Because of its own history, Germany today places great value on international openness. Intercultural learning is a firm fixture in all German schools – and rightly so! Germans know how to appreciate the diversity of people. And every child enjoys the world being colourful and their friends telling all sorts of different stories. Community here is not founded on an ethnic basis, but is experienced as friendship and solidarity. Germany has welcomed many people from other countries and offered them particularly good opportunities for integration. A society of migration is a reality and offers many positive possibilities.
It's not just in recent years that people from other countries have been welcomed in Germany. Guest workers from Italy came to Germany and brought pizza with them. Turkish families were taken in and provided people with many small goods or even with döner dishes. And people also came to Germany from many other countries and brought things with them that are now completely normal parts of the country's culture. This culture is not a rigid German "Leitkultur" (leading culture).
It is a multicultural society in which many different people live together. The Basic Law applies to everyone as a common foundation for their lives. Human dignity is considered a firm and inviolable foundation within it. Mutual respect, even in diversity, is therefore the important basis. This is achieved comparatively well in Germany. Many people even come to Germany for this reason, because they can live more freely here than in their family's country of origin.
The special value of the Basic Law is guarded by a Constitutional Court, which enjoys extremely high regard among the population. In its rulings, it has repeatedly emphasised the openness of German society. German culture and many works from its canon are also appreciated by migrants and immigrants. They often bring with them an admiration for these works. However, when reading great works, one must not forget that they themselves were always inspired by cultural products of all sorts. The entire history of the West is a history of cultural openness and inspiration across national borders. German culture would not be conceivable without the cultural heritage of other countries, and vice versa. Poets like Goethe and great minds like Kant have therefore shown themselves to be true cosmopolitans. But even on a smaller scale, many Germans today live out a particular intercultural openness.
Anyone who enjoys listening to people's stories and values cultural diversity must see this as an advantage. Germany must be valued for the adaptability of its culture, just as its inhabitants must be valued for their solidarity and charity. Those who come to Germany will find friendly and open people in every federal state. This can significantly ease integration. Why are Germans so open to diversity? Perhaps they are aware of how different cultural behavioural patterns already are in different federal states.
Anyone travelling from Northern Germany to Bavaria will quickly notice this difference. In some parts of Germany, this can even lead to minor disputes. However, for the most part, people deal with this difference affectionately or poke fun at it.
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