NachgefragtLuxemburger in den USA erzählen, wie sich das Leben in Amerika zurzeit anfühlt (Teil 2)

Den George Zens, Joergang 1962, wunnt zanter 20 Joer an den USA. Néiergelooss huet sech de Mann vun Iermsdref bei Dikrech bei der Stad Madison am Wisconsin. Hie gëtt do d’Zeitung „Middleton Review“ eraus.

Léift Tageblatt, ech muss virausschécken, dass ech bei Madison am Wisconsin wunnen, a meng Erfahrunge sech wierklech nëmmen op d’Géigend hei beschränken. D’USA, dat ass quasi e Kontinent, an d’Attitüden wéi och d’Situatioune variéiere staark vun engem Bundestaat zum aneren, an dat maachen se souguer och innerhalb vun de Staaten.

Dass erëm ee Schwaarzen duerch Polizeigewalt stierft, konnt ee ganz sécher virausgesinn. Dat geschitt all Dag. Et geschitt och all Dag, dass Wäisser a Latäinamerikaner duerch Polizeigewalt stierwen, wat awer ganz seelen zu Protester féiert. Wéi de Video vum George Floyd senger Verhaftung a sengem Doud bis duerch den Internet verbreet ginn ass, war et och zimlech sécher, dass et zu Demonstratioune géif kommen.

Iwwerrascht huet mech awer, op wéi ville Plazen et Demonstratioune gouf, an och, wéi vill randaléiert a futti gemaach gouf, och hei zu Madison.

Wat deen „alldeegleche Rassismus“ ugeet, weess ech net, wéi evident deen ass. Hei, wou ech liewen, mierken ech näischt dovun. Mee als wäisse Lëtzebuerger, deen an enger ganz liberaler Géigend wunnt, sinn ech och net gutt placéiert, fir dat ze jugéieren. Ech liewen déi alldeeglech Experienze vu Schwaarzen net, a ka se deemno och net novollzéien.

Wat d’Zukunft vun den USA betrëfft, sinn ech zimlech positiv an optimistesch. D’USA sinn e grousst Land mat enger heterogener Gesellschaft, déi sech aus villen Ethnien zesummesetzt. Mat ville soziale Changementer, déi zimlech séier geschéien, a mat engem zolitten historesche Bagage duerch d’Sklaverei.

Mee an den USA gëlt d’Meenungsfräiheet vill méi wéi an deene meeschten anere Länner, an d’Bierger hu vill Afloss op d’Politik, besonnesch op lokalem Niveau. D’politesch Situatioun gesäit oft chaotesch aus, mee dat ass zu engem gudden Deel, well déi sech vill an aller Ëffentlechkeet ofspillt. De wirtschaftlechen a soziale Progrès hëlt och vill Ëmweeër, mee lues, awer sécher geet at awer virun.

Patrick Johanns, a „Beetebuerger Bouf“, was born in 1968, and is living already for a while now in Jefferson City, Missouri. Johanns is an independent entrepreneur in the gastronomy business.

I moved to Jefferson City, the capital of Missouri, in 2002 and have raised my three children here. My children and I come and visit „Lëtzebuerg“ frequently and there are two reasons why. Reason number one is the family connection. Reason number two is to live and be reminded of the cultural and social difference between the USA and Luxembourg.
There has always been a big gap between a country based on social christian principles and capitalism. Having lived in the US under three different presidents has taught me valuable life lessons from active wars, social welfare cuts, people kicked off their health insurance to mass shootings, and the list goes on and on.

However, what we are witnessing now is unprecedented. As the world has seen the footage of the unarmed George Floyd being murdered by a police officer in Minneapolis with fellow policemen looking away one most ask himself how did we come to this place in this country.

Let me be very clear, racism in the USA has always been there and will always be there. On a daily basis we witness acts of racism everywhere, be it in the school yard to the workplace, sports events to shopping malls. During my 18 years here, racist acts of violence have always happened but now there is one difference.

Previous presidents, whether democrat or republican, have immediately denounced acts of racism and violence against such but since 2016 the USA has a president that not only doesn’t denounce it but worse so, he encourages it and with his public statements gives a voice to the dark side of evil racism.

A few days ago the governor of Missouri has declared the state of emergency for the entire state. After being ordered to stay at home during the Covid-19 crisis now people are asked to stay at home again. The main protests are happening in the larger cities of St. Louis and Kansas City with a predominantly larger population of black oppressed people.

What started as peaceful protests turned fast into a bloodshed with many arrests. While people were protesting to raise awareness of police brutality and social inequality the president announced via Twitter that he will deploy the National Guard and use armed forces to gain control instead of announcing an investigation and assuring the country that they will reform the police department and their actions. By doing so, he poured gasoline onto the fire.

The result is well known. Many dead bodies on both sides and no end in sight. Police officers were shot, people beaten to death but the media focuses only on the headlines. The conservative media only talk about the looting and is trying to deflect the situation. While looting and stealing is certainly wrong one asks himself why people are doing it.

One answer stands out that at this moment. These oppressed people have a voice right now in the media and are showing their way of racial victimization and social injustice they are living under. While the USA is dominated by capitalism and corporations run the country one must know that exactly these people are frustrated that they still are making a minimum wage dating back to the 1970’s. They are seeing capitalism from the worst side and are showing their way of taking back of what they have been deprived from. Working multiple jobs and still not earning enough to raise a family.
Our hometown Jefferson City, a medium income conservative city of nearly 40.000 people, has had silent protests as well. Although there were no casualties so far one should not be surprised when it happens. Two out of three people are carrying a weapon these days, and with the current situation people are over sensitive and pull the trigger quickly.

This situation will hang around for a while especially in this upcoming presidential election unless this president will find it in himself to bring both sides together. One thing is for sure: that the USA need a Uniter and not a Divider to control racism.