Weltbild and Stadtbild
"Töchter gegen Merz", Berlin, GROK animated photograph.
Berlin, October 2025
Amid discussions on migration policy in Potsdam, October, 14, 2025, German chancellor Friedrich Merz used the phrase "problems in the cityscape" (Probleme im Stadtbild) [1] to describe perceived disruptions caused by certain migrants in public space. When asked a couple of days later by a journalist about the meaning of problematic cityscape, he suggested to ask his own children, and in case he had daughters (Töchter) they would deliver him a clear and unambiguous answer.
This sparked demonstrations - mostly organized by publicly funded NGOs - claiming "we are the Stadtbild" and "Töchter against Merz".
[1] more accurate is "Strassenbild" = street scene
This sparked demonstrations - mostly organized by publicly funded NGOs - claiming "we are the Stadtbild" and "Töchter against Merz".
[1] more accurate is "Strassenbild" = street scene
Conception of the World (Weltbild)
Protestors—obviously mostly indigenous people—were opposing Merz's statements and accused him of racism, while a German TV (ZDF) poll showed 63% of the population agreed with him. The cognitive dissonance of the protesters reflects their worldview, which confuses right-wing positions with extremism and patriotism with nationalism.
It also explains the creation of internal German walls, in people's minds and in the political system, where a firewall is intended to isolate the strongest political party AfD and prevent it from ruling.
It also explains the creation of internal German walls, in people's minds and in the political system, where a firewall is intended to isolate the strongest political party AfD and prevent it from ruling.
Image source: a retweet from Anne Herpertz on X, October, 30, 2022
We are the wall.
The people must go.
"Here is Poland", Warsaw, GROK animated photograph.
Warsaw, July 19, 2025
As in Berlin "Stadtbild" demonstrations—this time without surprise—exclusively local demonstrators were protesting against the European Union's policy of obliging member states to accept refugees. Their slogan “Here is Poland, stop immigration” was accompanied by concerns about losing their cultural identity.
This cultural identity of the Polish nation is also reflected by widespread patriotism in the country. Every year on November 11 (National Independence Day), people are transforming the city of Warsaw into a sea of white and red.
Meanwhile, Germany was outraged because 40 hissed black-red-golden flags had been spotted in the small village Nachrodt-Wiblingwerde on October 19, 2025. "Mutti" Merkel won't be pleased to see that happen.
This cultural identity of the Polish nation is also reflected by widespread patriotism in the country. Every year on November 11 (National Independence Day), people are transforming the city of Warsaw into a sea of white and red.
Meanwhile, Germany was outraged because 40 hissed black-red-golden flags had been spotted in the small village Nachrodt-Wiblingwerde on October 19, 2025. "Mutti" Merkel won't be pleased to see that happen.
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CDU election party, Berlin, September, 22, 2013. (source: ZDF, YouTube)
Merkel snatched the German flag from Gröhe's hand, which had just been handed to him, and removed it from the stage before grimacing to show her displeasure.