A passionate appeal to publicly stand up for democracy and peaceful coexistence, said Frankfurt's mayor Uwe Becker in his address at the New Year's reception of the German-American Club Gießen-Wetzlar DIE BRÜCKE to the audience. In doing so, he looked at current developments, those with fear, Hatred and violence against minorities, Dissenters and strangers are sown. The treasurer of the neighboring Main metropolis was on Wednesday evening, who is also the anti-Semitism officer of the state of Hesse, this year's Brücke guest of honor. His remarkable speech heralded the celebrations for the 70th anniversary of the Brücke this year. In addition to Becker, there were also other top-class guests with Giessen's mayor Dietlind Grabe-Bolz, the head of the city council, Frank Walter Schmidt, Wetzlar City Councilor Barbara Keiner and the US Consulate General in Frankfurt with Plamen Mavrov as the representative of the United States and the world's largest foreign representation. Musically, the choir of the Liederblüte Garbenteich under the direction of Philipp Langstroff got in the mood for the New Year.
The guests were welcomed in the wedding hall, which was filled to the last seat, by Brücke President Roger Schmidt. He reminded of the American and German women, who had founded the club seven decades ago and in doing so had crossed the bridge of understanding after the years of war. Mayor Grabe-Bolz found the founding of the bridge “a small miracle” in her greetings. For the Germans, integration with the West was like a “warming fire”. For many people from Giessen, the Alpine formed- and Woodland Club and the PX on the premises in and around the US depot first personal encounters with the Americans and their culture. She herself connects the USA with her first experience of the sweet taste of peanut butter from the PX store in her youth. That the exhibits of the former Care Museum in the city archive could currently be saved, they are especially happy, because the Americans were part of the history of Giessen.
“We have to stand up for it, that understanding, Community and social coexistence will continue, ”said Becker, also with a view to the upcoming 27. January in memory of 75. Anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp. Anti-Semitism as the “poison of society” is growing again, therefore it is important to stand up against it together. Unfortunately, many are on the way, who have nothing else in mind than to drive society apart with hatred and fear. Their goal: “Another Germany.” Commitment from the citizens to stand up for this society is all the more in demand. Today's democracy is more solid than it was back in the Weimar Republic. He would like people to demonstrate for the future of our planet on “Friday for future”, as with the youth, to also take to the streets once a week for democratic values and for togetherness and diversity.
The bridge as a transatlantic friendship initiative has lived this since its foundation 1950. It was one of the first clubs to be involved in the umbrella organization of the VDAC, collected money in the “March of Dimes” for sick children in the 1950s, acknowledged Becker. The USA shaped us as our most important partner, the region that has lived in peace since then, so Becker. To freedom, Stability and security were also part of this, that people turn their heads for democracy and freedom, he looked at the soldiers from the German Armed Forces and the US Army.
Further dates in the anniversary year "70 years of DIE BRÜCKE": Academic evening on 8. Thanksgiving evening on May and on 28. November.
