Angststillstand

How can it be that freedom of speech in liberal societies like Germany reaches its limits, even though we have no restricted fundamental rights and countless opportunities for expression? With the development of individuality since the beginning of the civil age, a new vulnerability has emerged in the 21st century that puts our society to the test. The more we expand our individuality and take things personally, the more easily we feel hurt, offended, or disregarded. Accelerated by social media and its potential for online outrage and cancel culture, society in Germany is increasingly paralyzed by fear. How can bold and decisive politics, as well as provocative art and culture, still be possible when someone feels offended everywhere and at all times? The key may lie in a new resilience and calmness that allows space for both one’s own sensitivity and that of others.