Bastian AllgeierI grew up a few km away from the border to France. My classroom was 100 meters away from the Rhine. I was in 9th grade when they opened the borders. I was in 12th grade when they introduced the Euro. Visiting other countries in the EU suddenly felt truly magical. "Fuck you" to all politicians in this country who are currently destroying this magical idea for pure populism, to appease some fascists. It's all about staying in power - as if that helped - and I couldn't despise them more for it.
Hypatia@bastianallgeier One of my first "dark" memories is the transit through the GDR starting at Helmstedt. Arriving at the big border control station, lit up like nothing I'd seen before, my parents becoming very tense, the waiting in one of the many queues, the GDR border guards who spoke in a strange, harsh tone and took away our passports (and I was so proud of my brand new children's passport!) and how I was so relieved to get it back...
I don't want anybody to feel that way again.