Discriminatory strategy threatens to split a district in Cologne
Cologne: Our guest author Peter Pauls believes that the citizens’ association at Eigelstein uses a dangerous and discriminatory strategy in order to no longer be bothered by the smell of grilling.
Cologne – What do you associate with “extremely toxic gases”? The Eigelstein Citizens’ Association has long attributed such “gases” to the grills in Weidengasse.
In order to get closer to the term, I let the search engine “Google” associate it. As a result, poisonous World War II warfare agents are mentioned, the word “deadly” IS used and finally – after a click – there is also a definition. This includes “substances that lead to death or chronic damage to health even if they are swallowed, inhaled or come into contact with the skin even at very low levels”. There is nothing about grills.
If you now groan and ask: why again Eigelstein and again “poisonous gases”?
► ‘Cause it’s um The way of dealing in Cologne goes.
► Therefore, like us Resolve conflicts and deal with different opinions.
► If it’s like that everywhere As is happening at the Eigelstein, Cologne becomes a city divided into camps.
► “The Eigelstein becomes a role model for more rooms in the city center,” he quoted To express last year Mayor Henriette Reker.
“Extremely toxic gases” in Cologne’s Weidengasse? Health department disagrees
Why does the civic association use such vocabulary for its neighbours, with whom it shares the quarter? I find it discriminatory, aggressive and racist in effect. What does the health department say about the poison thesis of the citizens’ association? I asked. “The health department is unable to share a general assessment that all of these systems emit highly toxic substances,” says the answer. And again, elsewhere: “The assessment that the residents of Weidengasse would be exposed to “extremely toxic exhaust gases” is not shared from the point of view of immission control law.” That was – among others – the citizens’ association.
Why does the citizens’ association still choose such a language? Probably because it works. It works as well as (banned) DDT against insects and the notorious glyphosate, a “total herbicide”. After that, no more grass grows. Unfortunately, language also creates this in social interaction. I can understand that an excess of cooking vapors stinks. However, anyone who demands more measure and balance from others should start with themselves and their own choice of words.
Sociologist: The behavior of the citizens’ association is reminiscent of a special form of racism
The behavior of the citizens’ association reminds the cultural sociologist Prof. Wolf-Dietrich Bukow of an antiziganist strategy. It runs according to a simple scheme. First, a story is developed: Quartier in Not. Then disturbances are defined: barbecues poison the good citizens, young men store the quarters. . . Practical explanations are constructed, built and a solution is promised. Explanations are repeated, varied and reproduced in recitation. Then the picture of reality narrows and changes both in the threatened community and in the bio-German citizenry. Finally, “good” and “bad” are defined. Of which Prof. Bukow. I’ll add: the district is in danger of falling apart.
► Prof. Dr. Wolf Dietrich Bukow is Professor Emeritus for Cultural and Educational Sociology at the University of Cologne and founder of the Research Center for Intercultural Studies (FiSt). The research center deals with challenges that have arisen from mobility, migration and the diversification of society.
► Our guest author Peter Pauls is chairman of the Cologne Press Club. Before that, he was editor-in-chief of the daily newspaper Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger for many years. This article comes from the newsletter of the Cologne Press Club, which you can subscribe to here.
No nice prospects? Go to Cologne’s Weidengasse and smile at the people. They smile back. (pp/IDZRW)