The now infamous open letter by & #39;intellectuals & artists& #39; calling on #Germany to stop supporting #Ukraine [&, effectively, for https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🇺🇦" title="Vlag van Oekraïne" aria-label="Emoji: Vlag van Oekraïne">& #39;s capitulation to #Russia] is very revealing. As well as being patronising as hell & totally wrong I think its shows something else too ... 1/

Many of us have been truly inspired by #Ukraine& #39;s incredible struggle to survive, but for others it seems that this rare show of courage, & decency and the valiant defence of country, values, rights & ideals is deeply troubling. Why? ...2/
#Emma #Germany https://www.dw.com/en/war-in-ukraine-how-do-people-drum-up-courage/a-61076295">https://www.dw.com/en/war-in...

Because it shines a light on their own unwillingness to do so. It threatens to reveal the deep cowardice, cynicism & selfish will for an easy life (never mind the suffering of others or the lost potential for progress at home) that is all too common ... 3/
#Emma #Germany

This is combined with a massive superiority complex & the need to be recognised as superior by others. Its deeply ingrained, cherished & is fundamentally threatened by Ukraine& #39;s courageous fight, which shows many Europeans what they would not be willing to do themselves 4/
#Emma

Like the obnoxious complaints (in #Germany but also around Western Europe & in the Brussels bubble) about #Ukraine& #39;s "excessive nationalism" - supposedly incompatible with the #EU & & #39;European values& #39; - & #39;We& #39;ve overcome all that nasty outdated stuff - but look [down] at them. 5/

It& #39;s a way of reinforcing this facade of superiority, but its haunted by the recognition that they themselves would not undertake this struggle & have, in too many ways, given in to cynicism about (geo)politics, ideals & progress more widely. 6/
#EmmaRose https://www.independent.ie/regionals/wexford/lifestyle/ukrainian-peoples-stunning-bravery-is-an-example-for-the-entire-world-41396109.html">https://www.independent.ie/regionals...

Its that attitude of false superiority & patronising selfishness, combined with a lack of will to actually fight (metaphorically & literally) for progress - or to spread its benefits more widely - that is the real danger to #Germany & #Europe& #39;s future not - WW3. 7/
#Emma /7

We have to challenge this attitude & make sure it doesn& #39;t guide our policy -on the war, on reconstructing & integrating #Ukraine & in our own societies. False superiority won& #39;t get us anywhere. Let us be inspired byhttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🇺🇦" title="Vlag van Oekraïne" aria-label="Emoji: Vlag van Oekraïne"> & let us act in way that again genuinely inspires others. /end