Berlin – Numerous demonstrations are currently taking place in Germany. In the past few days tens of thousands of people have been on the streets to protest against the corona policy and the associated changes in society. In Berlin, the voice actress Giovanna Winterfeldt and the actress Miriam Stein spoke at a demo on December 26, which was mainly attended by young demonstrators. The Berliner Zeitung documents the speeches of the two women below.
Giovanna Winterfeldt:
A democracy describes a form of rule, a political order or a political system in which power and government come from the people.
If I understand correctly, it means that important political decisions should not be made over the heads of the people. Especially when large sections of the people indicate that they disagree. Right? Conversely, this means that if the people are no longer well represented or even feel ignored, we have a duty to point out that we see our democracy in danger.
We wanted to do that. And we were forbidden. On suspicion of infiltration. A suspicion. If you start to cancel demonstrations on suspicion, what should we do to draw attention to ourselves and our concerns?
I’ll tell you something. I am not afraid of Corona. Not because it doesn’t exist, I’ve never said that, and personally I don’t know anyone who makes that claim. I am not afraid of it because I have dealt with the numbers and the important benchmarks and data and have decided for myself that there is no reason to be afraid.
I am also not afraid of the vaccination, although I actually noticed some vaccine damage in the family environment as well as in the wider circle of acquaintances.
However, I occasionally catch myself frightened of my government lately. Before the ruthlessness with which she willfully defamed and belittled people like me who criticize her approach. They are titled with terms such as conspiracy theorists, oathers and aluminum hat wearers, thus denying them the right to be heard. Posts and reports censored. Rebuilds algorithms in such a way that posts that are critical are automatically deleted. It’s not OK. Dear rulers: You have to do us justice, not the other way around!
I’m not standing here today because I like to hear myself talk, but to reach out my hand to all those people who are afraid. Not before a virus or a vaccination, but before showing your face. Before expressing your own opinion out loud. Because they were persuaded that they would then walk side by side with Nazis. With oaths. With people in the bottom drawer. Look around. We are not nazis. We are not oaths. We are parents. Teachers. Doctors. Nursing staff. Handyman. We are black, white … we are colorful and diverse.
And we have the right to be here and say that we disagree with the measures and regulations of politics. That nobody has to be forced to do something that he or she does not want. I was taught that only I can decide what to do with my body and what not to do. My body – my choice! Or? We have the right to ask questions, and we damn well have a duty to protect our children from the mistakes of those in power.
Today I also appeal to my generation – the children of the 90s. Where are you? We didn’t go to school to watch now how division and systematic exclusion are made socially acceptable again. And what for? For something that has been distorted and transfigured by the media. For a truth that seems to be so volatile that politicians and so-called experts contradict themselves on a weekly basis.
I am grateful to everyone who has come here today. And for everyone who is so brave and now reveals themselves. Let’s continue to be strong together. And let our fellow human beings, our brothers and sisters understand that we are one family. One human family. And that it’s not too late to finally listen to each other again and build bridges.
We don’t exclude anyone. Not because of skin color, cultural background, social background or stamping in the vaccination certificate. I also extend my hand to those who are currently in favor of compulsory vaccination and who are promoting the division of society.
Let’s get together again. Let’s talk to each other again, and not just about each other. Let’s do it differently next year, please.
Thank you.
Miriam Stein:
This is my second attempt to write a speech, because the first sounded like I had solutions ready. And to be honest, unfortunately I don’t have them right now.
I’m only standing here today because I really don’t know what to do next. I look at you and don’t see your faces because you have to wear masks so that we can even take to the streets today. And even that wasn’t enough the last time I tried to get the demo through.
So yeah, I’m standing here because I hope to see your faces again soon. I can’t believe the speed at which our world and our lives have changed in such a short time. How fear-driven we all have become. Each in his own way.
Some are afraid of Corona, others of compulsory vaccination. Some are afraid of the unvaccinated, many are afraid to open their mouths or are afraid of the government. And I am afraid of the bad that all the measures are bringing out in us humans at the moment.
It scares me when I see how we let ourselves be instrumentalized. How we control each other. Whether the mask fits correctly, whether you’ve invited too many people, whether you’ve really been vaccinated or recovered and are therefore allowed to enter. How we no longer trust each other, but simply follow rules because the rules are there, no matter how often they change and no matter how senseless many of them may be.
It all makes me sad and sometimes angry. But I don’t want to be angry, I want to be tolerant. I want to respect people for who they are, and I expect the same from others. But that’s exactly what is currently so difficult, because some fears are diametrically opposed. Because numbers are perceived or represented so differently, and yes, because each person may have a different need for security.
But it must also be possible in a free society that I myself define how much security I want to have, or not.
For a long time now it is no longer about the question of “vaccinated or unvaccinated”, but about how we want to live together.
Do we want to live in a society where fear rules? In which we want absolute security, zero risk? Or do we manage to let go a little, to acknowledge that there has never been and never will be a free life with zero risk?
I want my children to be able to grow up self-determined, in a free, liberal society. With politicians who stand up for freedom of expression, who promote scientific discourse instead of preventing it, who invest in a holistic health system instead of just relying on the pharmaceutical industry, and who try to take away citizens’ fears in an emergency instead of stirring up fear and holding it up. Because that’s something that I really blame the politicians for. That they deliberately scare us, with the help of some media.
As different as our fears are, we wouldn’t have to have them if we had been treated differently. But now we all have our fears and politics is unwilling to take them away from us. We have to do that ourselves.
I am doing this by standing here today, together with you, and trying to take action. And it is absurd how much you have to think about how you can even take action, since you are so quickly defamed. But I cannot watch in silence as our freedom is lost.
I had to hear for months that my fears were absurd and unfounded. No, there will be no vaccinations for children, what for? How did you get the idea that you could lose your job just because you weren’t vaccinated? 2G? No, testing is even better. A vaccination requirement – nonsense! Unfortunately, almost all of my fears have already become real.
Perhaps an important process is underway right now. Maybe we were apolitical for too long, too lazy, too lazy, too gullible, just let too much happen, stared too much at our stupid smartphone instead of smiling at each other in the S-Bahn when it was still possible.
Maybe we have to start now to shape how we want to live together. We must be courageous and stop being silent when we see injustice.
We can still manage to overcome the rifts that are being drawn between us. I know, and you know it too, otherwise you wouldn’t be here that there are damn red lines.
My mom always said: “One person’s freedom ends where that of another begins.” And I think so too. But my and your freedom doesn’t stop where someone else’s fear begins.
Let us become more together peacefully together. Thank you.
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