The now infamous open letter by 'intellectuals & artists' calling on #Germany to stop supporting #Ukraine [&, effectively, for 🇺🇦's capitulation to #Russia] is very revealing. As well as being patronising as hell & totally wrong I think its shows something else too ... 1/
Many of us have been truly inspired by #Ukraine's incredible struggle to survive, but for others it seems that this rare show of courage, & decency and the valiant defence of country, values, rights & ideals is deeply troubling. Why? ...2/
#Emma #Germany
dw.com/en/war-in-ukra…
Because it shines a light on their own unwillingness to do so. It threatens to reveal the deep cowardice, cynicism & selfish will for an easy life (never mind the suffering of others or the lost potential for progress at home) that is all too common ... 3/
#Emma #Germany
This is combined with a massive superiority complex & the need to be recognised as superior by others. Its deeply ingrained, cherished & is fundamentally threatened by Ukraine's courageous fight, which shows many Europeans what they would not be willing to do themselves 4/
#Emma
Like the obnoxious complaints (in #Germany but also around Western Europe & in the Brussels bubble) about #Ukraine's "excessive nationalism" - supposedly incompatible with the #EU & 'European values' - 'We've overcome all that nasty outdated stuff - but look [down] at them. 5/
It's a way of reinforcing this facade of superiority, but its haunted by the recognition that they themselves would not undertake this struggle & have, in too many ways, given in to cynicism about (geo)politics, ideals & progress more widely. 6/
#EmmaRose independent.ie/regionals/wexf…
Its that attitude of false superiority & patronising selfishness, combined with a lack of will to actually fight (metaphorically & literally) for progress - or to spread its benefits more widely - that is the real danger to #Germany & #Europe's future not - WW3. 7/
#Emma /7
We have to challenge this attitude & make sure it doesn't guide our policy -on the war, on reconstructing & integrating #Ukraine & in our own societies. False superiority won't get us anywhere. Let us be inspired by🇺🇦 & let us act in way that again genuinely inspires others. /end
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