Our handball players are writing the best story of the year so far: united and determined to achieve great things together. They serve as an example of how difficult tasks could be tackled in a fairytale way.
Of course, a shot into the corner of the goal has nothing to do with politics, a self-sacrificing team has nothing to do with the fight against the right and the best goalkeeper in the world has nothing to do with the state of the traffic light government. On the other hand, do you feel that too? Isn’t there something?
Let’s think about it for a moment: Since 2006, we have been dreaming of a story that inspires all of us in the country as much as this summer fairy tale did back then. This fresh, exciting mix of a sense of home and welcoming culture, love of Germany and cosmopolitanism, diversity and community. The 2024 European Handball Championships and the German national team are like a little reminder of back then. Hardly anyone has yet put black, red and gold covers over their side mirrors on their car. There is no fan mile. Yet. It seems like a winter fairy tale is being created.
There is this team that throws itself together against everything that comes its way. Others may have more momentum, but no one has as much heart, as much unity, as much determination. There is this one big goal that everyone fights for, even if they come from different clubs and otherwise compete bitterly with each other.
That’s the fairytale quality of these stories – 2006 and also a bit of 2024. And that’s exactly where the connection lies: in the story that the handball players are just beginning to make reality on the field, there is the miracle that we also need on two other fields.
We must all stand together against the impending danger from the right, just as the German handball players threw themselves together against the overpowering French or the angry Icelanders. No matter where we come from, where our roots are, and no matter how different our points of view otherwise are: we must stand together against those who dream of deportations again and want to dictate who can be part of our community. But: We are not yet enough and in some places we are no longer a majority.
Video | Streich gives a fiery speech against the right: “It’s five to twelve”
Source: Glomex
Fairy tales are like that. Things always look bleak in the middle. The harder the task, the greater the danger and the harder the resistance, the better the happy ending. Hansel and Gretel were prisoners of the witch. Little Red Riding Hood has even been eaten. Fairy tales are only success stories in the end.
The federal government would have to meet the challenges that Germany is facing with a united front with a decisive policy: the budget holes, the distributional injustice, the climate crisis, the enemies from outside and within. Just like the German handball players are pursuing a plan together to survive at this home European Championship. Guided by someone who shows how it can be done. Supported by someone who has her back. But: The traffic light has neither a Gíslason nor an Andi Wolf.
The German handball players still have to win three “finals” against top opponents before the semi-finals await. All of us who want to stand together against those who died yesterday are threatened by state governments in three eastern German federal states with the participation of the AfD. The traffic light government seems to be too divided, too discouraged and perhaps not competent enough to create solid policies for all of us. In short: things look bleak in the middle section, indeed.
And at this point the handball players show us and the traffic lights what could help us. Fight together instead of against each other. Stand together. Show your face and yes, also a flag. Put the ego aside. Keep an eye on the big picture and be prepared to give it your all. Until the happy ending. Just believing in a fairy tale. Or three.