I have read PI for some time, and I also make a comment here and there. I have been critically occupied with Islam for some years and also belong to those who have had their eyes wide open for some time and see the political landscape and social developments in a new way. Likewise, in 2004, I had already been participating in the collection of signatures against Turkey’s induction into the EU and other initiatives whose goals were to bring people to a point of reflection.

(From Andreas for German PI, translation by Anders Denken)

When I take a look around in the “politically incorrect” scene, peer at some Internet entries, and above all read many comments here, something occurs to me. This is intensified by experiences I have in groups of friends and acquaintances and at work: We have to ask ourselves, WHAT do we stand for, and HOW do we present ourselves to the public. For example, I have complete sympathy for intelligent people that turn their backs on the PI website appalled. I myself like to read PI a lot, and I often find the comments intelligent and humorous; I also hate to miss the selection of information that is published here (except for a few questionable banal posts on the level of the Bild (like the National Enquirer) newspaper. However, too many times I read some dull comments and some that are hostile to foreigners, coupled with expressions of malice, and those that sometimes obscurely and sometimes blatantly advocating violence.

I think that we all need to take a look at ourselves and consider just what we want to achieve and how we wish to appear. Do we wish to foster our monolithic resentments, act out our understandable (!) rage and temporarily feel better by publishing our sarcasm (with which I have complete sympathy)? Or is there something more? My understanding is that it deals with nothing less than engagement for the perpetuation of our open and pluralistic society, for the rescue of our common existence that has been shaped by humanistic-Christian-liberal values.

Do we not want to reach the so-called “average citizen” and encourage more and more people to critically consider the developments in our society? Doesn’t it really deal with attempting something that will give a voice to the general unrest that many feel but can’t formulate in words, and above all, put it into perspective?

If we stand for humanistic values, freedom, love, equality, direct democracy, open discussion and exchange, then we must ask ourselves just how convincingly we represent these values. My experience has been that one of the greatest hindrances we encounter is the understandable fear that many people have of being reactionary right-wingers should they be critical and take a new look at such themes as Islam, the new religious fascism, family politics, homeland, EU, etc. in the critical sense as we understand it.

I consider one of our greatest duties as speaking with our neighbors, family, workplace, sport club, circle of friends and breaking up the internal contradiction people have that no one is a “Nazi” that thinks and evaluates matters critically. Rather, we are dealing with such matters as the defense of freedom, engagement for equality and human rights, the future of our children.

We aren’t enemies of foreigners, rather we’re people friendly! We are FOR the good things and see them as being in danger; we want to protect namely us, our children, our freedom, and we want to keep and improve our open, social and humane form of society. This is what we espouse. We are against fascism, dictatorship, against the oppression of women and the suppression of love.

In reference to a fellow comrade, I want to spur others on to take a critical look at themselves: Do I cultivate images of hostility? Do I foster resentments? Do I have a good humor? Do I treat and argue subjects by rejection and negativity, or am I able to behave in a constructive and relaxed manner? Am I cool? Do I really love people?

Again: we must be better than all the fascistic, hollow, uncritical “left-wing” as well as “right-wing” violence-prone forces! They have to want to speak with us because we can persuade them by our example. This way it is easier to take the wind out of our critics’ sails.

Part of the problem of our being put into the “right-wing corner” is we ourselves, or a few of us. I would be so glad if the foes of foreigners and the right-wing dimwits wouldn’t misuse PI and other forums for their rabble-rousing and resentments, or if the majority of critical websites would hire a good web designer to make the presentation of their content truly engaging and fresh. How can we be better respected if we can’t present ourselves accordingly? How do we want to reach the people if we aren’t any better than the things we fight against?

I think these are questions we need to ask ourselves. And besides our powerful engagement for what is important to us, we also need to check up on ourselves constantly. I have experienced that when I remain cool and factual and have good arguments, that is where I find the most open doors. It’s not really the case that we’re exotic; most of them are simply suffering under politically correct neuroses, and that is where we need to meet them. With humor, enlightenment, and good arguments.

There is already enough hostility tied up in the Religion of Peace, resentment and evil images already convincingly cultivated by others, oppression nurtured by many forces. Our weapons, however, should be self-confident humor, powerful arguments, constructive suggestions (!) and our humaneness. But above all: clear, reasonable thought and a life full of happiness and love. THAT is what our weapons should be. Our greatest enemies are negativity, cowardice and fear. We can counter them with courage, perseverance, enlightenment and humaneness.

Write letters to politicians and newspapers, visit panel discussions, hand out information, talk with the people and, above all, develop perspectives! Also, have something to say about the EU, about family policies that consider the future, about a reasonable immigration policy, about an intelligent economic, tax and social policy. Be competent and winsome and join together in groups!

I want to thank PI for publishing my thoughts and I wish for everyone here to have good ideas and courage, which is how we are able to affect anything. To use an old slogan of the left-wing anarchists:

“Build bonds!”

I have read PI for some time, and I also make a comment here and there. I have been critically occupied with Islam for some years and also belong to those who have had their eyes wide open for some time and see the political landscape and social developments in a new way. Likewise, ...

Guest, 03. Mar 2010 |  Print This Post |  Email This Post | post a comment    
Kategorie: Germany, Islam;

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