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There is an expression in German—Farbe bekennen (lit. showing or confessing your color)—which means: stating clearly where you stand, what you believe. In this turbulent time, we are called upon to say what we believe and to act upon it. Staying silent or remaining complacent suggests complicity. Studying German history can teach us a lot about the dangers of silence and complacency. It can also teach us about the power of standing up for what you believe and saying 'NO!' to the things you reject. 'Nein' zu Sachen, die dir gegen den Strich gehen (lit. no to things that go against your line). In fact, an integral part of the German school curriculum is teaching young people the importance of Zivilcourage (moral or civil courage).
Dann gibt es nur eins!
Du. Dichter in deiner Stube. Wenn sie dir morgen befehlen, du sollst keine Liebeslieder, du sollst Haßlieder singen, dann gibt es nur eins: Sag NEIN!
You. Poet in your room. If, tomorrow, they command you to no longer write love poems, but rather to sing songs for of hate, then there is only one thing to do: say NO!
-Wolfgang Borchert (1947)
Here are a few things we believe— in response to our specific moment, but also in terms of how German can be relevant to some of the key issues of our time.
Resolve conflict justly and peacefully with war as a last resort. We can study and learn from the past. Those who have experienced war first-hand have a lot to teach us about its deep and long-lasting toll. A century ago, German artist Kathe Kollwitz' made this gripping anti-war poster (1924). Its appeal is as urgent today as it was then.
No to Racism! We stand in solidarity with those who protest systemic racism, discrimination and police violence against people of color. Germany has its own history (and resurgence) of white supremacist thought, so the study of German means confronting the legacy of racism. We pledge to include Black German and other underrepresented minority voices in our course curriculum. For more on being an ally in the fight against racism and discrimination, check out https://guidetoallyship.com/.
No human is illegal. We believe that people fleeing their homeland out of fear for their lives have the right to a safe and prosperous life. Calling them "illegal" dehumanizes them and prevents us from recognizing our shared humanity and history of migration. We incorporate immigrant voices in our curriculum to reflect the growing diversity of German culture. This diversity also includes gender identity and a long history of women's and LGBTQ rights and activism.
There is no planet B. We support efforts to combat climate change and pledge to make sustainable choices in our use of teaching materials. Our curriculum also showcases environmental activism and initiatives in German-speaking countries. There is a lot we can learn from countries that have taken a more committed approach to reducing carbon emissions.
Slow down. Although we are an intensive program and quickly cover a lot of material, we also value the gradual enfolding of knowledge over time. Learning a foreign language requires patience, perseverance, a good dose of self acceptance and courage to momentarily let go of your first language. It means minimizing distractions, asking questions, revisiting concepts, allowing yourself to be vulnerable, exploring connections, opening yourself to different cultural values, and taking the time to slow down enough to be able to deeply absorb these things.
Learning languages matters. Just as "travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness" (Mark Twain), so, too, is learning a foreign language. Each language reflects the traditions, knowledge, wisdom and worldview of a people and by studying it, we gain a deeper understanding of the world's rich diversity; of the things that connect and distinguish us.
The arts matter. They offer different ways of seeing the world, envisioning solutions, evoking empathy and celebrating the creative impulse that is at the heart of our humanity.
Encompassing all of the above is the importance of Freundlichkeit (being kind)—to yourself and to others. And nobody presents how kindness comes to be, and how it can be our super power, as beautifully as the poet Naomi Shihab Nye.
Kindness
Before you know what kindness really is
you must lose things,
feel the future dissolve in a moment
like salt in a weakened broth.
What you held in your hand,
what you counted and carefully saved,
all this must go so you know
how desolate the landscape can be
between the regions of kindness.
How you ride and ride
thinking the bus will never stop,
the passengers eating maize and chicken
will stare out the window forever.
Before you learn the tender gravity of kindness
you must travel where the Indian in a white poncho
lies dead by the side of the road.
You must see how this could be you,
how he too was someone
who journeyed through the night with plans
and the simple breath that kept him alive.
Before you know kindness as the deepest thing inside,
you must know sorrow as the other deepest thing.
You must wake up with sorrow.
You must speak to it till your voice
catches the thread of all sorrows
and you see the size of the cloth.
Then it is only kindness that makes sense anymore,
only kindness that ties your shoes
and sends you out into the day to gaze at bread,
only kindness that raises its head
from the crowd of the world to say
It is I you have been looking for,
and then goes with you everywhere
like a shadow or a friend.
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