Advent season 2014

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The only time I was completely deprived of the joy of Advent was in the Balkans in the 1990s. There I had to experience how envy, resentment or even just pure murderousness turned people into monsters. Up to these days I was actually quite sure that I would not experience such a “lost” Advent season again.

But in the middle of the current pre-Christmas period and also here in our own country, thousands of people gather to actually demonstrate against everything, while all the enemy images of German populism are served. And even worse! Under the cloak of decent citizens, the red-brown rabble gathers together, no doubt also accompanied by uninformed followers, and sets out at Christmas time — hic! — through our streets to openly declare war on all democrats, Europeans and Christians among us; In my opinion, the feigned Islamophobia is representative of the lack of courage to call for pogroms against all believers, whether Jews, Muslims or Christians.

Even worse! Populists from all mainstream parties are beginning to sympathize with these types of fellow citizens. I only hope that the Democrats in the parties are strong enough to dig the water out of these “Hindenburg aspirants”.

You see, I can't really look forward to the coming Christmas - one must be glad if no homeless or refugee homes burn in our country on Christmas Eve or if our politicians do not declare war on any country these days.

But you also recognize that it is becoming more and more important for us European federalists to fly the flag and at the same time to effectively oppose the emerging injustice - we must not leave the field to the hate preachers of this world!

We must promote our ideals and values, for peace, for freedom, for democracy, for Europe, for federalism, for human and civil rights, for education, for charity, for solidarity, for freedom of religion... -- there are such things much good worth defending vehemently and much, very much, to lose!