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Newsletter Jan Feb 2017

 

  After the attack on Breitscheidplatz / Gedächtniskirche Dec. 19, 2016

Editorial

It is that time of the year again when the radio prepares everyone for the New Year as if the old one can be ushered out so easily. The outreach of many different ideological forces all riding the wave of a popular saying that all politicians are corrupt, and therefore they turn against the state although they wish to be safeguarded by such an institution, has made the public truth and public good into scarce values. It is also not clearly criticized what privatization as applied for example as reform demand of Greece having a state debt crisis since 2009-2010 really means.

Undoubtedly all of this has led to a confusion as to the meaning of bringing gifts. Forgotten is quite often that the greatest of all gifts is peace. It should come along with freedom to live happily as a human being.

There was much afoot during 2016 with many people now more afraid about what will give shape to world security and peace in 2017. Aleppo in Syria has burned itself into the mind of those who had experienced something similar in Sarajevo. There is also BREXIT which shattered the confidence in the EU, and the ongoing problems in Ukraine.

As for the United States of America, the BBC has made out five landmines which can explode any time in the face of President elect Donald Trump. One of the potential  conflicts is doing too much and at the same time nothing. Already his ready use of the Twitter is spreading more confusion than reassurance that he is the man who shall get things done. China is saying after his phone call with the President of Taiwan, that he should stop playing the political rocky. Unfortunately he has no political experience whatsoever and, therefore, can behave like a bull in a China shop. Likewise his disrespect for certain rules like having only one president should have meant until his inaugeration he should have kept quiet rather than contradict Obama with regards to Israel and Putin.

In Europe things have been twisting and turning with always the voters throwing hard balls at the politicians. However, this was not the case in Austria when not right wing candidate Hofer won, but the soft spoken Green candidate van der Bellen.

Another case happens to be the outcome of the Italian referendum when Renzi lost and had to conclude a reform process before leaving office. He made way for another politician to safeguard Italy from a huge banking crisis in the making.

At the same time, Hollande in France took everyone by surprise since he will not stand for re-election. That is unusual for a standing president but his ranking in the opinion polls is so low that he saw no chance for a vindication of his efforts while in office. It seems that the wrong people get the worst punishment for attempting to do a decent job. But getting a decent paid job especially by the young is completely another story not only in France, but throughout Europe.

In the meantime, Merkel stands firmly as candidate of the Christian Democrats as cancellor candidate for the upcoming federal elections in September 2017. That firm stance has translated itself into ever harsher measures being taken to ward off a refugee crisis, and thereby it will definitely undermine the key riding horse of the AfD (Alternative for Germany) party by which they hope to solicit votes.

However, the attack on the Christmas market by the Memorial Church in Berlin on 19th of December 2016 has posed one true question which resonates with everyone who have no ready answers why this arbitrary violence too readily called 'terrorism' as if it deserves some upgrading. The question in German is 'warum'? Why?

Hatto Fischer

31.12.2016

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