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Gauck: solidarity the greatest Christmas gift

Published: 25 Dec 12 08:55 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/national/20121225-46963.html

President Joachim Gauck has called for more solidarity in society, saying in his Christmas speech that Germany must become more caring and generous if it is to prosper.

"Yes we want a country that shows solidarity," he said. "A country which opens up the way to a good life for the young, and creates room for older people in our midst. A country which joins those who have lived here for generations with those who have only just made their homes here."

He said it was in the interests of the country to embed caring for one another into its policies.

"Who finds no caring and gives none, cannot grow, cannot blossom," he added.

And referring to a recent visit he made to a refugee home in Brandenburg, Gauck said, "We will never be able to take in all those people who come. But we will grant asylum with open hearts to those who are persecuted - and will greet migrants who are needed by our country with good will."

Freiburg Archbishop and head of the German Catholic Church Robert Zollitsch warned of social splits within Germany. "The poor remain behind and the wealth is increasingly in the hands of the few," he told Monday's Ruhr Nachrichten newspaper.

He said the idea of increasing tax on the rich to fund socially important projects should no longer be a taboo.

Head of Germany's Protestant Church Nikolaus Schneider also stressed that those on the edges of society should be the focus at this time of year.

"The Christmas message challenges us to raise our voices for these people and to search for social justice," he said in Hannover. He gave this a political twist by calling for Germany to show increased solidarity with Greece and other European countries suffering during the euro crisis.

"Europe is more than an economic zone," he said. "Europe is a project of peace."

DAPD/The Local/hc

What do you think? Leave your comment below.


Your comments about this article:

11:25 December 25, 2012 by Kennneth Ingle
Hello, I hope you all have a happy Christmas!

With the rogues we now have in the Bundestag, it may be our last happy one!

Even the President in his yearly Christmas address, seems to have lost all contact with the common community. An upper-class, which is ready to spend taxpayers money all over the world, to help governments which are neither democratic or honest, cannot itself be trusted.

I wonder what these dreamers in Berlin would do, if they had to live from 500 Euros a month, just as many of their own ethnic group must. Germany is certainly better off than many other countries, but 90% of the people have little from the wealth, about which so much is said. Often migrants enjoy a better standard of living and health care than is given to the poorer Germans. This is one reason why right-wing radicals are still able to find so much support!

Good luck to everybody in the New Year, let us hope the 13 on the end does not turn out to be an omen.
11:35 December 25, 2012 by Berlin fuer alles
I have no doubt he is sincere but I wish his words could have some meaning in Germany. Everything he has wished for is the opposite of reality in Germany. The only solidiarity shown be Dr. Merkyl and Mr. Hyde is with her bankster buddies. The young get hoodwinked into a system that is corrupt to the core. The old get trodden on. Those who have recently made their homes here get alienated. Asylum is not granted with open hearts it is granted with a scowl.

Yes tax the rich more. But I fear the idea of taxing the rich is to hit the middle classes and those with a job harder whilst leaving the super elites alone to cream off the top with government help and protect corrupt toxic banks at the expense of the 99% of the population.

In any case. Merry Christmas everyone and whether religious or not it is good to have one day of the year to enjoy stress free with our families. They may decide to tax that soon also.
11:54 December 25, 2012 by smart2012
Merry Christmas to all, with same or different opinions than mine, as freedom of speech is the most beautiful thing. Let the other talk and carefully listen, as u can learn from everyone - but BILD :)
12:41 December 25, 2012 by raandy
That is what the President does, He preaches solidarity, compassion , generosity and purpose , good political speech. He is not preaching to the choir ,however.

Merry Christmas to all , hope you all have a relaxing and enjoyable time.
14:23 December 25, 2012 by The-ex-pat
So in a nutshell, do as I say, not do as I do.............
16:41 December 25, 2012 by lenny van
I thought that Gauck was a former pastor, but a pastor knows that the greatest gift at Christmas is the Christchild.
16:50 December 25, 2012 by melbournite
Solidarity for Greece? yet all the official policies particularly target Greek workers, the vulnerable and the social security system. Talk is cheap isnt it, in a world that awards the Obama - Lord of the drones - a peace prize, I'm not surprised by political doublespeak anymore. The economic system we have privleges the strong over the weak, the multinational over the small business, rich countries over poor countries. Thats not an accident - thats what its designed to do. and Gauck knows it
16:52 December 25, 2012 by Deutschguy
Can you please come to the US and make that same speech? Especially in Red States!
19:14 December 25, 2012 by FogFimFoo
Comment removed by The Local for breach of our terms.
20:12 December 25, 2012 by MrNosey
@Berlin fuer alles

You seem to hate Germany and the Germans so much, judging by your comments on threads you post on, that you must be one sad and lonely muppet living a very painful life in the fatherland.
21:40 December 25, 2012 by MattyB
11:35 December 25, 2012 by Berlin fuer alles

You hit the nail on the head with this bit:

Yes tax the rich more. But I fear the idea of taxing the rich is to hit the middle classes and those with a job harder whilst leaving the super elites alone to cream off the top with government help and protect corrupt toxic banks at the expense of the 99% of the population.

Naive individuals like Deutschguy fall for it every time though. They ignore inconvenient truths like this:

http://www.reuters.com/subjects/income-inequality/washington
23:41 December 25, 2012 by Berlin fuer alles
MrNose. I am never lonely with stalkers such as yourself watching my every comment on these forums. Even on Christmas day. Merry Christmas and read all the other comments that seem to more or less go along with my views. At least Germany still allows freedom of speech. Probably something you would like to curtail. :-)
01:01 December 26, 2012 by StoutViking
Here be the full speech, where he declares that the problem in Germany is not the foreigners but the German hostility.

http://youtu.be/GhP9pSZZYb4

I'm a foreigner and I got no idea what's he talking about... Could it be something else?
15:53 December 26, 2012 by Deutschguy
@Matty: It's not me that "falls for it every time", it's you and the folks who need to hear about national solidarity who fall for GOP spin about 'lowering taxes'.

Obama has lowered taxes on 95% of Americans. It's the GOP who is all or nothing on eliminating the Bush tax cuts, which have cost the Treasury billions in needed revenue.

And remember, it was Bush who gave out the first TARP bailout to banks. And he lowered taxes on the wealthy AT THE SAME TIME
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