#DETOXYOURSPEECH
The motto of the Austrian EU Presidency is “A Europe that Protects.” But who or what is being protected from whom? While at the European Forum Alpbach unifying topics are put before divisive ones and solidarity is laden with vaguely worded mantras, we miss admonishing words of commonality in the everyday political and media life outside this kitschy Alpine village.
Here, the future of Europe is being discussed in an abstract way; while still far way from this idyll, the disintegration of a common Europe with equal rights is being worked on. Even those politicians who position themselves hostile to Europe elsewhere, speak here of cohesion and European solidarity. Back in their countries, however, they use a deliberately toxic language that endangers the European integration project. How the European Union is talked about attests to a brutalisation of language.
If the EU is denigrated as a “debt union”, it is deliberately forgotten that this is the most successful project to bring peace to Europe and that the EU is also responsible for our economic prosperity.
#DETOXYOURSPEECH
The motto of the Austrian EU Presidency is “A Europe that protects.” But who or what is being protected from whom? While at the European Forum Alpbach unifying topics are put before divisive ones and solidarity is laden with vaguely worded mantras. We miss admonishing words of commonality in the everyday political and media life outside this kitschy Alpine village.
Here, the future of Europe is being discussed in an abstract way; while still far way from this idyll, the disintegration of a common Europe with equal rights is being worked on. Even those politicians who position themselves hostile to Europe elsewhere, speak here of cohesion and European solidarity. Back in their countries, however, they use a deliberately toxic language that endangers the European integration project. How the European Union is talked about attests to a brutalisation of language.
If the EU is denigrated as a “debt union”, it is deliberately forgotten that this is the most successful project to bring peace to Europe and that the EU is also responsible for our economic prosperity.
Likewise, people on the run are stylized as a threatening “Wave of Refugees” that breaks upon the “Fortress Europe”. What is left out are the faces and personal stories of these people, their suffering and hopes. The public is interested in “closing the Balkan route”, while people are drowning in the Mediterranean every day. The motto of the Austrian Presidency is “A Europe that Protects”, but Europe is not able to protect those who were born outside its borders.
The language we use determines the reality we live in. The Initiative Group Alpbach Vienna has, therefore, set itself the goal of drawing attention to the toxic modes of speaking that are spreading in Europe. We stand for a common, unified Europe that creates spaces for diversity and does not attempt to protect us from “the foreign”. It is only through social diversity and solidarity that Europe is able to face the future.
Europe must be aware of its global responsibility to protect.
WE WANT A EUROPE
THAT CONNECTS!
Likewise, people on the run are stylized as a threatening “wave of refugees” that breaks upon the “Fortress Europe”. What is left out are the faces and personal stories of these people, their suffering and hopes. The public is interested in “closing the Balkan route”, while people are drowning in the Mediterranean every day. The motto of the Austrian Presidency is “A Europe that protects”, but Europe is not able to protect those who were born outside its borders.
The language we use determines the reality we live in. The Initiative Group Alpbach Vienna has, therefore, set itself the goal of drawing attention to the toxic modes of speaking that are spreading in Europe. We stand for a common, unified Europe that creates spaces for diversity and does not attempt to protect us from “the foreign”. It is only through social diversity and solidarity that Europe is able to face the future.
Europe must be aware of its global responsibility to protect.