Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has called on people in Germany to be willing to talk to each other and warned against compartmentalizing and sticking to their own positions. In a society as diverse as Germany's, there will always be different experiences, different resonance spaces, depending on where you live and grew up, Steinmeier said in a speech at the Leipzig Book Fair on Thursday, according to the speech script published in advance. "Only one thing must not happen: That these different worlds of experience become isolated places of retreat around which walls are erected."
Our society needs "curiosity instead of self-reflection, openness instead of retreat, trust instead of mistrust, suggestions instead of accusations", said Steinmeier. "Because we only have political strength as a community and not if we see ourselves primarily as victims of differences." What is needed is energy for the major challenges ahead, confidence in ourselves and a shared narrative of our democracy. "We are a strong country that has also overcome crises in the past - with drive and ideas. Let us trust that we will also succeed in the future."
