Alberich Lichtenberg (@Germanien)

—SAFER IN MEXICO CITY THAN IN MUNICH? 🤔 MY PERSPECTIVE AS A GERMAN— (PART 2) Migration policy has undoubtedly become the center of a major contemporary debate here. On one hand, I personally know immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers who fulfill their responsibilities exemplary, work hard, contribute to society, and successfully integrate, achieving independence and improving their quality of life. On the other hand, it is impossible to ignore a recurring and conflictive reality: accounts of tensions between neighbors, dismissive comments, attitudes of contempt toward our customs, religion, local history, and constant criticism of the German way of life. At the same time, there is growing public frustration regarding the administration of public resources; many frequently question the fact that, through taxpayers' contributions, essential services, healthcare, and financial support are provided to individuals who, in some evident cases, appear unwilling to work or contribute, responding with disdain rather than gratitude, and in some instances even mocking the government's excessive permissiveness. It is a highly complex phenomenon that has created profound division and polarization within society. As someone who has lived in both countries, my personal experience is very clear: in #Mexico I felt welcome, better treated, and safer. I encountered human warmth, hospitality and respect. If I got lost, someone would take the time to guide me; whenever something went wrong, neighborhood solidarity appeared immediately. Even in the most ordinary aspects of daily life, Mexican generosity opened the doors of people's homes to me, welcoming me to their tables and offering a sense of protection that felt almost familial—even looking out for me against the risks of the surrounding environment. It is also worth noting that Mexico is home to immigrants from many different backgrounds, and my interactions with them were always shaped by mutual respect. By contrast, my interactions in #Germany with people of foreign background have, with concerning frequency, been marked by hostility: confrontational stares, unprovoked insults, aggressive behavior, or deliberate provocations that create the unsettling paradox of feeling like a foreigner in your own country, or rejected simply for being German. I am fully aware that this is my own lived experience—shared by many, though certainly not universal—but for me, the gap in treatment and in the perception of safety has been immense. Being a foreigner in Mexico is often supported by an open and welcoming cultural mindset that makes integration and well-being much easier. By contrast, being German in Germany today can sometimes evoke a mixture of discomfort, frustration, and exhaustion when witnessing the deterioration of social norms and the ways in which everyday life can feel increasingly tense. This is a broad and complex reflection, filled with uncomfortable realities and nuances that are rarely discussed openly in the public sphere, and one that I hope to explore in greater depth in future publications. #Europe #Diversity #Migration #LatinAmerica #NorthAmerica #HispanicAmerica #RefugeesWelcome #Multiculturalism #UnAlemánEnMéxico #EinDeutscherStudentInMexiko