Christchurch

Today I took the bus to the city center. What has shaped the city are the two major disasters, first the earthquake which destroyed large parts of the historic city center and then the attack last Friday...

And through this first catastrophe, which is still visible throughout the city (broken and supported buildings, containers as makeshift and construction sites everywhere), I believe the DNA of the city has been shaped. Under the impression of the terrorist attack, there is a defiant sense of unity noticeable. Even at the spot opposite the mosque where the many flowers are laid, you can see concerned faces, but no matter who you talk to, the spirit of the Kiwis is expressed, as also represented by the Prime Minister.

Yesterday, an elderly man at the campground said to another older gentleman that it does not matter to him which religion the victims belong to or whether they were not born here. If they want to live here, they are New Zealanders. And I believe many people here think the same way. Even the Maori eventually immigrated here, and anyone who chooses this country is a part of it.

Of course, not everyone thinks this way, and there are certainly other voices, but apparently this attitude is part of the New Zealanders' self-perception, and that is why this attack really hits the heart of the nation.

Perhaps Europe could learn from this, a reconsideration of the concept of nation. Perhaps then we could also be proud of creating a free and tolerant society.

Unfortunately, thanks to Trump, Erdogan, AfD, etc., this vision for the future looks rather bleak, but the New Zealanders, and especially the Prime Minister, show how one can also react to such attacks.

So this has become a long political article, but that's exactly fitting with the mood I am experiencing here in Christchurch. And I have to say, it has impressed me deeply.