The way to freedom is bordered with sunflowers
I’m Ting Ting, a half chinese and half korean girl living in Germany. We teenagers think we are invincible because we are. I know for a fact that everyone, especially in school, has stuff in their past they’re not proud of. But that’s what being in high school is all about. We learn to be better people.
This text defines solidarity. For me solidarity is about believing in Something with a capital S, courage and empathy. It’s about helping each other. It‘s also about topics like feminism, LGBTQ, climate change and Europe and how it affects everyone.
Dear friends,
Although we live in the 21 st century, we are still not in an emancipated society. I wonder how it can be that women still don’t get the same wages as men-for the same work. Feminism is very close to my heart and I want to fight with you for a community where all people have equal opportunities.
People help people, we speak courage to each other. It’s okay not to feel okay, but afterwards should be able to get up with the knowledge that you are okay as you are, because in the end we are all the same, whether thick or thin, poor or rich, black, white or Asian, gay, lesbian, bi, trans or inter.
Unfortunately, a white rose also casts a shadow. Young people are afraid to come out for fear of being despised at school. There is still a lot of hatred and homophobia against the LGBTQ community. Some people still think being like that would not be okay or even make fun of them and of using the gender star. We urgently need training to become sensitive, so that young people who are still very susceptible to influence are not manipulated by the wrong upbringing at home or in their immediate environment by friends or in school. For a colourful, diverse and a common Germany!
Cohesion. Solidarity is human. Solidarity means being there for each other. To hold together for the “we” and not to act against each other. Empathy makes us people who feel. The path to freedom is bordered with sunflowers. In this sense let us fight together for our values.
Adults often look at us young people with a mocking smile and say we think we are invincible. This is true because we are invincible as long as we believe in Something with a capital S. Most of us just exist. Life means more than that. It is what could be and what we could make it.
We need commitment, perseverance and courage to fight for our values so that people can believe in a better future. So that they can count on us and hold on us, especially in times when racist and homophobia is so strongly felt. You have to dare. You have to be able to take risks in order to achieve something. We should not let ourselves be held back but we can stop the clima crisis.
We do not deny global warming, but act so that the weakest of us do not have to suffer as a result. Over 50 island states are threatening to sink and animal species are also dying out. We must do something about this before it is perhaps too late tomorrow.
The European elections are approaching us and I am looking forward to working together for a fairer, more tolerant, open, strong and green Europe with perspectives for everyone, regardless of origin, skin colour, gender or whom we love because only together can we confidently face the challenges of our time.
There are no problems, only challenges!
The city is our home. Europe is our future.
Yours, Ting Ting
