Introduction
Race thinking remains one of the primary ideologies defining the experiences and lives of many immigrants in different parts of the world, such as the United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom. The article “After the Terror Attacks in Germany, Are We Still Safe?” provides a detailed analysis of some of the obstacles immigrants and their descendants go through in Germany. These predicaments relate directly to the heinous acts of the Nazi regime before the end of the Second World War. This analytical paper uses the arguments and insights the author of the selected article presents to explain why a paradigm shift would be essential in German society.
Author’s Argument and Biases
The events and experiences the author outlines in the presented article are troublesome and worth addressing. Feroz (2020) uses the Hanau attacks to explain why different media houses and government officials got it wrong when they identified the terrorist as a lone wolf. The outstanding message is that German society continues to grapple with a complex and wider challenge that has the potential to disorient the lives of more people. The article reveals that children of migrants and foreigners are not safe in this country.
The concept of a quintessential multicultural society characterized by cohesion and peace has become a thing of the past. This specific attack portrays the realities many foreigners face in this county. The attack led to the death of individuals who were up and raised in Hanau (Feroz, 2020). These attributes show conclusively that the current attack is a clear representation of terror against migrants who might have found themselves in Germany through various means.
The decisions the murderer made were questionable since he was educated and aware of the historical issues that had been recorded in the country. For example, he understood the malpractices associated with the Third Reich and other cases of oppression against non-whites. Such actions portray the fascist, inhuman, and racist ideologies that have prevailed in Germany. Government officials and agencies have also been involved in some of these malpractices (Sasnal & El Menouar, 2020). The absence of proper strategies to meet the demands of foreigners in this country will complicate the situation and make it impossible for them to achieve their maximum potential.
From the presented information, it would be possible for the reader to identify some biases that could make the information questionable. The first one is that the author has failed to accept the fact that the lone murderer could have been a person with a troubled mind. It is possible to think so he does not buy the idea that an educated man could kill innocent people without a valid reason (Feroz, 2020). The second bias is that the writer tries to link this single event to all atrocities and criminal acts that have been recorded in this country before. Such an argument is notable since he does not put into consideration the unique aspects and realities associated with each event.
Agreeable Arguments
Despite the biases identified in this work, there are specific arguments that are valid and worth addressing. First, the problems of Islamophobia and racism are valid and continue to affect many foreigners in German society. The reasoning behind this argument is that most of the incidents experienced in the past have revealed how different citizens find it hard to pursue their social and economic goals. The identified Hanau attack indicates that more individuals are at risk of similar threats and challenges (Feroz, 2020). Second, the author acknowledges that the government and those in leadership have failed to implement evidence-based strategies to deal with this predicament. For instance, he indicates that the response is usually ignorant. This gap is a clear indication that more people will continue to face similar predicaments in Germany and across the continent unless the relevant authorities put appropriate solutions in place.
Third, the author is right to acknowledge that most of the victims are the primary targets of conservatives, far-right individuals, and social democrats. Some left-wing liberals are also part of this problem since they collaborate to target refugees, migrants, and Muslims in different regions across the country (Feroz, 2020). These malpractices and ideologies have set the stage for the occurrence of this attack. Such an argument explains why there is a need for those in power to consider evidence-based strategies to address this problem and allow more migrants to focus on their social aims in life.
Fourth, the author’s view that German society currently facing a crucial predicament is right. Right-wing terrorism is becoming problematic in this country while the government has been keen to downplay it (Feroz, 2020). Some right-wing extremists have been planning to attack several places of worship. These terrorists are usually keen to target mosques and other areas where members of this religion meet to fast and celebrate various holidays. These criminal acts echo some of the issues past immigrants encountered in the country in the hands of the Nazis (Feroz, 2020). The absence of proper mechanisms to address these challenges could result in serious humanitarian crises in various societies across the nation.
Fifth, the article indicates that some of the leading media houses in Germany have been spreading erroneous information to promote terrorism. Their actions encourage terrorists to engage in attacks that could claim the lives of innocent citizens. Such sources of information try to present details that are usually conflicting and incapable of supporting the expectations and goals of the greatest majority (Sasnal & El Menouar, 2020). For example, some of the leading stations were keen to identify the Hunau attack as an isolated crime. They even went further to assert that the terrorist was a psychopath. Such a portrayal can explain how and why the community has been unwilling to address this social problem.
Another agreeable argument presented in the article is that Germany is facing a unique challenge that should attract the attention of all key stakeholders. The identified Hunau attack supports such an observation since it claimed the lives of many innocent civilians. The terrorist act is an expression of this wider problem whereby many people live in constant fear simply because they have diverse backgrounds. The absence of proper mechanisms means that the country might record more attacks (Feroz, 2020). The occurrence of this incident is also attributable to the wave of Islamophobia that has remained common in this country and across Europe.
Disagreeable Arguments
While the author succeeds in presenting some strong opinions and arguments regarding the attacks, there are specific points that are misleading or disagreeable. The first one is the assertion that BILD, one of the leading tabloid newspapers in Germany, reported that immigrants were the ones murdering one another during the Hunau massacre. Such an observation is wrong since the author lacked accurate information regarding the massacre and the perpetrator’s intentions (Feroz, 2020). While the evidence in favor of racism is strong, the author should not have made such a determination without finding additional details and facts. This kind of response could be identified as a form of hatred against the whites in the country. The author could have used neutral words and tone to deliver the intended message.
The second area of concern in the article is the idea that different media outlets should not have identified the Hunau attack as a xenophobic act. The use of the term “hostile to foreigners” appears correct and capable of describing the nature of this terrorist act. However, the author views its application as old-fashioned, ineffective, and problematic. The reasoning behind this observation is that any form of violence or attack against non-whites would qualify as a form of hostility. The inclusion of the word “fremdenfeindlich” in most media outlets is, therefore, justifiable and capable of guiding more people to consider new ways of addressing all forms of racism. The author should have acknowledged the fact that some of the newspapers and online platforms were right in identifying the attack as an act targeting non-whites.
Another detestable argument in this article is that some of the leading agencies and police departments in the country have been involved in some of these attacks. For instance, Feroz (2020) indicates that right-wing groups have been collaborating with government institutions to engage in malpractices that are intended to attack foreigners. He also argues that different state agencies are usually part of the problem, such as the Federal Intelligence Service (FIS), the army, and the police (Feroz, 2020). This argument lacks adequate evidence or confirmation from other authorities in the country. The reasoning is that various codes of ethics govern these professional institutions and compel the relevant individuals to do what is right and implement appropriate strategies to meet the demands of the people they serve.
Finally, most of the media houses reported that the offender was a lone wolf with a psychological problem. This observation explains why additional investigations were needed to learn more about the primary intentions of the act and the best ways to address the problem. However, the author of the selected article believes that the culprit was an educated person who understood and appreciated the existence of a superior race in German society (Sasnal & El Menouar, 2020). He also indicates that such a terrorist had a motive that was purely fascist, inhuman, and racist. This presentation is worth objecting to since the author tries to use strong words to criminalize and push his primary agenda (Sasnal & El Menouar, 2020). When those in power allow more people to promote similar viewpoints, chances are high that investigators could lose their focus on the existing problem and eventually find the most appropriate solution.
Scholarly Understanding and Changing Perspective
A detailed understanding of the history of race relationships in Germany could provide additional insights for reading and interpreting this article. For several occasions, this country has recorded cases of racist and xenophobic attacks. Such behaviors have been shifting to affect the experiences and lives of Muslims and other people from the Arab world (Abdelkader, 2017). The arrival of thousands of refugees from different troubled regions transformed the situation forever. Although relative peace was recorded in this country from the 1990s, new attacks emerged after September 11. The US-led war against terror encouraged many people across Europe to develop new views and opinions regarding the position of Muslims in their respective countries (Feroz, 2020). Since then, a political discourse that identifies such people as possible terrorists has thrived in this country. The result is that numerous attacks targeting foreigners have occurred in Germany.
Past scholars and analysts have indicated that German society is facing a serious problem that requires a permanent solution. Some individuals who have grown up in this country are living in constant fear due to the problem of Islamophobia and xenophobic attacks. Some criminals engage in acts that threaten the experiences and welfare of these individuals (Uenal, 2016). They are finding it hard to engage in some common rituals that they have been practicing for decades. The leaders in Germany have been reluctant to provide timely responses and solutions to some of the recorded attacks. Despite such gaps, it is agreeable that more lives have been lost within the past few years.
This scholarly understanding presents evidence-based insights for examining and analyzing the selected article. The reader will acknowledge that the author tries to identify and describe a unique problem that is affecting more Germans. Such a predicament is presently affecting many people, including those who have been born and lived in the country. Refugees and other foreigners encounter different challenges and problems that make it hard for them to lead high-quality lives (Bazian, 2018). Some encounter difficulties when planning to access high-quality social services, welfare programs, and healthcare. Those who die because of unexpected terrorist attacks will have reduced chances of receiving justice or compensation (Sasnal & El Menouar, 2020). These facts explain why some of the insights and arguments the author of the article presents are acknowledgeable and informative.
This knowledge would guide more people to examine the ideas carefully and realize how different agencies have failed to act and protect more foreigners. The recorded incidents, such as the Hunau massacre, explain why Islamophobia and racism are serious problems that require evidence-based solutions. Germans should examine their complexities carefully to understand how they affect the life experiences and outcomes of more foreigners (Feroz, 2020). Those in leadership positions can consider the concerns emerging from this article and engage in policymaking procedures to support a paradigm shift. The involvement of all key stakeholders will support the delivery of timely solutions and eventually make it possible for more foreigners to experience and enjoy the same freedoms and opportunities available to every other citizen.
Conclusion
The above discussion has identified Feroz’s article as informative and capable of encouraging more stakeholders to collaborate and present new ways to solve the predicaments many foreigners go through in Germany. While some of the arguments are questionable, most of the insights resonate with the realities experienced in this country. The government should, therefore, consider these views to institute powerful policies to meet the needs of these underserved groups, provide adequate support, and eventually live peacefully in secure societies.
References
Abdelkader, E. (2017). A comparative analysis of European Islamophobia: France, UK, Germany, Netherlands, and Sweden. Journal of Islamic and Near Eastern Law, 16(1), 29-63. Web.
Bazian, H. (2018). Islamophobia “clash of civilizations”, and forging a post-cold war order. Religions, 9(1), 282-294. Web.
Feroz, E. (2020). After the terror attacks in Germany, are we still safe? TRT World. Web.
Sasnal, P., & El Menouar, Y. (2020). There’s a social pandemic poisoning Europe: Hatred of Muslims. The Guardian. Web.
Uenal, F. (2016). Disentangling Islamophobia: The differential effects of symbolic, realistic, and terroristic threat perceptions as mediators between social dominance orientation and Islamophobia. Journal of Social and Political Psychology, 4(1), 66-90. Web.