ABSTRACT
The taboo against right-wing government policies was shattered by the general attitude toward history that encourages its uncritical sanitization instead of critical engagement. The commitment of courage means the distribution of warning whistles to people who live near refugee housing in order to create a kind of warning system, so that “neighbors protect neighbors.” Courageous engagement is insufficient alone, but must be coupled with a politics of courage. The debate about asylum has shown how closely prevailing political thought approaches right-wing extremism. Through slogans such as “refuge-seeking imposters” and “economic refugees,” complicated circumstances are reduced to mere political symbols with ethnic overtones. These symbols and ways of thinking are not only with right-wing extremists and neofascists. A Fortress Europe in the sense will preserve neither its dedication to the rule of law nor protect its prosperity. This poisonous language has penetrated social and political opinion and has assumed political incarnations.
