I'm not a fascist dammit!
Nov. 13th, 2005 02:35 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
scottishlassDue to Germany's history 70 years ago, Germans are quite touchy when it comes to fascism and we try to be as open as possible. We are in fact a multi-cultural society and even though we have lapses, normal day to day life in my neck of the woods is fairly colourful. On my street alone there are ppl from many nationalities and religions. Africans, Indians, Turkish and Libanese as well as Germans, old and new. In the summer evenings ppl like to sit outside and make bbq's under the large chestnut trees and it has always been nice and peaceful.
This has changed since there is a new house on the block so to speak. There has been vandalism, B&E's and also physical attacks. My bikes were stolen twice, my new bike is now secured with both my motorcycle-lock as well as a U-Lock. All because there are some folks in the newly-built house are immigrants from North and East Africa.
I caught a child trying to steal another bike and instead of calling the police I took it to his parents. They are Africans, nothing wrong with that, but I had a real bad feeling going up there with the kid, and after I told them calmly I might add, that their kid had attempted to steal a bike and that they should make him realize what is right or wrong ... BAM! I should have called the police because they just ploughed into me, yelling at me I'm a fascist and I would lie. And that all Germans are assholes.
JEEESH!!! Good thing old Mr. Korkmaz from across the street was with me. He is first generation Turk, he came over in the 60's and has made a decent life for himself and his family and Olly and I have been invited to family meetings ever since we moved here. He is the most calm and soft-spoken person I know and I like him very much, but he turned into a bull when the father started in on me. He was formidable, and telling him that if he wants to live here and not returned to his African homeland he and his family should abide to the rules. Then they started to speak in Arabic (both are Moslems obviously) and the only thing I heard was sharija and Allah.
When it ended, Mr. Korkmaz took my hand and we went away, I could tell he was still fuming and said he was sorry and knows why so many ppl hate Moslems. Not only because of the terrorists but also because some Moslems think they can use their belief to ignore any other rules and regulations. He was really agitated and I thought he might pop a vessel.
When we returned to his apartment, he apologized and I told him that he shouldn't. I can understand, but he was adamant. He has seen that ppl have changed, the Germans keep to themselves since the new house has been built and the new families have moved in. He hates that, and his wife, Laila, said that it was really a pity, especially as so many folks have forbidden their children to attend Sugar-Festival (the day ending Ramadan) which has been almost an institution with the kids. I felt really bad, esp. as Olly and I couldn't attend due to work and we only popped in much later when only the adults where still around and Isham their little grand-son (who had stuffed himself with sugar plums and figs even though the kids don't not fast on Ramadan and he didn't but he has a sweet tooth).
Now I'm back home and I still think about all of this ... we have been pretty fortunate that our street has been so strong, even after 9/11. But now with the new folks having moved in, it gets destroyed little by little. And the words of this asshole still rankle me ... I'm not a fascist dammit. Never was and never will be, but some times, especially at times like these, I wish those idiots would stay away from here and keep to their own lands. Shit!
This has changed since there is a new house on the block so to speak. There has been vandalism, B&E's and also physical attacks. My bikes were stolen twice, my new bike is now secured with both my motorcycle-lock as well as a U-Lock. All because there are some folks in the newly-built house are immigrants from North and East Africa.
I caught a child trying to steal another bike and instead of calling the police I took it to his parents. They are Africans, nothing wrong with that, but I had a real bad feeling going up there with the kid, and after I told them calmly I might add, that their kid had attempted to steal a bike and that they should make him realize what is right or wrong ... BAM! I should have called the police because they just ploughed into me, yelling at me I'm a fascist and I would lie. And that all Germans are assholes.
JEEESH!!! Good thing old Mr. Korkmaz from across the street was with me. He is first generation Turk, he came over in the 60's and has made a decent life for himself and his family and Olly and I have been invited to family meetings ever since we moved here. He is the most calm and soft-spoken person I know and I like him very much, but he turned into a bull when the father started in on me. He was formidable, and telling him that if he wants to live here and not returned to his African homeland he and his family should abide to the rules. Then they started to speak in Arabic (both are Moslems obviously) and the only thing I heard was sharija and Allah.
When it ended, Mr. Korkmaz took my hand and we went away, I could tell he was still fuming and said he was sorry and knows why so many ppl hate Moslems. Not only because of the terrorists but also because some Moslems think they can use their belief to ignore any other rules and regulations. He was really agitated and I thought he might pop a vessel.
When we returned to his apartment, he apologized and I told him that he shouldn't. I can understand, but he was adamant. He has seen that ppl have changed, the Germans keep to themselves since the new house has been built and the new families have moved in. He hates that, and his wife, Laila, said that it was really a pity, especially as so many folks have forbidden their children to attend Sugar-Festival (the day ending Ramadan) which has been almost an institution with the kids. I felt really bad, esp. as Olly and I couldn't attend due to work and we only popped in much later when only the adults where still around and Isham their little grand-son (who had stuffed himself with sugar plums and figs even though the kids don't not fast on Ramadan and he didn't but he has a sweet tooth).
Now I'm back home and I still think about all of this ... we have been pretty fortunate that our street has been so strong, even after 9/11. But now with the new folks having moved in, it gets destroyed little by little. And the words of this asshole still rankle me ... I'm not a fascist dammit. Never was and never will be, but some times, especially at times like these, I wish those idiots would stay away from here and keep to their own lands. Shit!
