Gerhart Baum, German Politician and Former Interior Minister, Urges Defense of Democracy Amid Anti-democratic Tendencies
On the 80th anniversary of the destruction of Dresden in World War II, Gerhart Baum, a prominent German politician and former Interior Minister, issued a clarion call for the defense of democracy in the face of rising anti-democratic trends.
"Regrettably, these tendencies have also cast a dubious light on my hometown, Dresden, in recent years," said the 92-year-old Baum. "It is therefore all the more crucial that the majority of our citizens firmly believe in democracy and civil rights, stand together, rise up, and fight."
"Let us be courageous, let us act!" he implored.
Baum painted a grave picture of the current situation, warning that enemies of freedom are attempting to establish a new world order that disregards human rights. "Fires are raging all over the world," he said. "Humankind is drifting away from the bright light of the Enlightenment into the darkness of despotism."
Long-forgotten debates, he lamented, are resurfacing, with the most alarming being the nonchalant approach to racism, anti-Semitism, and xenophobia.
"We democrats were too slow to recognize these signs," Baum confessed. "It is high time we wake up." Society must grasp the magnitude of what is at stake.
"We stand at an epochal turning point! We must rethink our future and redefine what progress means for a new era. We must confront our fears, for fear is the insidious demon that undermines a free society!"
Baum emphasized the importance of a resilient democracy that refuses to allow a liberal constitution to be used as a tool for its own demise. "We must resist," he declared, "and demonstrate once again that Germans are capable of upholding democracy."
As a 12-year-old, Baum miraculously survived the Dresden bombings of February 13th and 14th, 1945, alongside his mother and siblings. The memory of that traumatic event, he said, remains etched in his soul and serves as a driving force.
"Dresden remains a pivotal reference point for me, a symbol of a past we must never forget in order to prevent its recurrence, and a symbol of hope for a life lived in a democracy that values human dignity."
Baum’s stirring appeal for democratic vigilance resonated with the commemoration of the Dresden bombings. The city, once reduced to rubble, has since emerged as a vibrant cultural hub. However, it has also become a flashpoint for far-right extremism, highlighting the enduring threat that anti-democratic forces pose in modern-day Germany.
In the face of such challenges, Baum’s message is more poignant than ever: "Remember the past, defend democracy, and secure a future worthy of the human spirit."
