The history of humanity began with migration.
Our ancestors left Africa as economic refugees. In our western, Christian-influenced world, dramatic refugee stories have been preached from the pulpit for centuries. Even in recent times, flight and migration movements have shaped our cultures. The French cathedral in berlin, the house numbers in Cologne or the most popular type of snack in Germany - Döner, have all been created by migrants. In the decade after the 2nd world war, 12 million people were intergrated into Germany. Despite all these difficult, but ultimately positive developments in the history of mankind, parts of all societies in Europe refuse migrants entry. The arguments for this have been the same for thousands of years and are essentially characterised by fear. The fear of change and the loss of their own social status, however insignificant that may be. For 150 years, the protection of the nation, the nation state and the economy has been particularly emphasized. As late as the 1960s everyone must be aware that the wealth in the industrial nations can only be generated with the help of migrant workers. The Idea of a national culture has not been tenable since the beginning of civilizations. We see in all cultures the permanent exchange of ideas, be it in architecture, prose, or pop culture. The lesson that should have been learned by all nations since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 is surely: We are all human beings and have the same rights. Humanity requires us to guarantee the right of life, to freedom and consequently the security of the person, this to every human being – regardless of his or her place of residence and legal status.
