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geardaddy

(25,392 posts) Thu Jul 16, 2015, 11:19 AM Jul 2015

Angela Merkel tells sobbing asylum seeker why she cannot stay in Germany [View all]

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/16/angela-merkel-comforts-teenage-palestinian-asylum-seeker-germany?CMP=fb_gu

Chancellor tries to comfort Palestinian girl whose family is facing deportation after telling her Germany ‘just can’t manage’ more refugees

Rarely has Angela Merkel been so directly confronted with the consequences of her own politics. But an emotional encounter with a young Palestinian left her momentarily speechless and unable to adequately explain to the girl why she was going to be deported.

In a televised meeting that has gone viral, the German chancellor rubs the shoulder of a sobbing teenager after telling her she was one of “thousands and thousands” of refugees that her country was unable to help.

As the number of refugees arriving in Germany rises by the month – and already this year the number of asylum applications, at 450,000, is more than twice the total for the whole of 2014 – the issue is one of the most keenly debated topics in the country.

So it was not a surprise that it was on the agenda on Wednesday as Merkel met a group of 14- to 17-year-olds in the gymnasium of their school in the northern city of Rostock.

Rest plus video at link

46 replies

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Angela Merkel tells sobbing asylum seeker why she cannot stay in Germany [View all] geardaddy Jul 2015 OP

Well this is the same country that gassed 6 million people so I'm not surprised n/t 951-Riverside Jul 2015 #1

I am, however, surprised that you would sink that low KamaAina Jul 2015 #23

You never let us down! snooper2 Jul 2015 #28

Holy shit, you seriously went there? n/t Godhumor Jul 2015 #29

would you like Germans saying something similar about us and the Native Americans or black people ? steve2470 Jul 2015 #30

Weak sauce. nt Codeine Jul 2015 #32

the cruel part seems to be letting them stay for four years--long enough to become geek tragedy Jul 2015 #2

+1 daleanime Jul 2015 #5

yep you nailed it nt steve2470 Jul 2015 #19

bookmarked daleanime Jul 2015 #3

Yes, there is video at the Guardian link. n/t geardaddy Jul 2015 #6

Maybe Belgium will take them--this sounds like someone that Germany would want to keep. MADem Jul 2015 #4

'For me, personally, marriage is a man and a woman living together' LittleBlue Jul 2015 #7

She's like 2 years behind some Democrats. n/t PoliticAverse Jul 2015 #27

Well empathy, warmth and kindness aren't traits that most Germans are known for. notadmblnd Jul 2015 #8

how many Germans have you met? nt geek tragedy Jul 2015 #10

Several. Many in my family alone. notadmblnd Jul 2015 #13

is this in Germany or the US? nt geek tragedy Jul 2015 #14

"National characteristics" is not a new thing under the sun. WinkyDink Jul 2015 #18

Oh boy. geardaddy Jul 2015 #11

I think DFW and his German wife would take issue with that assertion steve2470 Jul 2015 #16

Hooray stereotypes! NuclearDem Jul 2015 #22

This was a good read - thank you for posting it JustAnotherGen Jul 2015 #9

You're welcome. geardaddy Jul 2015 #12

You know that? I live in Germany, and know a lot of Turks that would say you don't know it. DFW Jul 2015 #24

I stand corrected. geardaddy Jul 2015 #26

In 1962, that might have been the norm DFW Jul 2015 #36

When I was there I spoke with Turks and Moroccans who were of both viewpoints. stevenleser Jul 2015 #31

There definitely are some who feel oppressed DFW Jul 2015 #35

Madeline Albright's twin sister? "Yes, we think it's been worth it." closeupready Jul 2015 #15

So unlimited immigration from non-EU entities is okay? Of course, the terrible irony here is that WinkyDink Jul 2015 #17

Because that was the girl's question. closeupready Jul 2015 #21

Not the Palestinians. DFW Jul 2015 #25

A lot of the young men were dead after the war artislife Jul 2015 #45

Nation-states can be tricky beasts The2ndWheel Jul 2015 #20

It's cruel, but Merkel is right. Germany is bursting at the seams with refugees. My town, too. DFW Jul 2015 #33

excellent post, my friend! nt steve2470 Jul 2015 #34

Thanks for bringing this thread to my attention. DFW Jul 2015 #38

Are you white? Racial minorities see things differently. closeupready Jul 2015 #37

Depends on who you ask DFW Jul 2015 #39

Thanks for combatting the rather shameless show of bigotry. n/t Yo_Mama Jul 2015 #41

Some of it was pretty mean, but I'm sure some was only due to a lack of knowledge DFW Jul 2015 #42

That was educational, thanks. nt Babel_17 Jul 2015 #46

We even have a word for that... GermanWatcher Jul 2015 #40

I feel for Europe. moondust Jul 2015 #43

Back in the 70s, things were different DFW Jul 2015 #44