Dispute of Storch: Of course it’s a must to invite the AfD – particularly in colleges | EUROtoday

A Berlin college is inflicting nice pleasure lately: In addition to politicians from different events, the Hans and Hilde-Coppi-Gymnasium additionally invited Beatrix from Storch to a panel dialogue. The occasion befell on Tuesday as deliberate – however accompanied by demonstrators and protest. It was “dangerous” and “anti -democratic”, it was mentioned to present the “arch -conservative” politician a stage.

But refusing to debate the dialogue with the AfD will not be an answer. The rise of proper -wing populists is a political downside – and it’s a must to face issues. This is very true for colleges: Because it’s in no way simply the “old” who put their hopes on this occasion. The AfD additionally rides 17 % of the voters between the ages of 18 and 29, as will be seen from the present pattern barometer of the Forsa opinion analysis institute. What a denial of actuality wouldn’t it be to conduct such a panel discussions and not using a occasion that has lengthy been extra accredited by the inhabitants than the Greens or the SPD?

The supposedly flawed questions

In an Instagram contribution, which was shared by the “Association of the Persecuted of the Nazi regime-Association of Anti-Fascists” and different organizations from the Antifa-Milieu, are outraged by the invitation. It is felt to be “racist” and “anti -democratic” to present Beatrix von Storch a stage that the AfD have to be unloaded. A world -foreign argument, as a result of the AfD has lengthy since had a stage – on Instagram and Tikkok, on election posters and in commercials. There the occasion can even unfold questionable content material with out contradiction. This seems very completely different in discussions, interviews and panel discussions: the dialog state of affairs gives a method to focus on, ask critically – and, above all, to grasp the explanations for the success of the AfD.

In a democratic, free nation, everybody should be capable to settle for the dialog with one another. Of course, it’s essential to set limits, particularly towards extremist positions. However, refusing to refuse to confront all confrontation with what you reject doesn’t clear up any issues.

“To give the AfD a stage, and that at a school named after resistance fighter, we find it dangerous and anti -democratic,” write the activist critics. The precise reverse is the case: it might be undemocratic to exclude a democratically elected occasion from a debate as a result of it doesn’t signify its personal worldview – and in order that the voice to not take round each fifth voter severely.

On one of many posters on the rally says: “If the AfD is supposed to be the answer … How stupid was the question?” In reality, this slogan itself is an expression of political stupidity: it makes all of the people who find themselves presently supposed to decide on AfD – And the truth that there are current issues that make residents make a AfD voters from migration coverage to the disaster of confidence of the established events and media. The questions of the disenchanted citizen needs to be taken seriously-especially if you wish to give the solutions that AfD politicians are flawed and stop a triumph of the occasion.

The occasion opponents write “not” accepted the looks of the arch conservatives with their transcoable, anti -Muslim statements “. This is also a paradox: a panel debate is the best opportunity to counter, inquire with factual arguments. And learning to debate is one of the most important tasks of the school.

According to the “Tagesspiegel”, around 200 students, parents and supporters took part in the protest rally. A group of high school students called “Coppi towards the precise” organized them. The inevitable “grandmas towards the precise” were also there. “The AfD is not a democratic party, it spreads undemocratic agitation. Suspending that of the student body is a great danger, ”said one of the organizers. The argument overlooks the fact that the “scholar physique” of this party is already “uncovered”, outside, in the real, evil reality, for which school is supposed to prepare.

It is a good sign for democracy that the activists could not prevail with their demand for radical exclusion. The parent representative advocated the invitation of Beatrix von Storch, the responsible Senate Department for Education also advocates the decision: “As part of its democratic educational mandate Disadvantage, ”said a spokesman. He hits the crucial point: it is not the school’s task to make a political preliminary decision for the students. As a mature citizen, you can do that yourself. And if not, you have to learn it.

Our author Felix Kühn graduated from high school in the previous year – and comments on the political events for the world from the perspective of a young generation.