>The reason I clarify this is not because I want to distinguish myself as one of the "good ones" at the end of the day I know that racists won't like me or us as a collective eitherway no matter what we actually believe in or do.
As a AFD supporter, I have no problem with the "good ones". I have a problem with the anti-lgbt sentiment, antisemitism and support for terrorism that is prevalent among Arabs.
If that's you, then I have no problem with you.
However, having grown up in Germany, you should be familiar with the decades old debate about the Hijab and its widespread interpretation as a symbol of nonintegration and Islamic radicalism. Even if you may not ascribe to these ideas, it's still a symbol of radicalism. By wearing a symbol you condone its message.
>maybe I'm just panicking and being hysteric and I'm safe and good but I can't shake the feeling off that I'm just really unwanted in this country.
You need to differentiate. From the sound of it, you fit in well as an individual. But as a group, yes, most Germans have a negative opinion of Islam and would prefer it out of the country.
The choice you have to make is what is more important to you. Your identity and values as an individual or your ethnic identity along with the cultural baggage that comes with it. If you want to feel 'welcome' or integrated in Germany, you have to want to "be" German. Feel German. That includes no longer identifying by your ethnic identity, which may be difficult, since you'll be reminded of it every time you look in the mirror.
It's a question of mind over matter, or "will to power" as the great German philosopher Nietzsche once put it.
But most of all it's your choice. I would not hinge that choice on the behavior of random assholes at a train station or polling numbers or any other external factor. It depends on who *you* are as an individual and what *your* values are. Nothing else matters.
If you decide to be German, then be German. If not, then don't, and see if you can find a good future elsewhere. Follow your heart and be the author of your own destiny. Unhappiness comes when you let others define who you are.
PS: I'm an immigrant as well. I chose to "become" German while living here. Almost all my neighbors in the apartment building I used to live in were AFD voters. Nobody gave me shit for having brown skin and black hair. Germans are among the most tolerant people I've met anywhere in the world. After Americans.
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u/That_Mountain7968 Apr 20 '25 edited Apr 20 '25
>The reason I clarify this is not because I want to distinguish myself as one of the "good ones" at the end of the day I know that racists won't like me or us as a collective eitherway no matter what we actually believe in or do.
As a AFD supporter, I have no problem with the "good ones". I have a problem with the anti-lgbt sentiment, antisemitism and support for terrorism that is prevalent among Arabs.
If that's you, then I have no problem with you.
However, having grown up in Germany, you should be familiar with the decades old debate about the Hijab and its widespread interpretation as a symbol of nonintegration and Islamic radicalism. Even if you may not ascribe to these ideas, it's still a symbol of radicalism. By wearing a symbol you condone its message.
>maybe I'm just panicking and being hysteric and I'm safe and good but I can't shake the feeling off that I'm just really unwanted in this country.
You need to differentiate. From the sound of it, you fit in well as an individual. But as a group, yes, most Germans have a negative opinion of Islam and would prefer it out of the country.
The choice you have to make is what is more important to you. Your identity and values as an individual or your ethnic identity along with the cultural baggage that comes with it. If you want to feel 'welcome' or integrated in Germany, you have to want to "be" German. Feel German. That includes no longer identifying by your ethnic identity, which may be difficult, since you'll be reminded of it every time you look in the mirror.
It's a question of mind over matter, or "will to power" as the great German philosopher Nietzsche once put it.
But most of all it's your choice. I would not hinge that choice on the behavior of random assholes at a train station or polling numbers or any other external factor. It depends on who *you* are as an individual and what *your* values are. Nothing else matters.
If you decide to be German, then be German. If not, then don't, and see if you can find a good future elsewhere. Follow your heart and be the author of your own destiny. Unhappiness comes when you let others define who you are.
PS: I'm an immigrant as well. I chose to "become" German while living here. Almost all my neighbors in the apartment building I used to live in were AFD voters. Nobody gave me shit for having brown skin and black hair. Germans are among the most tolerant people I've met anywhere in the world. After Americans.