No one will be able to say that Britons did not have a choice. The snap elections in Great Britain serve as nothing more than a second Brexit referendum. It is a historic chance to set the record straight. Nothing has happened yet: the United Kingdom is still a member of the EU and has only sent Brussels a letter of intent. But one thing should be clear and that is that no one can say, "I didn't know what leaving the EU meant!" or, "I thought Turkey would soon be a member," or, "I didn't want the United Kingdom to fall apart and Scotland to leave!" We have already put the "first vote, then think" logic behind us. Hours after the Brexit referendum, hundreds of thousands of Britons googled "What is the EU?" Please, let us not go through this again. The Brexiteers' myths have long been debunked. No one speaks of the billions for the NHS, the British healthcare system, that have apparently been flowing to Brussels instead. Is that what Theresa May had in mind when she decided to call … [Read more...] about Opinion: Yet another Brexit vote
Opinion
Opinion: Religion is not the problem
It's time for a confession: I'm a Catholic. And I'm glad to be one. My faith gives me strength. And the good feeling that I'm more than just a quirk of nature, more than a biological accident that came out of nowhere and will eventually disappear into nothingness once again. I am a reflection of God, Yahweh to the Jews, Allah to the Muslims. This is written in the Book of Genesis, holy scripture for both Jews and Christians. And because of my faith, I - like everyone in the world - have dignity. An inviolable dignity, one that should be respected and protected. No coincidence, but this is exactly what's written in the first sentence of Article 1 of the German Constitution. The state protects my faith Whoever doesn't need the foothold of faith - that's fine. The free societies of the West don't force anyone to believe in one specific faith, or indeed anything at all. But even if the nature of my faith doesn't matter to the German state, the state nonetheless stands on the side of … [Read more...] about Opinion: Religion is not the problem
Opinion: Trump’s historic election victory, the bewildered West and many unanswered questions
Donald Trump has done it. With a campaign built on personal insults, arrogance and ignorance, he has not only managed to mobilize the basest instincts of the constituency but has managed, with this strategy, to win the US presidential election. But there is more to it than that: Trump has not only won, he has achieved a resounding victory, claiming a higher number of electoral votes that anyone had thought possible. Trump's success is a victory for an inflammatory, partly dehumanizing, vulgar populism. It is a sharp slap in the face to the establishment and the political elite in the United States and its representative, Hillary Clinton. As an opponent, Clinton was almost equally as unpopular as Trump. Through her own carelessness, her use of a private email server provided her critics with the ammunition they needed for their constant attacks. But Clinton's unpopularity alone does not explain Trump's dramatic election victory. Trump - a vehicle for discontent Trump's victory brings … [Read more...] about Opinion: Trump’s historic election victory, the bewildered West and many unanswered questions
Opinion: Frankfurt Book Fair a playground for global ideas
A few years ago it was easier to identify an overarching theme at the Frankfurt Book Fair. One recent big these was the advent of the e-book, the digital transformation that was shaking the book industry. It was a topic that returned over the course of several years. Then last year it was replaced at many trade fair booths and in discussions with the refugee crisis. This year was different. Of course there was a plethora of subjects that were making the rounds. Had the confrontation between presenters and protesters of a right-wing publisher not happened at the end of the week, then the question of how to deal with right-wing publishers would have grown in relevance. Yet the truth is: at the book fair, one would have to get out a magnifying glass to find those who sympathize with the right-wing and when found, they would not be taken seriously as intellectuals. The political guidelines as put forth by parties like the AfD are likewise not something that would be … [Read more...] about Opinion: Frankfurt Book Fair a playground for global ideas
Opinion: Spain and Catalonia — ‘Out with them all!’
Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont has the pictures he needs to strengthen the independence movement: Senior citizens being dragged out of polling stations by the authorities, overpowering police forces taking action against unarmed, unmasked citizens, and ballot boxes torn out of the hands of people who want to take advantage of their "right to decide." Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy had repeatedly insisted that the Supreme Court had declared the referendum invalid, and so it could not take place. He got the backing of his most important European allies for his pledge to "defend the rule of law." It could be that the dire images from Catalonia, which are hardly consistent with a European democracy, transform this support into horror and rejection. Mutual blame As expected, the two sides are blaming each other for the violence. According to the Spanish judiciary, this referendum was illegal. The supporters of Catalonian independence decided nevertheless to hold the … [Read more...] about Opinion: Spain and Catalonia — ‘Out with them all!’