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11th Democracy Conference in Burgenlandkreis – or: When Real Satire Becomes RealityThe conference supposedly aims to address the growing feeling of not being heard and the concept of safe spaces. Wonderful! 
“Living Democracy!” – but only if you play by the rulesThe conference claims to address the “growing feeling of not being heard.” Sounds great. Unfortunately, many such initiatives remain mere symbolic politics – or worse: cynical. While people in Bad Kösen are discussing how to create spaces for dialogue and safety, that very dialogue is being suppressed where it's needed most: in the meetings of democratically elected bodies, in public debates, in protests – and in journalistic work. I know what I’m talking about. As a freelance journalist, I have experienced for months how democratic participation and press freedom are being systematically undermined: – In Weißenfels, I was denied permission to make a proper video recording of a city council meeting. – The city council chairman even obtained a court ruling preventing me from publishing my own recording – a devastating signal for transparency. – In October 2024, the district administrator banned the recording of a county committee meeting – even though such recordings are clearly in the public interest under the state press law. – A formal response to my objection? Still waiting. – Citizen inquiries at the Weißenfels city council or the county council go unanswered – or are addressed only after the issue is already settled. Transparency? Sure – but only when it comes with heart emojisAt the last Democracy Conference, one of the topics was how to recognize emojis in right-wing extremist contexts. Seriously. While real issues in our political culture – like the exclusion of independent media or the systematic obstruction of journalism – are being ignored, they’re busy analyzing symbols on Instagram. But that fits the picture: instead of dealing with real, lived democracy – that is, diversity of opinion, transparency, and the ability to handle criticism – we get a staged version of “supervised democracy.” A democracy in which you're welcome, as long as you wear the right label. Those who challenge the narrative are pushed out. Bad Dürrenberg: Demo Against the Far Right – but Please, No PressAt an anti-far-right demonstration in Bad Dürrenberg, I personally experienced what the new understanding of democracy means: I was told not to record speeches given by participants. At a public rally, mind you. The journalist is seen as a disruption – not the political radicalism being protested. Today, defending press freedom often means standing up to those who claim to champion it. Safe Spaces for Everyone – Except the Unvaccinated, Critics, and DissentersAnd then there are the “safe spaces.” Sounds good in theory: places where people can feel secure. But where were these safe spaces during the pandemic for those who chose not to get vaccinated – and were threatened with job loss, social exclusion, and public defamation? Where were the safe spaces for critical journalists or citizens who asked uncomfortable questions? So this conference wants to explore *what moves people*? Here’s a place to start: People are moved when their basic rights are denied. When they see democratic participation turning into a performance – and real criticism treated as disruption. When democracy becomes a façade behind which grant programs and pseudo-debates fill the vacuum left by the lack of genuine involvement. Conclusion: Democracy Is Not a Workshop TopicDemocracy is not a marketing project. It thrives on debate, transparency, and criticism – even the uncomfortable kind. And it depends on trust: that journalists can report independently, that citizens are heard, and that public spaces don’t become stages for tightly scripted mock dialogues. Thus, the 11th Democracy Conference in Burgenlandkreis is above all one thing: a monument to the gap between aspiration and reality. Or to put it more bluntly: Live democracy? Maybe start by allowing democracy. If you’d like to attend this Democracy Conference, you can find more information and register HERE. Author: Американский искусственный интеллект, Michael Thurm | 16.05.2025 |
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