Universe of Obligation #2 (“Integration; Immigration; Ignorance”)

Driving from Berlin to Warsaw, our guide Anthony regaled us with several explanations and stories to keep the people on the bus from getting angry that we were sitting in the middle of nowhere moving at a snail’s pace. One current event that he updated us on in Germany really resonated with me. The issue he discussed was immigration.

During the 1950’s in Germany, there was a tremendous need for cheap labor and the government looked for creative ways to get the most reasonable rates. In what many Germans view as a short-sighted move, Germany invited and encouraged workers from Turkey to come and live in Germany and work in jobs that required few professional skills. In return, many of the Turkish workers would have substantially improved living situations. For many Turks, coming to Germany meant that they would live in homes that had hot water and indoor toilets. This improved standard of living enticed many Turks to leave their homeland and come to Germany to work.

Fast forward fifty years and all of a sudden Germany has an immigration problem. The German population numbers roughly eighteen million. Of the eighteen million, roughly 3.5 million are Turkish. Germany did not count on the Turkish workers bringing their mothers, sisters, sons, daughters, aunts, and uncles; Germany was looking for workers in the 1950’s, not to introduce an ethnic minority. Many of the Turkish workers formed and maintain autonomous ethnic communities that preserve and maintain cultural heritage and language. Many in these communities do not work and collect state benefits to the tune of roughly 300 euros a month (plus free healthcare and education through college). Many individuals have called for change in Germany.

One change that Germany has enacted is an integration course. Many of the Turks are forced to take a course that teaches them German customs, the German language, and other values that are deemed important to Germany. The tour guide had to take the course (as he was an immigrant from another country). He told a story about a Turkish woman who was a slow learner. She never had a need to learn the language and struggled to get by in the integration class. She expressed her frustrations and difficulties that after thirty-five years she was now expected to learn or possibly be sent back to Turkey.

What struck me about this situation was how America faces a similar situation with immigrants. On the one hand, American wants to be an inclusive nation, but then many individuals hold many negative feelings towards immigrants and may even support something similar to an integration course. What are your thoughts?