By Pauline von Pezold
When Deborah Richter (31) walks past the bulletin board in her apartment building on the way to walk the dog, she can’t believe her eyes. There is a piece of paper asking people to take down their German flag from the balcony.
“Dear 2nd floor, front building, right. We would be very happy if you could take down your German flag!” is written on the note. And further: “Fortunately, the days of German national pride are over and unfortunately they send very wrong signals these days, especially in Berlin and especially in Wedding.”
With this letter on the house notice, Deborah Richter is asked to take down the German flag. Richter himself added his disappointment in the manner of communication in a handwritten note Photo: Sven Meissner
She doesn’t know which neighbors wrote the note. “The person didn’t seek the conversation, but rather denounced it directly on the bulletin board in our house – the message could have been put in my mailbox,” says Deborah Richter angrily.
She believes it is wrong that German flags are immediately associated with right-wing sentiments. “The flag is intended as a freedom flag. “Especially in the 1948 revolution, it was considered a flag for unity and freedom,” she explains her balcony decorations.
Deborah Richter doesn’t think the flag on her balcony is misunderstood national pride Photo: Sven Meissner
“In recent years it has been used more and more by radical forces and I find that a great shame. I think the more ‘normal’ people hang the flag on their house wall, the more the flag will lose its stamp – we already did that during the World Cup,” she says.
For the 31-year-old, one thing is certain: the flag remains.