My First Steps: Talking About Human Rights in Germany

Okay, so here I am. Three months in Berlin, and honestly, I still feel like I’m wading through a very complicated, very beautiful, and sometimes slightly baffling new world. I came here for a job as a translator, which is great, but it’s also thrown me right into the deep end when it comes to, well, everything. And that includes conversations about human rights. It’s not always straightforward, and that’s what I’m trying to figure out.

Initial Confusion – The “Integration” Talk

The first couple of weeks were dominated by the “Integration” conversations. Everywhere I went – the job, the supermarket, even the Kaffeekiosk – people were asking me about how I was settling in. And invariably, it came back to, “Wie läuft es?” (How is it going?) But then someone would say something like, “Ach, die Integration ist schwierig. Man muss sich anpassen!” (Oh, integration is difficult. You have to adapt!).

Honestly, at first, I interpreted that as, ‘Don’t rock the boat. Be polite. Don’t question anything.’ It felt… vague. I remember having a conversation with my colleague, Thomas, and he said, “Wir müssen hier die Gesetze respektieren.” (We have to respect the laws here.) And I nodded, completely clueless about what that really meant in terms of human rights. It didn’t feel like a direct conversation about fairness or equality, just… obedience.

The “Willkommenskultur” – A Mixed Bag

Then I heard about the “Willkommenskultur” – the welcoming culture. This was a big phrase, plastered all over the news and used by the company. But again, it felt… performative. I saw posters saying “Willkommen!” (Welcome!) and people offering help, which was lovely, but I started to realize it didn’t always translate to genuine understanding.

I had a strange experience at the local bakery. I was buying a Brötchen (bread roll) and the woman behind the counter, Frau Schmidt, asked, “Sind Sie aus dem Ausland?” (Are you from abroad?) I answered, “Ja, ich bin aus [my country]”. She said, “Gut! Deutschland ist ein guter Ort, aber man muss sich anpassen. Nicht zu viele Fragen stellen!” (Good! Germany is a good place, but you have to adapt. Don’t ask too many questions!).

It felt dismissive. I wanted to politely push back, to ask why adapting meant not questioning, but I didn’t know how to phrase it correctly. I mumbled something about learning the language and quickly bought my bread.

Learning Key Phrases – Starting to Connect the Dots

It was then I realized I needed to learn more specific phrases. I started with basic things – “Diskriminierung ist falsch.” (Discrimination is wrong.) It felt a little stiff saying it out loud, but it was a start. I also learned phrases like:

• “Ich finde das nicht akzeptabel.” (I don’t find that acceptable.)
• “Das ist nicht fair.” (That’s not fair.)
• “Jeder Mensch hat Rechte.” (Everyone has rights.)

I even practiced saying, “Ich habe eine Frage.” (I have a question) – it felt a little dramatic, but it was useful!

A Real Conversation – A Misunderstanding & Correction

Last week, I was at a volunteer event helping out at a refugee center. There was a discussion about housing allocations, and one of the staff members, a man named Herr Müller, was talking about prioritizing “deutsche Werte” (German values) in the selection process. I instinctively bristled. It sounded like a justification for bias.

I cautiously said in German, “Aber was sind ‘deutsche Werte’ eigentlich?” (But what are ‘German values’ actually?). He launched into a speech about patriotism, respect for authority, and upholding the law. It didn’t feel like a discussion about human rights; it felt like a justification for favoring people who already fit into a certain mold.

Luckily, another volunteer, a young woman named Lena, stepped in. She gently explained, “Es geht darum, dass jeder die gleichen Chancen hat, unabhängig von Herkunft oder Religion. Es geht um Respekt vor allen Menschen.” (It’s about everyone having the same chances, regardless of origin or religion. It’s about respect for all people.)

Lena’s words were a huge relief. It highlighted how easily the phrase could be twisted.

Moving Forward – Small Steps, Big Impact

I’m still learning. I’m still making mistakes. I still get the feeling that conversations about rights are often reduced to platitudes. But I’m armed with a few key phrases, a better understanding of the potential for misinterpretation, and a growing awareness of the importance of speaking up. Even small things, like correctly responding to “Sind Sie aus dem Ausland?” with a clear “Ja, und ich bin hier, um zu lernen und zu respektieren” (Yes, and I am here to learn and to respect), feels like a step in the right direction.

It’s not about being confrontational, it’s about being informed, being engaged, and reminding myself – and others – that human rights aren’t just words; they’re the foundation of a just and equitable society. And honestly, that’s a conversation worth having, in any language.