Identity
Growing up in the rural Ohio Valley, the comforts of rural woodlands were a place where I could often feel at home in a multitude of ways. Though I stood apart from others due to my sexuality and sense of individuality, it was never a question of my nationality that created separation for me. Raised as an Italian-American whose great grandparents migrated from Italy nearly a century ago, my appearance always fit the “typical,” and there was an absence of a language barrier as my hometown was entirely English-speaking. Coming to Los Angeles, however, I was met with a beautiful, diverse, expansive world of culture and tradition that reaches beyond that which I had always known. Despite the difference, so many communities can coexist. That said, I am aware that it is not always equitable in terms of occupied space or resource access.
Looking to Germany, we watched a short video in class last week discussing the social inequality that occurs for refugees and migrants. Often, those entering Germany are faced by strong cultural traditions and pre-set expectations for embracing their culture. Frequently, those who migrate are, in ways, expected to abandon their ways of life in order to fully integrate within the country. As such, I believe that there is a socially unsustainable system that creates unwelcoming barriers that discourage new migration. Going further, there is an imbalance in the way that refugees from different walks of life are treated. Recently, two major movements of people seeking refuge have occurred, pertaining to Syria and Ukraine. Within these movements, however, the individuals have reported different experiences. While many Ukrainians are welcomed more openly, it seems that for many Syrians, their beliefs created a point of contention that prevented them from feeling welcome within their new places of occupation. In my eyes, this barrier to welcomeness is one that stifles diversity and disrupts a country’s maximum potential.
With Germany’s aging population, it is quintessential that a younger population can be found in order to support the strength of the working class and aid in funding the assistance received by the elderly. By denying certain beliefs and cultures, Germany is essentially denying a body of diverse perspectives from making the country their home, and in turn reducing the potential of increased migration or even retainment of their own, as those who have made the country a temporary home will likely not want to stay where they do not feel welcome.
Ultimately, it is far past time for Germany to adopt a view on culture. Their declining workforce, combined with current beliefs that prevent diversity, narrow the perspectives that will one day lead the nation’s future. As such, it is essential that there is a reevaluation of the ways in which migration, integration, and identity are viewed.
