileged.
Now yesterday I saw the video of 18-years-old Bethany Nava getting pulled off the train by a police officer and eventually getting arrested. It all started with her having her feet up on the seat in the train. Not really that big of a deal. Now of course that got people discussing wether or not the cop overreacted. A lot of people believe that she should just have put her feet down and everything would have been alright. Here starts the thing: In the video, we can't see wether or not she didn't do that, naturally because people do not start filming when there is merely a conversation. Nava herself says she put her feet down immediately and in her story, it doesn't really sound like even getting her off the train was reasonable. However, even if I was to play devils advocate and not believe her story and assume that she did in fact not do what the cop asked her to do, arresting her including getting her handcuffed is too much in my opinion and getting her off the train would have been perfectly enough as a consequence. That Selena Lechuga, who came to Navas aid, was arrested too, is completely off the table in means of being ok. That's the last thing I will discuss.
The thing is, I am kind of okay with people discussing wether or not it was reasonable to arrest them. What I am not okay with is that the argument used most is something along the line of "he's a cop, he has every right to arrest her, it's the law". I hate that so many people just let cops do whatever they want because they have a badge. I hate that so many people just accept laws as they are. I hate that neither cops nor laws are questioned very often.
Cops are people. After all, they are humans like all of us, only that they wear uniforms, badges, batons, tasers and guns. Since they are humans, they can make mistakes. They are not infallible. It's important to keep that in mind. More importantly though, since they are human, they are not incapable of abusing their authority and position of power. And since they do have that authority and position of power, and because they carry weapons, they should be held up to higher standards than civilists, because their mistakes, their wrongs can end a lot worse more often than the ones civilists make. And when a cop makes a mistake, that is even more important, they should be held accountable for them. That's the biggest problem here.
Now after sharing that video, I had a (very peaceful, factual) discussion with a facebook friend of mine about it. They believe that, since Nava filed a claim against that cop, there will be justice according to what the law is regarding this case - if he did something wrong, he will be held accountable, if not, he won't. The thing is, laws are made and executed by people too. People, humans, who are, again, not incapable of doing wrong. Of misjudging a situation. Or, even worse, are not incapable of abusing their authority and position of power to make and execute laws as they please. Laws are not infallible too.
There are two things I want to use specifically to emphasize my point:
1. Homosexuality was forbidden by law in Germany until 1994. That's the year I was born. That is not at all long ago. That is not ancient history. Someone made that law because they thought homosexuality was bad. No one changed that law until 1994 because they didn't think it was important. People could have been persecuted for homosexuality in Germany until 1994. They were not, because while it was still the law no one executed it. Because they questioned it and found it was stupid. However, it wasn't important enough until 23 years ago to scrap it - and if there were homophobic cops and judges, people still could have been persecuted for being gay. Would people still say it would be ok because it was the law and therefore it must be right?
2. In the age of smart phones (including cameras), it is very easy to film incidences. This is what happened here, and there is alot of proof in that video that may help to tell wether or not this officer was in the right or wrong and, if the later, get him held accountable. But we all remember Eric Garner. You know, Eric Garner, who got killed by cops? Who was arrested for the mere speculation that he might illegaly sell cigarettes? Who actually was the good guy in this situation because he stepped in and ended a fight? Who was killed because the cops arresting him for nothing used an illegal chokehold? That incident was on camera too. Someone died, someone else filmed it, we have all the proof we need and the law is on Eric Garners side. The cop who killed him walked free. Instead, you know who got persecuted? The guy who filmed it. The guy who delivered the proof that didn't do shit. When cops aren't held accountable for killing someone with an illegal chokehold, why should one trust that they will be held accountable for doing less?
We have no reason to blindly trust police officers. We have no reason to blindly trust laws. Instead, we have a duty to always question them to prevent what stands at the end of the row - a police state, a dictatorship even. Sounds dramatic, but this is what we are risking if we keep doing this. Question your authorities, kids. Who if not us?
24.9.17
Welcome to Third Reich 2.0
This morning, I woke up at 11am, drank a cup of coffee and then my grandma and I went to the polling station to vote in the federal election. Now it's 9pm, just 10 hours later, and I am depressed.
After the presidential election in November and the Brexit referendum I sure did lose some hope in humanity but somehow, I was able to be optimistic enough to not completely lose hope that our election in Germany wouldn't turn out as bad. Yes, I actually hoped for Germany to still remember that fascism is not a good idea, as we learned from our past. Apparently, a lot of people just took a lot of naps in History lessons.
For the ones who don't know yet: With over 13%, the relatively new right wing party AfD is the third strongest in our parlament now. To give you a remote idea exactly how right wing they are, a quote from their top candidate Alexander Gauland from just a few hours ago: "We will hunt them down and take back our country and our people." In this case, 'them' includes, for example, Angela Merkel. I think that says enough.
As my mum perfectly stated: This is basically just showing us directly, how very right wing this country still is. We now know for sure that about 1 in 5 people actually thinks that way. And we also know that 1 in 4 people couldn't be bothered to go vote to make their chance to get into the parlament smaller. Dear non-voters, this is on you too.
My friend asked me if I'd come to the town hall for a spontaneous demonstration, and as much as I wanted to, I had to realize that I can't do it tonight. I don't have the energy. So tonight I'm going to try to resist the urge to get drunk. Tomorrow, I'll try to somehow get out of bed. Next week, I'll resist the urge to take this as the final reason to move to Exeter (sorry Exeter friends). But when that is done... I'll fight. For the next four years, I'll fight for an openminded, caring Germany. I'll fight for kindness and for freedom and for equality. I'll not punch every Nazi I see because when it comes to physical violence I'm a bloody coward, but I will support anyone who has the courage to do so. I will never shut up against people who are racist, homophobic, misogynistic, transphobic, fascist etc. I will be loud, I will be aggresive, I will be uncomfortable to those who think they won for good now. I'll refuse to live in Third Reich 2.0. We all should. The 87% who voted against them. My fellow Germans - make those 4 years hell for AfD. We will not give up yet.
After the presidential election in November and the Brexit referendum I sure did lose some hope in humanity but somehow, I was able to be optimistic enough to not completely lose hope that our election in Germany wouldn't turn out as bad. Yes, I actually hoped for Germany to still remember that fascism is not a good idea, as we learned from our past. Apparently, a lot of people just took a lot of naps in History lessons.
For the ones who don't know yet: With over 13%, the relatively new right wing party AfD is the third strongest in our parlament now. To give you a remote idea exactly how right wing they are, a quote from their top candidate Alexander Gauland from just a few hours ago: "We will hunt them down and take back our country and our people." In this case, 'them' includes, for example, Angela Merkel. I think that says enough.
As my mum perfectly stated: This is basically just showing us directly, how very right wing this country still is. We now know for sure that about 1 in 5 people actually thinks that way. And we also know that 1 in 4 people couldn't be bothered to go vote to make their chance to get into the parlament smaller. Dear non-voters, this is on you too.
My friend asked me if I'd come to the town hall for a spontaneous demonstration, and as much as I wanted to, I had to realize that I can't do it tonight. I don't have the energy. So tonight I'm going to try to resist the urge to get drunk. Tomorrow, I'll try to somehow get out of bed. Next week, I'll resist the urge to take this as the final reason to move to Exeter (sorry Exeter friends). But when that is done... I'll fight. For the next four years, I'll fight for an openminded, caring Germany. I'll fight for kindness and for freedom and for equality. I'll not punch every Nazi I see because when it comes to physical violence I'm a bloody coward, but I will support anyone who has the courage to do so. I will never shut up against people who are racist, homophobic, misogynistic, transphobic, fascist etc. I will be loud, I will be aggresive, I will be uncomfortable to those who think they won for good now. I'll refuse to live in Third Reich 2.0. We all should. The 87% who voted against them. My fellow Germans - make those 4 years hell for AfD. We will not give up yet.
30.11.16
The POC pet friend
On the app Jodel, an app for students to share thoughts anonymously, I had the strangest discussion the other day: It started out with the question if you could be in a relationship with a very right-wing person if you were a very liberal person. Aka: Could you share a bed with a racist in a long term romantic relationship if you were anti-racist.
For me, the answer was a clear no. No, I could not be in a committed relationship with a racist, and for that matter neither a convinced sexist, homophobe, transphobe or xenophobe or literally anyone that was against basic human rights and basic respect for a certain group of people. Yes, that also includes people who'd want to see Drumpf dead. You just don't do that shit.
As it happens so very often in online discussions, of course this one as well turned to a pretty different topic soon: A person who described themselves as Mediterranean explained how they went to homepartys quite a lot and they tended to be the only non-white person there - in an anti-racist group of friends.
Quickly, a new discussion started, between those who were convinced that most anti-racist people had no POC friends even though they were against racism, and those including me who thought that was rubbish and that you can just as well be against racism if your group of friends was 100% white.
Now let me be clear: I do have POC friends. Yet, I didn't pick those friendships because those people fit into my plan for diversity amongst the people I deal with. Instead, I just met them somewhere at some point somehow and got to know them and started liking them. Because they are awesome people. And so are my white friends. I mean, why would I deal with anyone who wasn't awesome? Because their race matched my personal anti-racism agenda?
What I am saying is: Friendships need to develope naturally. And by that, I mean that you meet people in your day to day life, that could be in class or at work or in your sports club or because you have a friend in common who introduces you or because you start chatting about your favourite TV show online or because you start talking on a train ride or - the possibilities are endless. And then step two is getting to know each other, which is maintained through keeping in touch. Then, you have to click a certain way to actually like each other. This is how friendship works. You see how none of these steps is "check which skincolour that person has"? You know why? Because it doesn't matter when it comes to being open for new people.
The other way around, if I don't click with someone, I don't click with someone. If I have a problem with someone as a person, I don't care how POC they are. Or white, for that matter.
However, I'll still fight for their rights. I'll fight for the guy at the train station who called me racist because I was too broke to give him any change so he isn't deported back to where he came from just because he isn't born here. I'll fight for the refugee mom who didn't show up for any meetings we set up to help her get furniture. I'll fight for the dudes who sexually assaulted women at the main station in Cologne on last new years eve to get the same process and treatment as any German person who sexually assaults people. Because this is what my moral compass tells me. That every person deserves the same basic human rights.
There are so many reasons why someone may not have any POC friends. The only one that is not okay is if you refuse to get to know POC because you have stereotypes and prejudice stuck in your head and refuse to learn better.
Thing is, if you have a very diverse group of friends only for the sake of diversity, are you any better than the ones who refuse to have diverse friends? Wouldn't it be exactly the same as having the alibi black friend so you are allowed to say racist things because you "can't be racist because you have a black friend!"? Wouldn't it be like having an accesoire to make you look more liberal?
I think what truly matters is who you're actively fighting for even if you don't know them personally. Or if you disike them as a person. I'd rather have a person whose friends are 100% white who'd actively fight racism where they find it than a person who has the most POC friends and settles down at that.
So from this point, I'll go on and accept friendship where I find it. Might be in my super-white class. Might be at the multi-cultural festival. I don't care, if we click, we click. Because when if comes to friendship, that might be the only point where I dare to say: I don't see colour. I see friends.
For me, the answer was a clear no. No, I could not be in a committed relationship with a racist, and for that matter neither a convinced sexist, homophobe, transphobe or xenophobe or literally anyone that was against basic human rights and basic respect for a certain group of people. Yes, that also includes people who'd want to see Drumpf dead. You just don't do that shit.
As it happens so very often in online discussions, of course this one as well turned to a pretty different topic soon: A person who described themselves as Mediterranean explained how they went to homepartys quite a lot and they tended to be the only non-white person there - in an anti-racist group of friends.
Quickly, a new discussion started, between those who were convinced that most anti-racist people had no POC friends even though they were against racism, and those including me who thought that was rubbish and that you can just as well be against racism if your group of friends was 100% white.
Now let me be clear: I do have POC friends. Yet, I didn't pick those friendships because those people fit into my plan for diversity amongst the people I deal with. Instead, I just met them somewhere at some point somehow and got to know them and started liking them. Because they are awesome people. And so are my white friends. I mean, why would I deal with anyone who wasn't awesome? Because their race matched my personal anti-racism agenda?
What I am saying is: Friendships need to develope naturally. And by that, I mean that you meet people in your day to day life, that could be in class or at work or in your sports club or because you have a friend in common who introduces you or because you start chatting about your favourite TV show online or because you start talking on a train ride or - the possibilities are endless. And then step two is getting to know each other, which is maintained through keeping in touch. Then, you have to click a certain way to actually like each other. This is how friendship works. You see how none of these steps is "check which skincolour that person has"? You know why? Because it doesn't matter when it comes to being open for new people.
The other way around, if I don't click with someone, I don't click with someone. If I have a problem with someone as a person, I don't care how POC they are. Or white, for that matter.
However, I'll still fight for their rights. I'll fight for the guy at the train station who called me racist because I was too broke to give him any change so he isn't deported back to where he came from just because he isn't born here. I'll fight for the refugee mom who didn't show up for any meetings we set up to help her get furniture. I'll fight for the dudes who sexually assaulted women at the main station in Cologne on last new years eve to get the same process and treatment as any German person who sexually assaults people. Because this is what my moral compass tells me. That every person deserves the same basic human rights.
There are so many reasons why someone may not have any POC friends. The only one that is not okay is if you refuse to get to know POC because you have stereotypes and prejudice stuck in your head and refuse to learn better.
Thing is, if you have a very diverse group of friends only for the sake of diversity, are you any better than the ones who refuse to have diverse friends? Wouldn't it be exactly the same as having the alibi black friend so you are allowed to say racist things because you "can't be racist because you have a black friend!"? Wouldn't it be like having an accesoire to make you look more liberal?
I think what truly matters is who you're actively fighting for even if you don't know them personally. Or if you disike them as a person. I'd rather have a person whose friends are 100% white who'd actively fight racism where they find it than a person who has the most POC friends and settles down at that.
So from this point, I'll go on and accept friendship where I find it. Might be in my super-white class. Might be at the multi-cultural festival. I don't care, if we click, we click. Because when if comes to friendship, that might be the only point where I dare to say: I don't see colour. I see friends.
12.11.16
So what do we do now? - Thoughts about the presidential election
No, this is not a review, even though, if I had to review the presidential election, that'd be a 2/5 stars from me, the two stars being for the enthusiasm and the awareness for the situation I have seen around the internet so much in the last few months, be it amongst my friends or complete strangers: Dear people who care - thank you. I am proud of you. Also, for Hillary Clinton, simply for not punching Donald Trump in the face for the way he spoke about her right to her face during the debates and instead just smiling and being polite and professional - I respect that so much, because I propably would have beaten up Trump a long time ago, or at least yelled quite a few not so nice things.
Now that we made clear what I think of the winner of the election, let me explain from what point of view I am writing all of this and make my opinions: A pretty privileged one. I am a young white woman, so that's 1/2 privilege points so far, I have a job that pays me enough to live on my own (2/3), I am pansexual (2/4, we're going down a bit), and I am living in Germany (and the privilege counter goes through the roof). Yes, I am not American. I have never been to the United States so far. Yet, I do care a lot about your election. Why is that?
First of all: I care about people. I care about basic human rights for everone. And when I say everyone, I mean it. I don't need you to be my friend or relative to acknowledge your rights as a human, and it doesn't have to affect me in any way, as long as a problem affects you, whereever you are on this planet, I'll care. Given this, yes, I do care a lot about the presidential election in America. Period.
Secondly: That kind of negates my first point - it will affect me. It will affect the whole world. The USA are still one of the most powerful countries in the world. And, speaking from a German point of view, since we have a lot of trading going on with the USA, it is quite important for us what happens to their economy - because if America hits a new recession, we're going down with them.
So far, so (not) good.
I don't think I have to repeat all the PSAs, friendly or not so friendly reminders etc. that explained very well the effect it could have, will have, and already does have on minorities in America having Trump elected. We all (should) know that by now, and I am really not down for too much repetition, especially since those arguments didn't really seem to change anyones mind before the election already. Instead, let's talk about what happens to the ones privileged, the ones that are not minorities - because that's what some people seem to care about exclusively.
Trump stated that in the first hundred days in office, he will "cancel every unconstitutional executive action, memorandum and order issued by President Obama" (You can find the full "Contract with the American voter" here). This does include rights for LGBTQ+ folks, like trans* people using the bathroom that fits their gender or same-sex couples taking extend family-leave, it includes the ban on deportation for children that came to the US illegally, this includes the order to the CIA to ban certain interrogation techniques. All, in my opinion, things that simply push human rights, and thus good things. But things that do not effect non-minorities and people outside of the US. What's in for us?
First big point is health care. The Affordable Care Act is essential for a lot of people, white people as well, since it makes health care a lot more doable for non-wealthy people. It is controverse though due to the tax increase that comes with it. I HAVE to comment on this from a German point of view: it is beyond me how it can be controversial to pay a bit more in taxes so you and everyone else around you can go to the hospital if you need to without worrying to be in debt for the next few years. If I had a heartattack right now, here in Germany, I could call an ambulance, get to the hospital, have a stand operation, stay in the hospital while it's healing, stay at home for a while after that until I am good to go again - and it would all have been taken care of financially. I'd not have the second heartattack when I got the bill because I don't get one. If I was in the United States, I would absolutely think twice if I'd call an ambulance. Or even a taxi to the hospital. I'd have second thoughts if my being alive was worth thousands of dollars. Seriously. How does it work here? Overall, 15,5% of what the person makes in a month is paid to the health insurance company, 8,2% is taken away directly from your wage, 7,3% is paid by your employer on top of the wage they're paying you. Means, if I'd work 40 hours a week for minimum wage (8.50 € an hour in Germany right now), I'd have an overall wage of roughly 1457 € a month and would pay 119.50 € of that for the insurance per month, that's 130 $. Means, if I just put that money away every month and saved it for bad times, I could afford a 15-minute ambulance ride once a year - but just the trip, not actually getting treated at the hospital. So now, every person here has to pay those 8,3% regardless of their health status. Obviously, if you make more money, you're paying more. Now here's the point: Even if you don't have a job, or have only a part-time contract, or are a child and so on - if you only have a check-up at the doctors or have to go to the hospital because a car hit you, it will be taken care of. The sentiment is solidarity, because accidents and illness can happen to anyone. No one is safe from getting injured or ill. But we are safe from the debt that would come with it otherwise. We don't have to pay shitloads for not dying. And I really, really don't get why this isn't a universal thing.
So, back to the point: Americans don't have this universal health insurance, but with the Affordable Care Act, they have a realistic chance to have a pretty similar outcome - that is, not having to chose if you want to die or if you want to be in debt forever. And this might get taken away from you when Trump starts his presidency.
I already mentioned trades. This is where it get's really tricky. Trump stated that he wanted to boost the American economy inside the country, create jobs etc., which is, to be fair here, actually a very good thought. Jobs are needed. However, to accomplish that, he plans on either renegotiating or completely withdrawing from NAFTA (Northamerican Free Trade Agreement). That would most likely increase prices in America - and it is not a definite thing that it will, in fact, bring jobs back to America. So, tl;dr: Chances to have things become (even) more expensive - pretty damn high, guarantee to have more jobs available in America - ...eh.
He also plans on labeling China a currency manipulator (which, to be fair again, is true, but not necessarily a bad thing) and wants a 45% tariff for goods imported from China. The thing is, while China does, in fact, manipulate their currency (it's called Renminbi by the way) and keeps it low artificially, because of this goods from China are very cheap from an American point of view. So when Chinese goods get imported from the US, they are actually cheaper than American products. Thus, more affordable for the consumer. The same principle goes for the economical factor "work capacity", as in: people working for a company. This is why so many non-Chinese companies have their products produced in China - it's cheap. Plus what you have to pay your employees in America plus the profit for everyone involved and you have your price you sell the item for. Thing is: The wage for the employees in America will not change, nor will the taxes etc. and everything that a company will have to pay to bring their goods to the market. And, since we live in a capitalist society, the wanted profit that is part of the price sure as hell won't change as well. That means: If, instead of having factories in China and having Chinese workers produce their goods, companies had their factories in America and had American citizens work for them on every step of producing their goods, prices would increase. If. Because China is not the only country in this world where workers are cheap. So, again, you have no guarantee that the jobs would come back to America.
So far, this is mainly a problem for the poor people, the ones working minimum wage and more than one job to keep themselves alive. However, there's another problem to this, and that is the possible trade war Trump would start by this tariff policy. A trade war could lead to an American recession. And this is where it hits everyone, because this could lead to the next Great Depression.
And now, after those two big points, of course the environment is at risk as well, since Donald Trump believes climate change to be a hoax, following the idea of "I saw snow today so climate change is a hoax. I also just ate a hotdog, hunger is a lie."
Thing is, to tackle that idea right away: Climate change doesn't necessarily mean that it gets hotter overall. The term "Global warming" is misleading here. The change, for now, mostly lies within, well, the changes of season. Just two weeks ago, we had temperatures between 10 and 15°C where I live. Today, it was 1°C. The changes are quicker. More aprupt. That is what climate change is like right now.
He would like to cancel the Paris Agreement. The easier way to do that would be just not complying to commitment of the United States to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, since it is not legally binding. No, this would not be the end of the world and not the absolute huge catastrophe, but it would take a big step back from the worlds try to safe planet earth.
At this point, I would like to state that I am well aware that Hillary Clinton is not perfect. She is far from perfect. But while not only stating to plan on supporting minorities instead of making their lifes even worse, she simply is a lot less agressive in her politics, she thinks things through, she simply is a professional after working in politics for 30 years and she knows what to do and how to do it.
So what do we do now?
As a German and thus mainly committed to the politics that affect me and my fellow citizens directly, and the things I can actually do something about, I am worried about our election next year. With the AfD (Alternative for Germany), we have our own Trump kinda political party. So what do we do to keep them from winning? First of all, of course, actually go out and vote. Since we have our election on a Sunday and shops are closed on Sundays so most of us don't have to work then, we have much better chances to actually make it. If you are allowed to vote and are not working on that sunday from 8 to 6, you have no excuse. For the love of God please vote!
Secondly, please take no unneccesary risks. Choose the big party that makes you want to throw up least. For the love of god please don't vote for those small parties that have no chance of actually getting enough votes to at least form a coalition. The outcome will inevitably not make you 100% happy, so you can just as well make it not the worst. The most bearable.
And thirdly: Please inform. Knowledge is key. Read the AfDs programm (you can do that here) to know what you are about and be able to make solid, waterproof arguments. Especially take notice of stuff that is not just bad for people who hate minorities, because that kinda arguments don't help, they won't change their minds. Try to proof to them that they are at risk to lose as well if the AfD wins.
Now what about the USA... well, I am, in fact, not in the perfect position to give orders now, and that is definitely not what I want to do. I want to make suggestions. Not even that, I want to tell you what I would do if I was American and what I will do regardless of not being American.
The big point that actually made me write this post is an article I read about the Electoral College here, the thing that Trump was elected as president not by the people (popular vote) but will be by other people that somehow get a bigger say in this than everyone else. The fact that your vote counts more or less depending on where you live is absolutely un-democratic. This is a system failing it's people (and yes, I would have said that as well if Hillary Clinton won, even though I admit that I propably wouldn't know as much about the system then and wouldn't be as angry and definitely would have made this post half as long. I am just a human, okay?). So, if I were you, I'd protest against this. Not against Trump in particular (even though I support that as well), but against this system that made him president-elect even though more people voted for Clinton. It may be too late now. We somehow have to deal with it. But we can fight for an outcome like this not happening again. Because then, at least, the people would have spoken. Not a tiny part of the people. If there is anything I can do to help this cause, let me know! I promise to sign every petition and what not I come across, I'll participate in every demonstration in my area to change this, I will do what I can given that I am not geographically with you.
I will not tell you to go vote next time or not vote third party next time because I don't feel like the ones completely bummed out right now are the people who did this. I trust that everyone who read this did go vote and propably voted Hillary Clinton (except the ones writing an angry-ass comment telling me to kill myself right now below that, yes, I see you).
And besides having better chances next time: Please take care of each other. And with each other, I mean ALL each other. Yes, the main focus will be on POC, muslims, Mexicans, women and LGBTQ+, but don't leave out the ones who are hurting as well right now even though they may not be affected as badly as the minorities are. Try to comfort them as well. And, most importantly, don't let this election turn you into what Trump and his supporters see in you. Don't beat up Trump supporters, don't be mean to privileged people without reason (= just because they are privileged), try to stay kind - I know it is hard. Don't forget your morals.
This will be some shit 4 years and I pray to god that Trump can't do half the things he wants to do. I pray that it won't be as bad as it could be, because I feel like that's the only thing I can do now. I pray that the congress will hold him and Pence as well back from being their full potential of awefulness.
Remember, you are not worthless, you are loved, you matter, and you will get through this.
PS: If you feel like you can't make it, here is a site for suicide hotlines in every state and internationally.
Now that we made clear what I think of the winner of the election, let me explain from what point of view I am writing all of this and make my opinions: A pretty privileged one. I am a young white woman, so that's 1/2 privilege points so far, I have a job that pays me enough to live on my own (2/3), I am pansexual (2/4, we're going down a bit), and I am living in Germany (and the privilege counter goes through the roof). Yes, I am not American. I have never been to the United States so far. Yet, I do care a lot about your election. Why is that?
First of all: I care about people. I care about basic human rights for everone. And when I say everyone, I mean it. I don't need you to be my friend or relative to acknowledge your rights as a human, and it doesn't have to affect me in any way, as long as a problem affects you, whereever you are on this planet, I'll care. Given this, yes, I do care a lot about the presidential election in America. Period.
Secondly: That kind of negates my first point - it will affect me. It will affect the whole world. The USA are still one of the most powerful countries in the world. And, speaking from a German point of view, since we have a lot of trading going on with the USA, it is quite important for us what happens to their economy - because if America hits a new recession, we're going down with them.
So far, so (not) good.
I don't think I have to repeat all the PSAs, friendly or not so friendly reminders etc. that explained very well the effect it could have, will have, and already does have on minorities in America having Trump elected. We all (should) know that by now, and I am really not down for too much repetition, especially since those arguments didn't really seem to change anyones mind before the election already. Instead, let's talk about what happens to the ones privileged, the ones that are not minorities - because that's what some people seem to care about exclusively.
Trump stated that in the first hundred days in office, he will "cancel every unconstitutional executive action, memorandum and order issued by President Obama" (You can find the full "Contract with the American voter" here). This does include rights for LGBTQ+ folks, like trans* people using the bathroom that fits their gender or same-sex couples taking extend family-leave, it includes the ban on deportation for children that came to the US illegally, this includes the order to the CIA to ban certain interrogation techniques. All, in my opinion, things that simply push human rights, and thus good things. But things that do not effect non-minorities and people outside of the US. What's in for us?
First big point is health care. The Affordable Care Act is essential for a lot of people, white people as well, since it makes health care a lot more doable for non-wealthy people. It is controverse though due to the tax increase that comes with it. I HAVE to comment on this from a German point of view: it is beyond me how it can be controversial to pay a bit more in taxes so you and everyone else around you can go to the hospital if you need to without worrying to be in debt for the next few years. If I had a heartattack right now, here in Germany, I could call an ambulance, get to the hospital, have a stand operation, stay in the hospital while it's healing, stay at home for a while after that until I am good to go again - and it would all have been taken care of financially. I'd not have the second heartattack when I got the bill because I don't get one. If I was in the United States, I would absolutely think twice if I'd call an ambulance. Or even a taxi to the hospital. I'd have second thoughts if my being alive was worth thousands of dollars. Seriously. How does it work here? Overall, 15,5% of what the person makes in a month is paid to the health insurance company, 8,2% is taken away directly from your wage, 7,3% is paid by your employer on top of the wage they're paying you. Means, if I'd work 40 hours a week for minimum wage (8.50 € an hour in Germany right now), I'd have an overall wage of roughly 1457 € a month and would pay 119.50 € of that for the insurance per month, that's 130 $. Means, if I just put that money away every month and saved it for bad times, I could afford a 15-minute ambulance ride once a year - but just the trip, not actually getting treated at the hospital. So now, every person here has to pay those 8,3% regardless of their health status. Obviously, if you make more money, you're paying more. Now here's the point: Even if you don't have a job, or have only a part-time contract, or are a child and so on - if you only have a check-up at the doctors or have to go to the hospital because a car hit you, it will be taken care of. The sentiment is solidarity, because accidents and illness can happen to anyone. No one is safe from getting injured or ill. But we are safe from the debt that would come with it otherwise. We don't have to pay shitloads for not dying. And I really, really don't get why this isn't a universal thing.
So, back to the point: Americans don't have this universal health insurance, but with the Affordable Care Act, they have a realistic chance to have a pretty similar outcome - that is, not having to chose if you want to die or if you want to be in debt forever. And this might get taken away from you when Trump starts his presidency.
I already mentioned trades. This is where it get's really tricky. Trump stated that he wanted to boost the American economy inside the country, create jobs etc., which is, to be fair here, actually a very good thought. Jobs are needed. However, to accomplish that, he plans on either renegotiating or completely withdrawing from NAFTA (Northamerican Free Trade Agreement). That would most likely increase prices in America - and it is not a definite thing that it will, in fact, bring jobs back to America. So, tl;dr: Chances to have things become (even) more expensive - pretty damn high, guarantee to have more jobs available in America - ...eh.
He also plans on labeling China a currency manipulator (which, to be fair again, is true, but not necessarily a bad thing) and wants a 45% tariff for goods imported from China. The thing is, while China does, in fact, manipulate their currency (it's called Renminbi by the way) and keeps it low artificially, because of this goods from China are very cheap from an American point of view. So when Chinese goods get imported from the US, they are actually cheaper than American products. Thus, more affordable for the consumer. The same principle goes for the economical factor "work capacity", as in: people working for a company. This is why so many non-Chinese companies have their products produced in China - it's cheap. Plus what you have to pay your employees in America plus the profit for everyone involved and you have your price you sell the item for. Thing is: The wage for the employees in America will not change, nor will the taxes etc. and everything that a company will have to pay to bring their goods to the market. And, since we live in a capitalist society, the wanted profit that is part of the price sure as hell won't change as well. That means: If, instead of having factories in China and having Chinese workers produce their goods, companies had their factories in America and had American citizens work for them on every step of producing their goods, prices would increase. If. Because China is not the only country in this world where workers are cheap. So, again, you have no guarantee that the jobs would come back to America.
So far, this is mainly a problem for the poor people, the ones working minimum wage and more than one job to keep themselves alive. However, there's another problem to this, and that is the possible trade war Trump would start by this tariff policy. A trade war could lead to an American recession. And this is where it hits everyone, because this could lead to the next Great Depression.
And now, after those two big points, of course the environment is at risk as well, since Donald Trump believes climate change to be a hoax, following the idea of "I saw snow today so climate change is a hoax. I also just ate a hotdog, hunger is a lie."
Thing is, to tackle that idea right away: Climate change doesn't necessarily mean that it gets hotter overall. The term "Global warming" is misleading here. The change, for now, mostly lies within, well, the changes of season. Just two weeks ago, we had temperatures between 10 and 15°C where I live. Today, it was 1°C. The changes are quicker. More aprupt. That is what climate change is like right now.
He would like to cancel the Paris Agreement. The easier way to do that would be just not complying to commitment of the United States to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, since it is not legally binding. No, this would not be the end of the world and not the absolute huge catastrophe, but it would take a big step back from the worlds try to safe planet earth.
At this point, I would like to state that I am well aware that Hillary Clinton is not perfect. She is far from perfect. But while not only stating to plan on supporting minorities instead of making their lifes even worse, she simply is a lot less agressive in her politics, she thinks things through, she simply is a professional after working in politics for 30 years and she knows what to do and how to do it.
So what do we do now?
As a German and thus mainly committed to the politics that affect me and my fellow citizens directly, and the things I can actually do something about, I am worried about our election next year. With the AfD (Alternative for Germany), we have our own Trump kinda political party. So what do we do to keep them from winning? First of all, of course, actually go out and vote. Since we have our election on a Sunday and shops are closed on Sundays so most of us don't have to work then, we have much better chances to actually make it. If you are allowed to vote and are not working on that sunday from 8 to 6, you have no excuse. For the love of God please vote!
Secondly, please take no unneccesary risks. Choose the big party that makes you want to throw up least. For the love of god please don't vote for those small parties that have no chance of actually getting enough votes to at least form a coalition. The outcome will inevitably not make you 100% happy, so you can just as well make it not the worst. The most bearable.
And thirdly: Please inform. Knowledge is key. Read the AfDs programm (you can do that here) to know what you are about and be able to make solid, waterproof arguments. Especially take notice of stuff that is not just bad for people who hate minorities, because that kinda arguments don't help, they won't change their minds. Try to proof to them that they are at risk to lose as well if the AfD wins.
Now what about the USA... well, I am, in fact, not in the perfect position to give orders now, and that is definitely not what I want to do. I want to make suggestions. Not even that, I want to tell you what I would do if I was American and what I will do regardless of not being American.
The big point that actually made me write this post is an article I read about the Electoral College here, the thing that Trump was elected as president not by the people (popular vote) but will be by other people that somehow get a bigger say in this than everyone else. The fact that your vote counts more or less depending on where you live is absolutely un-democratic. This is a system failing it's people (and yes, I would have said that as well if Hillary Clinton won, even though I admit that I propably wouldn't know as much about the system then and wouldn't be as angry and definitely would have made this post half as long. I am just a human, okay?). So, if I were you, I'd protest against this. Not against Trump in particular (even though I support that as well), but against this system that made him president-elect even though more people voted for Clinton. It may be too late now. We somehow have to deal with it. But we can fight for an outcome like this not happening again. Because then, at least, the people would have spoken. Not a tiny part of the people. If there is anything I can do to help this cause, let me know! I promise to sign every petition and what not I come across, I'll participate in every demonstration in my area to change this, I will do what I can given that I am not geographically with you.
I will not tell you to go vote next time or not vote third party next time because I don't feel like the ones completely bummed out right now are the people who did this. I trust that everyone who read this did go vote and propably voted Hillary Clinton (except the ones writing an angry-ass comment telling me to kill myself right now below that, yes, I see you).
And besides having better chances next time: Please take care of each other. And with each other, I mean ALL each other. Yes, the main focus will be on POC, muslims, Mexicans, women and LGBTQ+, but don't leave out the ones who are hurting as well right now even though they may not be affected as badly as the minorities are. Try to comfort them as well. And, most importantly, don't let this election turn you into what Trump and his supporters see in you. Don't beat up Trump supporters, don't be mean to privileged people without reason (= just because they are privileged), try to stay kind - I know it is hard. Don't forget your morals.
This will be some shit 4 years and I pray to god that Trump can't do half the things he wants to do. I pray that it won't be as bad as it could be, because I feel like that's the only thing I can do now. I pray that the congress will hold him and Pence as well back from being their full potential of awefulness.
Remember, you are not worthless, you are loved, you matter, and you will get through this.
PS: If you feel like you can't make it, here is a site for suicide hotlines in every state and internationally.
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