Merkel faced with weeping refugee girl on TV

[lego 44,165]

Chancellor Angela Merkel was almost lost for words on Wednesday when a Palestinian girl among a group of schoolchildren she was meeting confronted her about the fact that she and her family were close to being deported from Germany.

 

“It's really difficult to see that others are really able to enjoy their lives and you yourself can't enjoy it with them,” Reem told the Chancellor as she explained that her hopes of studying in Germany would be crushed if she were forced to leave.

 

The young Palestinian girl added that she's been studying at the Paul-Friedrich-Scheel school in Rostock for four years and learned fluent German and English – not to mention a little Swedish.

 

But her family is in limbo as her father – a welder – can't work on the temporary residency permit they have been issued.

 

 

“I have goals like everyone else. [Studying] is really a wish and a goal that I would like to reach,” Reem said.

 

“I understand, and yet I have to... politics is sometimes hard,” Merkel, visibly caught off-balance in a session that was supposed to focus on “living well in Germany”, blustered in response. “Of course you are an extremely nice person...”

 

 

But the Chancellor soon collected herself for the watching television cameras, launching into a defence of German refugee policy to please the crowd at home.

 

“You know, in the Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon there are thousands and thousands [of people]. If we now say 'you can all come,' and 'you can all come from Africa,' and 'you can all come,' we just can't manage that," she said.

 

As Reem began to cry shortly afterwards, Merkel stepped forward to stroke her hair, saying, “but you did a great job”.

 

“I don't think it's about doing a good job but the fact that it's a very difficult situation, Madam Chancellor,” the presenter interjected.

 

“I know that it's a difficult situation,” Merkel shot back. “That's why I want to comfort her, because we don't want to bring all of you into such situations and because you are having a difficult time, because you've shown for a lot of other people what situations you can end up in...”

 

Merkel has come in for widespread criticism and mockery online for her handling of the unexpected encounter under the Twitter hashtag #merkelstreichelt (Merkel strokes).

 

"If you have the problem that you think Angela Merkel is too nice, watch this video and look out for the final phrases," left-wing commentator Sascha Lobo wrote.

"Christian, scientist, politician. But failed rhetorically and as a human on all fronts," another user judged.

"Explaining to a young girl on live camera that her fate doesn't matter to you - just shameful," wrote Jan Schnorrenberg, manager of the opposition Green party's youth wing.

 

 

Merkel's PR team appeared to make the problem worse on Thursday when they described the encounter for the "Living Well in Germany" website.

 

Government flacks wrote that Reem had burst into tears "out of great agitation" after Merkel explained the government's plan to introduce an accelerated asylum procedure to her.

 

Twitter users were particularly angry that the release ended with the words "everyone applauded one another after 90 minutes of lively discussion".

 

"Merkel could have shaken off the video. But the PR report from her hacks about it? Probably not," wrote blogger René Walter.

It looks like he's right, as Merkel's failure to comfort Reem accounted for the top three Twitter trends in Germany on Thursday morning.

 

http://www.thelocal.de/20150716/merkel-brings-palestinian-child-to-tears

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/angela-merkel-makes-palestinian-girl-facing-deportation-from-germany-cry-on-television-10393719.html

[Melech 9,900]

Germany already takes the most refugees in the Western World but I think we should take even more. 

I think every politican would have act the same way though. 

 

 

“I know that it's a difficult situation,” Merkel shot back. “That's why I want to comfort her, because we don't won't to bring all of you into such situations and because you are having a difficult time, because you've shown for a lot of other people what situations you can end up in..." 

That was wrong translated. She said "We don't want to bring you in such situations". 

Please correct that.

[Phoenix 17,395]

This whole situation is so bad but the fact that her PR team tried that is even worse.

[lego 44,165]

Germany already takes the most refugees in the Western World but I think we should take even more. 

I think every politican would have act the same way though. 

 

 

“I know that it's a difficult situation,” Merkel shot back. “That's why I want to comfort her, because we don't won't to bring all of you into such situations and because you are having a difficult time, because you've shown for a lot of other people what situations you can end up in..." 

That was wrong translated. She said "We don't want to bring you in such situations". 

Please correct that.

I corrected but that part doesn't change anything.

 

"Germany already takes the most" doesn't really explain or justify this situation.

This girl cannot go back to her home country, but to a refugee camp and she wasted 4 years of studying German. Merkel sounds pretty heartless.

[Melech 9,900]

I corrected but that part doesn't change anything.

 

"Germany already takes the most" doesn't really explain or justify this situation.

This girl cannot go back to her home country, but to a refugee camp and she wasted 4 years of studying German. Merkel sounds pretty heartless.

I'm in favor of people like that girl staying in Germany! 

It's not that Merkel is heartless. (Well maybe she is) It's the political world that is heartless in Europe,American,Middle East and elsewhere in the world. The economy is more worth than human lives for politicians. Sad, but also the truth. 

BTW that girl speaks without an accent. When I see her talking and her acting I'd totally say she is German. 

[lego 44,165]

I'm in favor of people like that girl staying in Germany! 

It's not that Merkel is heartless. (Well maybe she is) It's the political world that is heartless in Europe,American,Middle East and elsewhere in the world. The economy is more worth than human lives for politicians. Sad, but also the truth. 

I don't understand when politicians say "we should take more refugees" but then people like this, who obviously integrated, face deportation for some stupid reason. "It's politics..." it's just cruel imo.

[Melech 9,900]

I don't understand when politicians say "we should take more refugees" but then people like this, who obviously integrated, face deportation for some stupid reason. "It's politics..." it's just cruel imo.

It is. It's cruel. People like that girl (and probably her family) are well integrated in our society. I mean she speaks without an accent German. 

Merkel already getting huge backlash in Germany. 

[Giorno Giovanna 3,178]

i think it is mean how they bring Merkel in such a situation, what is she supposed to do? say "yes little girl you can stay here" would result in others demanding this same equal procedure, staying here.

If she says no then she becomes the bad mean one rejecting a little girl.

 

I think it is not a solution if all refugees come here, it doesn't solve the problem by its roots, it is just an instant "pain killer" but not  a long term solution.

 

The problems should be solved by all people changing their own country. Finding "energy withtin themselves" rather than seeking shelter elsewhere and thus "sucking other's energy". This is just meant as a metaphor. I mean if they would all just be one huge group and cooperating together, with peace and love in mind rather than violence...they could change sooo much.

[Dolev 867]

i think it is mean how they bring Merkel in such a situation, what is she supposed to do? say "yes little girl you can stay here" would result in others demanding this same equal procedure, staying here.

If she says no then she becomes the bad mean one rejecting a little girl.

 

I think it is not a solution if all refugees come here, it doesn't solve the problem by its roots, it is just an instant "pain killer" but not  a long term solution.

 

The problems should be solved by all people changing their own country. Finding "energy withtin themselves" rather than seeking shelter elsewhere and thus "sucking other's energy". This is just meant as a metaphor. I mean if they would all just be one huge group and cooperating together, with peace and love in mind rather than violence...they could change sooo much.

agreed.

I get where the refugees are coming from but its simply impossible to bring everyone in.

[lego 44,165]

i think it is mean how they bring Merkel in such a situation, what is she supposed to do? say "yes little girl you can stay here" would result in others demanding this same equal procedure, staying here.

If she says no then she becomes the bad mean one rejecting a little girl.

 

I think it is not a solution if all refugees come here, it doesn't solve the problem by its roots, it is just an instant "pain killer" but not  a long term solution.

 

The problems should be solved by all people changing their own country. Finding "energy withtin themselves" rather than seeking shelter elsewhere and thus "sucking other's energy". This is just meant as a metaphor. I mean if they would all just be one huge group and cooperating together, with peace and love in mind rather than violence...they could change sooo much.

umm she doesn't have own country and can't change anything.

You can convert tomorrow to a certain religion and get right to move to, what used to be her country. You can get citizenship and all the rights. She's forever a refugee with no right to return.

The solution is maybe for Germany and other Western countries to stop arming and supporting a country which is occupying hers. And to support 2 state solution and help rebuild it.

 

[Supersonic 49,376]

Taking in more refugees and encouraging them to become German citizens would GREATLY benefit our society. Even in an economic sense, since we won't be able to pay social security anymore due to demographic changes and having more retired senior citizens than people working.

While I think that being somewhat knowledgable in German history and fluent in German should be a requirement for citizenship, obtaining it is WAY TOO HARD and way too expensive.

[Melech 9,900]

umm she doesn't have own country and can't change anything.

You can convert tomorrow to a certain religion and get right to move to, what used to be her country. You can get citizenship and all the rights. She's forever a refugee with no right to return.

The solution is maybe for Germany and other Western countries to stop arming and supporting a country which is occupying hers. And to support 2 state solution and help rebuild it.

 

Don't bring your Israel hate now in, please. That girl stands now for every refugee in Germany and they are by far not all Palestinians.

(Btw: you just can't convert to Judaism)  

[lego 44,165]

Don't bring your Israel hate now in, please. That girl stands now for every refugee in Germany and they are by far not all Palestinians.

(Btw: you just can't convert to Judaism)  

lol of course you can. The process might be longer but you can. 

You might not be on the "same level" as those with ethnically Jewish mother, but you can still become a Jew.

It's not hate, those are facts. This girl's situation is not the same as any other refugee's whose country was once in state of war and now it's all fine. 

[Melech 9,900]

lol of course you can. The process might be longer but you can. 

You might not be on the "same level" as those with ethnically Jewish mother, but you can still become a Jew.

It's not hate, those are facts. This girl's situation is not the same as any other refugee's whose country was once in state of war and now it's all fine. 

The conversion takes years (if you are allowed to). Not as you said "tomorrow".

You are seriously trying to derail that thread in to Israel-Palestine conflict now? 

 

[lego 44,165]

The conversion takes years (if you are allowed to). Not as you said "tomorrow".

You are seriously trying to derail that thread in to Israel-Palestine conflict now? 

 

It's a figure of speech. And it's not exactly yearS either. You can still convert and emigrate, while this girl can't.

I'm not derailing, you are. I replied to a user saying what should be a solution to this and it doesn't apply in this girl's case.