The young and lost Kurdish generation in Germany
Rejection, acceptance and recognition… That is a normal path for most young people striving for success, especially for a first or second generation immigrant in a new culture. Examining the Kurdish youth in Germany one sees a bitter realization — an inferiority complex.
Their parents’ home is the priority for these lost youth. The term "lost" fits well, because this generation is neither accepted by the Kurdish society nor can it find its way in German society. They cannot fully develop in both societies and thus fall by the wayside. Shockingly, some are even students or academics who are yet to find the right balance between the two cultures.
Even more confusing is part of these people are born or have lived in Germany most of their lives. Unfortunately they wait in vain for "accolades" in Kurdish society and want to be praised for their thoughts. In principle, this only indicates that an individual has never improved their life and is still looking for recognition. What is obvious is why so many young Kurds reject the society in where they actually live. German social structures are knitted differently than Kurdish. For example, not everyone screams at petty things and neither are they quick to sing a hymn of praise, so many Kurdish youth turn to the tried and tested culture of their parents.
Life revolves around politics 24/7 in Germany. But when you ask Kurdish youth the name of their member of the Bundestag (federal parliament) or Landtag (state legislature), many often do not know how German electoral law works, how to shape an open, pluralistic society, or how to analyze politics.
Then you come across those who are seemingly in outer space. Those who sympathize with left- and right-wing extremist groups might as well be ideologically blind. Anyone who demonstrates on German streets merely calling this “politics” overestimates the importance of a protest. The great motivation of the youth is lost with the ebb and flow of the latest social issue. The youth often lack the structure needed to learn party politics, which is how you most directly effect change in the German political structure.
The great topic of “family honour” takes them socially and culturally into centuries past. Often the term is a way to prescribe rules for women. Only those who are afraid of women will oppress them. Every woman has the right to choose her partner. It is incompatible with modern German society that parents or other family members want to push a woman into an arranged marriage.
Kurds should not forget their roots, but should be open to German culture — you can only benefit from it. Not everybody is born to be a politician, and not everything should be about politics, but we should not hate other nations, instead strive to achieve success in society as German Kurd.
The exaggeration of the parents' culture is a phenomenon similar to nepotism: they get acceptance, they do not have to face rejection, and directly get a more important position. This "puppet of society" gives up everything in order never to lose this feeling. Ultimately, this is just a cry for help from a lost generation that is eaten up by an inferiority complex.
Salahdin Koban is a member of Germany's CDU Party. He was the first German-Kurd to run as a candidate in a German Federal Election, 2017. He is member of the German Israeli Group and Republicans Overseas in Germany. His main field is foreign policy.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rudaw.