"I
hate these questions about immigration. I am German."
She has got brown hair, dark
eyes and a colored skin. She calls herself "a
modern German girl" and
this is probably how it should be in the century of multiculturalism.
But the truth is sometimes
different. "It is a great shame that we still do not really know how to
handle immigration problems.", says the 17-year-old Liane, whose father is
from Taiwan. "When I was young I was teased badly by the others because of
my exotic outward appearance. Although I was not even able to speak a word in
that language and I did not know anything about that country I was "the
foreign girl"."
That society is still under
the influence of stereotypes and prejudices is not new but nevertheless
surprising. "My classmates were shocked when I told them that I am Muslim.
They even said to me that I do not act like one." Roxana's father is from Iran. Her family lives in a peaceful part of Berlin where, in contrast to other parts, not
many "immigrants are seen".
"I remember a scenario
in my kindergarten when I was 3 or 4 years old. On that day we wanted to talk
about people who come from other countries. When I was asked where my father
was born I repeated "Germany". My parents had never told me that he
is from Iran so I did not know that. But then my educator informed
me and I remember that my whole world collapsed. I even started
crying because I was so sure that he is German and I could not understand why
these people did not accept that. At home my mum explained that my teacher was
right . I think this was the first time in my life when I realized that there
are differences between "my Germans" and the "real
Germans"."
This story
is not unique, it is part of nearly every person’s life who was born in Germany and whose parents are from abroad. Their childhood is probably the reason for
that. They grew up in Germany with a second language, foreign traditions and
exotic food for example but also with outlandish-looking parents. All these
things are part of their daily life and appear to be normal.
"I am
German because I live in this country and I am going to have my career right
here.", says Rana, a 16-year-old girl. "When I visit my relatives in Turkey I feel like a tourist although I was born there." Years ago people would have
said that she lost contact with her roots but today she is considered to be
integrated. Integration is of course an advantage and is important for working
and living together. But the integration in society as a foreigner is not as
easy as the government points out over and over again. Nicola, an 18-year-old
boy from Brazil, knows that quiet well: "Of course I want to integrate
myself but sometimes people are just not willing to accept that. In Germany they say I am the Brazilian and in Brazil I am the German."
Nicola
represents another thing which is connected to immigration or being foreign - a
"strange" name. "Well, I do not have any problems with my name
but it causes mistakes sometimes. Letters with "To Miss W." or a
request for Miss W. at a doctor's surgery are part of my everyday life. Of
course there are people who make fun of it but a "Friedrich" - a boy
with a German name - might have his difficulties, too."
The fact
that people who have a foreign name have their difficulties is neither new nor
surprising. "Even
when I tell the people that my name is Kian they go on calling me Killian. It
annoys me but I have learned to ignore it."
Jinsheng was
born in China in 1993. Two years later he immigrated with his family to Germany. But this move did not only mean that he had to learn a new language; he was also
forced to pronounce his name in another way.
"My
name is probably impossible to pronounce for Germans so my parents decided to
Germanize it. But people still have their difficulties. It entertains me when
they try to read it the right way. When they fail they are definitely more
embarrassed then I am."
Especially
people like him personify the modern times. His answer to the question what
nationality he would give himself was: "I do not understand your question.
If you can tell how it feels to be German or Chinese I will give you an
answer."
This
flexibility seems to be a good solution in such a conflict but is rare.
On the one
hand children of immigrants feel forced to choose one nationality. The society
in which they live is responsible for that. A "normal" inhabitant has
one nationality. The conclusion that people draw from that is that somebody
with two nationalities is not normal or rather foreign.
The decision
they have to make in respect of this problem causes troubles sometimes: some
decide to adopt the German lifestyle but there are some who decide to live in Germany with their traditions and culture, too, - they do not integrate themselves in the
society. "Kids
from other countries speak their language among themselves; there are
residential areas that are not really part of Germany anymore but the most
disgusting thing is that people deride others because they live as Germans in
Germany.", says Liane.
On the other
hand there are students who point out that they have never been in such a
conflict. "I was born here, I speak only this language and I have never
been to Iran. It is only my look that makes the people believe that I do not
come from here.", says Roxana.
"Brazil may be my origin but Germany is my home.", says Nicola.
This
statement defines in some kind of way multiculturalism- people with different
origins have one home.
This means
that the people have to respect and tolerate each other. "I think in Germany there is some kind of "false tolerance". Some Germans say that they
tolerate immigrants but they do not see any problems in the society. You just
have to go to some parts of Berlin and you can be absolutely sure: They do not
tolerate the immigrants- they ignore them.", points Jinsheng out.
"Tolerance is important but too much of it makes the people believe that
they can do what they want.", says Liane.
In the end
an immigrant has the right to choose his nationality. But he has to remember
that he lives in a German society and that he must observe the law.
To integrate
yourself is as important as to tolerate people with other origins. It is
shaming that the society has still problems with discrimination because of
prejudices and stereotypes. The solutions regarding this difficulty being
presented by the government are probably not long-lasting. It is rather the
decision of oneself to change something by tolerating or not.