Due to the history of its own country, Germany today places a high value on international openness. Intercultural learning is an integral part of the programme in all German schools - and that's a good thing! Germans know that people appreciate diversity. And every child likes the fact that the world is colourful and that their friends have very different stories to tell. Here, community is not based on ethnicity, but is experienced as friendship and solidarity. Germany has taken in many people from other countries and offered them particularly good opportunities for integration. The migration society is a reality and it offers many positive opportunities.
It is not only in recent years that people from other countries have been accepted in Germany. Guest workers from Italy came to Germany and brought pizza. Turkish families were taken in and provided people with many small goods or kebab dishes. And people from many other countries also came to Germany and brought things with them that are now a normal part of the country's culture. This culture is not a rigid German dominant culture.
It is a multicultural society in which many different people live together. The Basic Law is the common foundation of their lives. It regards human dignity as a firm and inviolable foundation. Respecting one another, even in their differences, is therefore an important foundation. This works comparatively well in Germany. Many people even come to Germany because they can live more freely here than in their family's country of origin.
The special value of the Basic Law is guarded by a constitutional court that enjoys an extremely high level of recognition among the population. In its judgements, it has repeatedly emphasised the openness of German society. German culture and many works from its canon are also appreciated by migrants and immigrants. In many cases, they bring an admiration for these works with them. But when reading great works, it should not be forgotten that they themselves were always inspired by cultural products of the most diverse kinds. The entire history of the West is a history of cultural openness and inspiration across national borders. German culture would be inconceivable without the cultural traditions of other countries, and vice versa. Poets like Goethe and intellectual greats like Kant have therefore shown themselves to be true cosmopolitans. But even on a small scale, many Germans today live a special intercultural openness.
Anyone who enjoys listening to people's stories and appreciates cultural diversity must see this as an advantage. You have to appreciate Germany for the versatility of its culture just as much as you have to appreciate its inhabitants for their solidarity and charity. Anyone coming to Germany will find friendly and open people in every federal state. This can make integration much easier. Why are Germans so open to diversity? Perhaps they are aware of how different the cultural behaviour patterns already are in different federal states.
Anyone travelling from northern Germany to Bavaria will quickly notice this difference. In some parts of Germany, this also leads to small arguments. In most cases, however, this difference is dealt with lovingly or made fun of.
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