In a West German city: Opponents of vaccination had called for a rally, while those in favor of vaccination wanted to protest against it. We, who watched the whole thing as passers-by, could no longer tell who belonged to which faction in the scuffle that had quickly ensued. One group insulted the other as fascists, the others their opponents as Nazis. It doesn’t go any lower in Germany. Anyone who claims absolute sovereignty of interpretation is in a verbal war. The political elite is also involved. It thus contributes to insecurity, anxiety and, yes, division in society.
What exactly does a Federal Chancellor mean when he says that there should no longer be any red lines in the fight against a pandemic? Does he want to override the Basic Law? During the New Year’s speech, Olaf Scholz said that a strong community can withstand contradictions. True, she does, but verbal warfare gets to the core. What does a Federal Minister of Health sound like who is once again demanding harsh contact restrictions, but has no understanding for those who live in cramped conditions and have their only ray of hope once a week in the pub’s beer?
A member of the Bundestag from the Greens actually calls for batons to be used against corona critics. As a reminder, the Greens are a party that has its roots in Brokdorf and Wackersdorf, places associated with brutal police operations. The MP is an eloquent woman. She later deletes her entry and writes that she was misunderstood. What can you misunderstand? The demand is also being made on social media by people who see themselves as left and green.
Lauterbach criticism is considered an insult to majesty
We remember: At the beginning of the pandemic, the AfD demanded much tougher measures from the government, and the left initially fell into shock. When the AfD realized that their electorate didn’t like it at all, they did the opposite, and part of the left realized what had to be done: demand a tougher state. People are generally insulted as Nazis, fools, parasites, lateral thinkers, etc. And that should increase the vaccination rate? You’re slowly starting to get it: People who have been vaccinated are also taking part in the demonstrations against compulsory vaccination. They differentiate, have concerns that they want to express. “Nazis”? No.
The deputy federal chairman of the German Police Union (DPolG) also noticed that something was wrong with the rhetoric. Before the pandemic, I could never have imagined in my wildest writing dreams that I would be on the same side of the barricade as someone from the police union. When I carefully formulated in a group of leftists that one should perhaps also discuss the aspect of savings in the hospitals, I was glad that I was only verbally attacked. Criticism of Karl Lauterbach is taken by a part of the left in whatsapp groups, which I am in, as an insult to majesty.
I know of anarchists who wanted to abolish the system in January 2020 and are now declaring that the legal measures against the virus are far too harmless and are demanding stronger action and stricter laws from the once despised cop state. Not that I’m being misunderstood here: Of course there are the right-wing extremists and other assholes among the anti-vaccination demonstrators. Opponents of vaccination, who used to belong more to the left of the spectrum, are becoming radicalized in a different, very unpleasant way. The most unpleasant already imagine themselves in a new fascism. They cannot be taught that they are playing down the terrible historical regime of National Socialism. Any discussion with such people is pointless, I have tried several times. Still, you should talk. Talk, don’t shout. How nice it would be if things got a little quieter. Let’s stop threatening, swearing, shouting and ridiculing people who think differently.