It's not that bad with German unity. Everyone now says everything that disturbs m: from east towards West indignation foamed or cleverly schlitzohrig. The West is often in east with a yawn that masquerades with interest and yet actually asks: "Have we still not rübergeschüttet enough money – what do y want?"

All of this has become much better and more relaxed than 1990, a time of euphoria and depression that were intertwined in most curious way. The one expected from West too much, ors even nix. I have always noted only reactions and let low dosage in my glosses, comments flow in. Two extreme examples: a Brandenburg visitor in Iserlohn (a nice, completely unproblematic town – I say) broke his visit to a Western acquaintance in March 1990: he would have a headache, re would be too many foreign speeches, he would not stop. The contrast: Berlin Press fest, rar a domain of left in many nuances, at Alexanderplatz. One re had read something from me in a left-wing magazine. He suspected a like-minded in me and asked in a similar way: How I estimate situation, when revolution begins and which buildings in Berlin would have to be occupied first. He did not have an above-average mentally endangered effect.

Lutz Ranow, 1952 born in Jena, inventor and head of a working group literature until its prohibition. Literary publications, cross-border networks for Independent Peace movement and sub-cultural activities. After end of GDR lyricist, children's book author, satirist, Proseist, radio columnist. Since 2011 Saxon state commissioner for Stasi documents, since 2017 to rework SED dictatorship. He works and lives in Dresden and Berlin. © Harald Wenzel-ORF

The Berliners were mostly satisfied with ir wall opening and Berlin Association. More Germany did not need many. They did not realize how selfish this was in fact against residual Germany. That ir opening of wall without demonstrations (and ir preparation) in Leipzig from September 1989 would not have been possible – who already had it on screen? From Plauen on October 7th, 1989, we are not talking at all – re were more people demonstrating on day than in East Berlin and also slogan "We are a people" was re – in borders – to be heard. And in Dresden, shortly before, in a different situation by courageous people (Group of 20), a violent escalation of state was most likely prevented, and demonstrators at station did not all act without violence.

That sounds like something exclusive

Of course, a use of slogan "We are people" today is presumptuous by verbitterungs populists. At that time, it should be remembered – in Leipzig, Dresden and elsewhere – that demonstrators are also people. And not just cops and state representatives. Today it often sounds like one: Only we are people, that has something exclusive, unpleasant.

However, re is no copyright on this demand, and if every nation insists on being a special one and separating or distinguishing from ors, only exact history view remains as an activity stimulant for present. Today problems come from completely different corners and touch each or in biographies.

The east knows its possibilities to live out its moroseness manifold. After left is now for various reasons AfD of Aufmerksamkeitscatcher – in Saxony also so frighteningly strong section, because ir boss tried to distinguish clearly publicly from identity preservation populists in party before election. A Saxon AfD, who may have already left her soaring re, Weilsich in addition to Frauke Petry last week half-party board withdrew.

Your own story becomes a test run

In Saxony, re are some clearer and more contrasting, which also occurs elsewhere. This requires federal solutions and political guidelines from Berlin, which promote political education and counselling in any way. Where it goes, also cross-border, towards Czech Republic and Poland.

Even democracy discourses can accelerate populism if y are led to being lifted. Therefore, everything must be done to preserve and strengn already existing auntic places, to promote educational work in all forms. And move into villages of Ostsachsens, Ore Mountains, Vogtland and Lusatia. In a mixture of biography-counseling and educational work, which may not be able to afford pure political educational institutions.

The way of communicating history and talking about one's own story becomes a test run on how much people today feel taken seriously by politics.

Date Of Update: 03 October 2017, 08:35