With Christmas approaching, the allahu akbarriers in front of Cologne Cathedral were lettered with “Do not be afraid!” (Fürchtet euch nicht, Luke 2:10), in large letters early Friday morning.
“Do not be afraid”, this bollard reassures us. Photo: Domradio
We reported yesterday that the City of Cologne will hand out a “respect” wristband to each New Year’s Eve visitor.
Every German knows the line “Do not be afraid”, Fürchtet Euch nicht, from the popular German (originally Czech/Bohemian) Christmas Carol “Kommet, ihr Hirten”, Come Ye Shepherds.
A dispute broken out between Cardinal Woelki’s domradio, who think the bollard message is a wonderful idea, and the city council spokeswoman who finds it in rather poor taste.
An original translation from General-Anzeiger Bonn:
City of Cologne: Dispute Over Christmas Message on Bollards
15.12.2017 COLOGNE. A christmas message, applied without permission, angers the city council. Friday morning, the employees of a close-by advertising agency had applied the phrase “Do not be afraid” in white letters on the barriers. “This is thoughtless and a nuisance”, a city spokesman said upon our enquiry. The pollards were an unfortunate necessity, and they would remove the letters.
But advertising agency chief Sebastian Hebler says “We see a scaring signal in the bollards”. They wanted to alleviate people’s fears with the message. The bollards were erected just shortly ago, to protect from terror attacks. (dpa)
A reassuring Christmas message on the anti terror bollards in front of Cologne Cathedral. Picture: General-Anzeiger Bonn
http://images.fineartamerica.com/images/artworkimages/mediumlarge/1/arbeit-macht-frei-daniel-hagerman.jpg
Afraid of what? Must be global warming!
Whenever extraordinary measures are necessary to prevent terrorism, whether they be traffic blocks, armed guards wearing riot gear and carrying automatic weapons, or even canceling a celebration that is still Terrorism because people are afraid!
If people find it necessary go to extraordinary measures, because of Terrorism, even if no terrorist acts occur, the terrorists have won because people are afraid!
The bollards should read, “Keep trucks at arm’s length!”
Egri, thank-you so much for translating all these German news stories! I sit here (in Germany) day for day reading of all these horrible things happening and cannot believe what is happening before my eyes. It is so overwhelming and not being reporting on by “normal” news in Germany or outside Germany.
Many eyes watch this blog. My hope is that these stories get picked up and reported on in a wider scope.
By the way, many argue (here in Germany) that just talking about all the horrible things going on is akin to fear-mongering and used to scare people – in attempt to diminish any form of concern that there is an actual problem.
Many say “that´s just on the news” or “in normal life there is nothing to fear” etc.
If the gauge is actual experience, does something have to happen to me or my family members in order for it to become a “real” problem?
My daughter (13 at the time) was using public transport with her class and teachers when a “southerner” with darker skin color attacked one of the pupils because he and his group of friends were starring at him and laughing. This guy was strangling a 13 year old boy right there at the bus stop. Nothing happened. No police called. I don´t even think the school or teachers reported it to the parents.
Miss Piggy, the whole concept of wondering what is norma,l or not, is the question asked by a healthy mind like yours. It’s when you stop asking you’re in trouble. Remember too the idea of Normalcy Bias. We humans are very reluctant to believe major changes are going on around us. We prefer to ignore what we know in favour of believing what we want to believe. Normalcy Bias leads us to the Boiling Frog concept. You are a Boiling Frog when the pot of water you are in is heating very slowly. At first you think the heat is your imagination. By the time you realize you are a Boiling Frog it’s too late.
If you’re reading Vladtepes you are in the minority–PC please tell us the psychological peculiarities that make it so–of people who have thrown off these mental chains.
Yup. Some of my fellow frogs are actually seriously considering leaving and I mean native Germans, not expats like me. Part of me understands, but the other part thinks it cowardly not to fight/resist this forced Soros diversity program.
Yes. And even as we understand we are amazed that it is really happening.