Aufruf2019: Leipzig demonstrated for democracy : My grandmother is ashamed that she did, in 1938, nothing against the Nazis

The author is a singer with the Leipzig Band "The Prince" and supporters of "Aufruf2019", a Leipzig-based citizens Alliance out of concern for democracy and social diversity has started. To kick off this Monday, 14. In January, a Demonstration to be held, which will begin at 18 o'clock on the Nikolai churchyard.

I was about 15 years old when my grandmother told a story from her youth, which impressed me deeply. This story took place in Leipzig, on a memorable day - it was the 9. November 1938, the day, later than the so-called "crystal night" ingloriously in the German history.

My 19-year-young grandmother drove back in a fully occupied tram at the Leipzig Zoo, and noticed that out anything out of the ordinary seemed to happen. To the left of the main entrance, the river bed of the Parte is today. At the bridge there is a small memorial stone is placed, the remembered what happened then, at this point, and my grandmother was in it. She told me that the people ran around in front of the Zoo is excited, and that many of them driven in this wide, powerful, solid brick river bed, and from there in the direction of the station were directed. Almost all of the tram noticed that there is something ugly happened, that what was happening before the eyes of all, was an action that forced the people against their wishes things were, they would not do voluntarily. Every man, woman, and child in this crowded train noticed that there are people who have been victims of violence, and yet, the minute turned away from the guests and looked intently in the other direction. My grandmother said, with tears in the eyes: "And you know what, Boy, I had turned my back also and like all the others done so, as if I wouldn't notice - and I was so ashamed and I am ashamed of today." The sat - when you hear something as a 15 year old Boy of your beloved grandmother, then what's happening with you.

Today, it's easy to say you would have behaved differently

At this 9. November 1938 Jews in Germany were for the first time, solid and, above all, coordinated and General staff attacked moderately prepared. It should look like spontaneous popular anger, but today, we don't know that it was the. And we also know that what happened that day and in the period up to the day of liberation, could only happen because there is a broad agreement, if not enthusiasm in the population - hold apparently, but at least a passive I-to-me-since-out-mood.

Sure, it is, from today's point of view, easy to say I would have behaved different back then. I opened my mouth and me against these injustices rebelled. Yes? I would have done, really? I would not put my Hand in the fire. Rather, I think if I had lived in this time, when my father would perhaps have been even a firmer Nazi or at least a national, proud to be a German, I would have found the well-certainly all very cool, would be thrilled with the marches and had torn the right Arm in salute. Today, we should be careful not to condemn our parents and grandparents that they had participated, that they were a part of the system, a small cog in the gearbox of a perverse system. Certainly, we would like to say that we had rejected at the time, at least as much as Sophie and Hans Scholl against the Nazi-dictatorship - maybe we should have, but it is more likely that we would have been like most back then, or to us, turned away, and so would have done, as we would not be aware of what is happening.

It would be negligent to do so, as nothing changed

But today, with the Knowledge of what happened then, today, we are downright obligated to ensure that such a thing even happens. If today Jewish Restaurants are being attacked, when anti-Semitism or racism seem to be back to the salon to be capable of, if our democratic value system is questioned, when open is called to fight against "the old parties", or "the Establishment", then the alarm bells storm should ring the bell. This has nothing to do with alarmism - it would be naive and negligent to do so, as I have changed nothing, as the sound would not be rougher, and the General approach is not disrespectful. Yes - it may be that the comparison of today's political Situation, limps with the the final stages of the Weimar Republic, but we should remain vigilant and not make the mistake to do so, as we would not notice, that at us remarkable things happen, which is quite Parallel to that development. If Pegida demonstrations gallows will be shown with the name of Merkel or Gabriel, and when the Saxon justice classifies as a taste of weightlessness as not punishable if "Drown - Drown!" is chanted, when a speaker at the Dresden theatre square (the former Adolf-Hitler-Platz) about rescue is when the leaders of the so-called "Alternative for Germany" poisoning the discourse in the Parliament and on the streets, then I'm not going to pretend I would not notice. Then I am glad, that my grandmother was taught a lesson that I will never forget.

democracy is an extremely cool Lady

Because the world we live in is not as stable as we think. We have established ourselves in the last few years, in a supposedly safe world. The architect of this world is a now pretty long in the tooth, but still extremely attractive and, above all, intelligent and stylish lady, and I sing a song wants as long as I'm capable of. I would be happy if many people sing along, because she needs our support. You can only survive if we burn for it, if we protect and care for it and - Yes - you have to say it today, again, unfortunately, so clearly - if we defend you against your enemies, crawling in these turbulent times back out of their holes. But it's worth it to fight for you, because it really is a extremely cool Lady.

democracy

democracy is a female

I don't know, but I think

That the love and the hope are her sisters Female - I believe That mercy and humanity is Exactly what it is

Because the democracy is so fragile.

I don't know but I think

the wisdom on the Mat,

Exactly how the solidarity and the beauty The freedom, the love In this wonderful world

I want a floor to last a lifetime for these things to just‘n, With all the people, on our side I want to stand for life on this barricade n

For the democracy - she is the female

I know, I repeat myself

And ask me: how do I clear

That peace is a male

just like the war

Or the victory

I want to

I ask my Conscience - mainly - in fact, the gender Is not important

I want a floor to last a lifetime for these things to just‘n, With all the people who are on our side I want to stand for life on this barricade n

With all the men all the wife‘n

With all the beings, the trust, With all the Freaks and the normal people Is each other no matter - let go of time

I want to make a stand for a lifetime for these things just‘n

With all the people, on our website are

I want a lifetime on this barricade stand

I want a lifetime to understand n

That it is worth it On this Front Steep to go

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