By Angelina Newsom:
On Wednesday, Germany announced that it would get rid of a law that prohibits its citizens from insulting foreign heads of state. It’ll go into effect Jan. 1, 2018. Although it’s one of those old laws that just so happens to still be on the books, this move is no doubt symbolic. The history of the law goes back to the monarch era, and was put into place to protect rulers from disrespect.
President Trump isn’t at all popular in Germany. There is animosity towards him following Brexit, a move he supported. Germany, of course, is a big deal in terms of the European Union’s power, so it could appear to Germany that President Trump has been making a relationship with Britain a priority at their expense. President Trump has been very vocal about his position on Germany’s refugee policy—even critical. He feels that Germany has made a mistake by opening its borders to those seeking refuge based on the number of terrorist attacks that have occurred.
Taking a walk through a particular public park I enjoy in Germany (located five minutes from a refugee site), you can’t help but notice the families who frequent the area. The cultural customs and differences are glaringly obvious. I’ve been approached by refugees trying to hand me a flower. I made the mistake of accepting one once because we were approached while we sat outdoors at a restaurant. The man pointed to a baby in a stroller and asked for money in exchange for the flower.
I’ve seen great acts of kindness by these families. I’ve seen the children playing, mothers smiling, and fathers sitting in a circle with their tea. By all accounts, the people I’ve seen coming and going from the refugee compound are regular people going about their business.
I’ve also seen the breaking news alerts of yet another attack on innocent people, and had to answer worried e-mails from family members wanting to know where I was and if I was okay. Since the summer of 2016 alone, several attacks have occurred that were claimed by terrorists later found to be refugees who were given asylum in Germany—most recently, the horrific attack on a Christmas market in Berlin.
It can be terrifying to know that it’s happening all around you. German law enforcement has carried out raids, resulting in arrests of those planning to carry out attacks. No doubt that terrorism among refugees has become an issue. President Trump has a reason to be concerned by these events. There are numerous US military personnel and their families currently being hosted in Germany. Some of them are fearful, some are hopeful. All of them have a new commander-in-chief they will work hard for, as they always have.
The back-and-forth jabs between the countries are counterproductive, as not every leader will have the same agenda or beliefs. President Trump has vowed to make American safety a priority through his policies on immigration, and we’ve seen steps taken toward that goal. It’s the one he has spoken about with the greatest conviction.
Angelina Newsom is an OpsLens Contributor and U.S. Army Veteran. She served ten years in the military, including a deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. She studies Criminal Justice and is still active within the military community.
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