Category: Opinion Corner
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No True German — What It Means to Be German in 2026
Is there really one German identity that defines all Germans? One German identity to rule them all? We’re going to get into this question, but bear with me for a few paragraphs. I want to take a moment up front to provide a little context, tell you where I’m coming from. We’re going to dip into some culture-war nonsense and talk…
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Finding Trauma Instead of Belonging: A Review of I Keep My Shadow Light
TL;DR “I Keep My Shadow Light” is the self-published debut novel by Fionnuala Kavanagh. This challenging work follows a cast of four characters from different backgrounds as they try to find a home in Berlin. Very dark in places, the book gives us a chance to read something that would probably never come out of any publishing house. Its uniqueness alone…
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“Das Volk” in 2026: Time to Redefine the People
“Do you behave as the person you truly want to be?” I ask myself this question in moments when I clearly fall short. Yes, it is hard to live up to one’s ideal self—I’m probably not the only one who feels this way. The same applies for societies. Over the past ten years, I have learned a lot about German society.…
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Germany Has an Energy Crisis — Just Not the One You Think
Energy – scarcity.We talk about energy all the time—but only in physical terms.I find myself thinking more and more about our social energy, which may matter even more. Because a society also needs energy. This energy, I would call social energy—a concept that appears in the social sciences under terms like collective intelligence or social capital. Social energy = the capacity…
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‘Migrants’ Are The Greatest Opportunity For Germany
“Change begins with a conversation.” That’s why I was glad to be invited to the SharedTableDinner by the Oneliness Project. How do we find a sense of home in each other? How are loneliness and democracy connected? These were the questions that shaped the evening. Amazing people shared deeply personal thoughts about how they connect — or don’t connect — with…
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WahlheYmat Turns Two — And Invites You In
WahlheYmat is looking for new members.That is the message I would like to write about today. Before my life in Berlin, I was never this direct. I am learning a lot here. And I don’t just mean the famous Berliner Schnauze — like going into a bakery and saying: “Good morning, so sorry for disturbing you, but maybe you could give…
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