The face of racism in Germany

More and more Nepalese are coming to Germany for studies these days. Although English speaking nations like the United States and the United Kingdom are top destination as yet, Germany is picking up rapidly. German institutions are renowned in the world for their state of the art educational facilities and academic excellence. And a handful of Nepalese have already made their way to being recognized as top-class students in Germany. Getting access to Germany is not that difficult for talented individuals and because the universities are run on state fund, there is a fair chance of free education here. Hence Nepalese students should try their luck for a free education and high standard of living in Germany rather than pushing desperately hard for a place in the United States or other attractive destinations. Many people may not realize that German institutions also offer courses based on English language but there are plenty of such courses in German universities. However, learning German language will yield further benefits.

 At present there are thousands of Nepalese students all over Germany. The difference between these students and the majority of the students in the US, UK or Australia is that those who have landed in Germany have the opportunity to concentrate their time and energy fully on their study and research. While others may have to struggle to manage work and study together, those in Germany have fewer things to worry about. Nepalese students here are doing very well in here and many of them have experience of a better society than they had perceived of the Germans while in Nepal. It is obvious for people to remember the history of Germany before they make their mind to come here. But the truth is history has changed upside down in Germany. Today this is a land, which provides equal opportunity for all. So there is lot in the offing for the Nepalese students here. In this article, I am explaining how the Germans have left behind their forgetful past and why it is perfectly sensible for international students to grab the opportunity to come here and learn the German way of life and education.

History is an identity and normally the history of a nation glorifies itself around the world. But when it comes to Germany, the modern history of the country corresponding to the early twentieth century, paints a gloomy picture. The Hitler era and the Nazi atrocities caused millions to suffer at that time. Today time has passed and the wounds have been healed but still when anything related to German comes in people’s mind, the first thing they remember is Hitler’s mischief. However, the Germans have left behind the scars of their past and developed themselves as friendly, peace loving and hard-working people. So it’s unfair to judge them on the basis of the notoriety their grandfathers and great grandfathers did during the beginning of modern history.
 Most Germans I meet are not bad, they are very nice people. Today’s generation has it up to the back teeth with this constant blame and the more a country is unjustly made to feel bad for, well, being that country, the more right-wing minority proof are given fodder to feed uneducated, disadvantaged youths looking for someone to blame. Any person who believes that the German society is racist should look at the way many parents react when their daughter or son has a black partner. In majority of these cases, there is a general level of acceptance. But some will refuse to regard their child as a member of their family and people highlight these exceptions and make a loud noise. As usual in such matters, one should be careful not to generalize. Most Germans are extremely open-minded. Certainly there is some degree of racism in any country, but I still have to say that Germany gives a particularly good picture, especially compared to other European countries.

Germany sure has a much more difficult way to go than other nations concerning these problems because as soon as something is happening somewhere, as soon as one fool acist attacks a black person, the image of all of Germany has to suffer a lot more of this terrible accident than it would be the case in any other country. I know that this comes still from their bad image they got during the 2nd world war, but people should be aware that lots of water has flowed through the Rhine since then and Germans have transformed themselves.
People say Germans are sweeping the holocaust under the rug but there is not much substance in their rhetoric. Neo Nazis are very much in the minority in Germany, and the German government has taken some pretty bold strides to limit their movement. Many German corporations that did not even exist during the Holocaust have contributed vast amounts of money to various reparation funds. The German government has been extremely proactive in returning stolen valuables and art work to their rightful heirs. The site of Dachau serves as a museum and a sombre reminder of the atrocities committed by the Nazis.
 
There is no doubt the Holocaust was a terrible thing and the consequences still have significance in the lives of the children of the suffered Jewish people. It is a sombre reminder of the nature of humanity and the cruelty we are capable of and also a warning that may happen again somewhere, either in Germany of outside. But my point is that we should not lay a blanket of guilt over the entire German populace for something that had many dynamics driving it. I think the German people are well aware and have taken full responsibility for the actions of the Nazis. Let there be no mistake that sixty years ago, a majority of the German people did not agree with the ideology of the Nazis, and most Germans were not aware of the crimes being committed on their own soil. As for the death camps, very few Germans were actually involved in the genocide and murder we now call the Holocaust.
Given that sixty years have passed, and the responsible parties for the Holocaust have faced their crimes, I think the response from the German government has been one of compassion, understanding, and remorse for a piece of history it can never eliminate. German society doesn’t encompass more racism today than any of its European counterpart and for that matter of the rest of the world.

Therefore, start looking for study opportunities in Germany. Don’t bother about Hitler and the past and make serious efforts to grab a slice of chance in this land of Einstein and Max Plank. Germany offers a lot for deserving students of everywhere, fairly and equally.

(The author is the director of Students of Nepalese Origin in Germany )