Merkel says German multicultural society has failed

[hajduk]

In a speech to supporters, Chancellor Angela Merkel said Saturday that multiculturalism in Germany has not met with success. She stressed that immigrants must learn to speak German and integrate into German society.
Attempts to build a multicultural society in Germany have "utterly failed," according to Chancellor Angela Merkel.

"This approach has failed, utterly failed," said Merkel, head of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), in a speech to the party's young people's association in Potsdam on Saturday. She added that not enough was done in the past to support the movement. "The failures of the last 30 or 40 years cannot be resolved so quickly," she said.

The comments followed a similar speech from Christian Social Union (CSU) chief Horst Seehofer, sister party to the CDU, who on Friday evening declared his party's stance against multiculturalism. "Multiculturalism is dead," he said, to great applause.

Seehofer's comments were criticized by Stephan Kramer, the general secretary of the Central Council of Jews. In an interview with the Rheinpfalz am Sonntag newspaper, he said the idea that immigrants from Turkey and other Arabic countries found it harder to integrate was "not just tactless, but downright irresponsible."

German-speaking migrants still welcome

CSU chief Horst SeehoferBildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Seehofer's comments were met with great support

In her speech, Merkel stressed that immigrants must learn to speak German in order to be able to compete on the job market. "Anyone who does not immediately speak German is not welcome," she said. "Those who want to take part [in our society] must not only obey our laws, they must also master our language."

Merkel, however, underscored the continued importance of immigration to Germany and the job market, especially highly-skilled migrants, and not just migrants who would place a burden on the country's social system.

She pointed out that every year, 200,000 Germans retired and left the job market, and weren't replaced – which could lead to companies leaving Germany due to labor shortages.

Merkel said, however, that older German workers should not be overlooked in favor of immigrant laborers, adding that immigrants should not be considered "until we have done all we can to help our own people to become qualified and give them a chance."

Merkel said immigrants already living in Germany must do more to integrate into German society, recalling recent comments by President Christian Wulff. Two weeks ago, in a speech to mark 20 years of German unity, Wulff said Islam was now a part of Germany.

"[Islam] is a part of Germany – this is evident, and not just with soccer player [Mesut] Oezil," she said, referring to the Turkish-born member of Germany's national team.

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,6118859,00.html

[poiuytrewq0987]

More should be done to help Turks and other immigrants to integrate and become German by the ways of teaching German culture and language.

[Svanhild]

More should be done to help Turks and other immigrants to integrate and become German by the ways of teaching German culture and language.

Assimiliation is slow genocide. We need to get rid of them. Truth be told, I don't want them integrated. I want them out.

[la bombe]

I love when politicians point out the obvious as if it's some profound revelation.

However, this is still depressing:

"[Islam] is a part of Germany – this is evident, and not just with soccer player [Mesut] Oezil," she said, referring to the Turkish-born member of Germany's national team.

[Loki]

Seehofer's comments were criticized by Stephan Kramer, the general secretary of the Central Council of Jews.

Haven't they learnt their lesson yet?

[jerney]

I love when politicians point out the obvious as if it's some profound revelation.

However, this is still depressing:

It's not depressing because it's untrue. Islam will never be "a part of" Germany. The second it does become a part of German culture is when the culture fails to be German.

[Eldritch]

Haven't they learnt their lesson yet?

Who's that? The Jews or the Germans?

Now that's something that stinks to high heaven: a Jew who wants more Turks and Arabs in Germany.

[Saruman]

Who's that? The Jews or the Germans?

Now that's something that stinks to high heaven: a Jew who wants more Turks and Arabs in Germany.

It seems rather when it's Jew vs Arab/Turk, Jews are vicious, but when it's Middle eastern vs European, Jews are allergic to Europeans. Similar to Europeans who fight amongst themselves but form(ed) a front to non-europeans, these have their inter Middle-eastern conflicts while being in the same trench when it comes to Europeans. And in comparison to Europeans, sadly, this ME solidarity is often greater than European solidarity.

[Groenewolf]

Merkel now saying multiculturalism is death, when a few weeks ago she said that Islam is part of German culture and Germans have to accept that situation. And now she is calling for that Muslims integrate. Make up your mind. Or just say openly you want them here and will support no program to make them re-migrate. And also say the real reason you want them here and not some excuses.

It seems rather when it's Jew vs Arab/Turk, Jews are vicious, but when it's Middle eastern vs European, Jews are allergic to Europeans.

Almost sound like an old Arab saying I once read somewhere : Me against my brother, we both against our cousin, we all against the stranger.

[Austin]

This is easily the most right leaning thing the BBC has ever posted on their news site. Thought it had been hacked at first =)