Inspiring perspectives for me to better understand what is happening in Europe now.
Historians like Andreas Kappeler, Anne Applebaum or Timothy Snyder and many others.
Philosphers, activists, witnesses, personal accounts.
I want to give these a space here, as I try to understand better what is happening in the world and what will help us resolve our differences in a peaceful manner, or at least to learn not to repeat the same mistakes over and over.
While in the 20th century two devastating world wars and a decade-long separation line have tragically impacted our multi-national Europe, in 1990 Europe had an opportunity to grow together and to heal wounds of the past.
We can ask ourselves, did we use this opportunity well enough?
Now, as the Russian-Ukrainian war is raging in the beginning of the 2020s, I want to better understand what could help to pause or reverse the seemingly unstoppable spirale of violence that we witness today. Russia has gone off the rail, it seems – or is it us, who have gone off the rail.
Clearly the space for mutual understanding can be much better than it currently is – war is our reality, rockets fired over thousands of kilometers right into peoples homes. And for me – here in Germany – where I sit in safety at the time of writing, I also am affected in my direct family by this challenge in communication.
To find a common basis for facts, a shared reality.
To find a way to stay in a civilized mode of speaking and hearing, when emotions run high and very high.
To find a readiness to even listen with the intention to understand, rather than to fight.