Corona walks: Mayors start a petition for cohesion and solidarity

Created: 2022-01-14Updated: 2022-01-14, 3:49 p.m

By: Thomas Steinhardt

Impression of a so-called Corona walk in Fürstenfeldbruck.

© Weber

The three mayors of the city of Fürstenfeldbruck have launched a petition against the so-called Corona walks.

In an unprecedented letter, they appeal to cohesion and solidarity.

Fürstenfeldbruck - Mayor Erich Raff, Second Mayor Christian Stangl and Third Mayor Birgitta Klemenz have started a petition on Change.org in view of the so-called Monday walks in Fürstenfeldbruck. Citizens are asked to show cohesion and solidarity by signing.

The letter states, among other things, that it is the task of a functioning community to avoid unnecessary victims and to prevent excess mortality as far as possible. However, in the case of the current pandemic, life can only be protected if the citizens show the greatest possible solidarity and cooperation. In practice, this means exercising caution, adhering to the standards recommended by science and understanding and supporting the restrictions as a “solidarity contribution”, the letter goes on to say.

Mayors have firmly distanced themselves from denying the risk of death from the pandemic, as well as from sweepingly dismissing scientific findings as unscientific and “systematic.”

The condemnation of current politics as a “corona dictatorship” is just as general and denouncing in the choice of words.

The decisions are based on well-considered deliberation processes and are fundamentally different from what constitutes dictatorships - both historical and current - the letter to the citizens also states.

The text verbatim

"Dear citizens,

For a few weeks, so-called Monday walks against the measures to combat the corona pandemic have been taking place in Fürstenfeldbruck. The participants would like to express their dissatisfaction with and criticism of the decisions made and still to be made by politicians against the pandemic. Our democracy gives them the right to do this. They use their right to their personal freedom, to self-determination and physical integrity against the restrictions imposed by the government, which, however, are shared and carried out by a clear majority.

Contrary to the usual procedure, the demonstrations were not registered and no responsible contact person was found for the demonstration. Hardly any masks are worn and the recommended distances are not observed - contrary to the recommendations of the infectiologists.

On the other hand, a large part of the population has supported the government's measures, wears face masks where necessary, keeps distances and, on the advice of a broad scientific majority, has had itself vaccinated. This behavior not only means protection for oneself, but also indirectly contributes to overcoming the pandemic, because capacities in hospitals are kept open and severe courses are minimized. Nevertheless, hundreds of people still die on some days as a result of the disease caused by the virus. In our opinion, it remains the task of a functioning community to avoid unnecessary victims and to prevent excess mortality as far as possible.

The actual core problem, which is probably also the concern of the demonstrators of the Monday walks, is the extent to which the state – in the event of a pandemic with significant health consequences – is allowed to restrict the freedom of the individual out of concern for the general population. At least the vast majority of the population, as the past has shown, accepts the restrictions in order to reduce the health effects of the pandemic in solidarity. The majority of citizens see it as the government's duty to prevent preventable numbers of infections and deaths.

"Human dignity is inviolable," says Article 1 of our Basic Law.

However, in order to enjoy this dignity and the freedoms associated with it, as set out in the following articles, one must be alive.

In this respect, the protection of life is closely linked to Article 1.

However, in the case of the current pandemic, life can only be protected if the citizens show the greatest possible solidarity and cooperation.

In practice, this means exercising caution, adhering to the standards recommended by science and understanding and supporting the restrictions as a "solidarity contribution".

Those protesters interested in genuine discussion will understand the arguments made here.

What we want to set ourselves apart from is, on the one hand, the denial of the risk of death due to the pandemic, and on the other hand the blanket devaluation of scientific results as unscientific and "system-controlled". The condemnation of current politics as a “corona dictatorship” is just as sweeping and denouncing in the choice of words. Anyone who reads the preceding considerations in peace will notice that they are based on well-considered processes of deliberation and are fundamentally different from what constitutes dictatorships - both historical and current.

Therefore, we call on all citizens to stick together in solidarity and to continue on the path of togetherness we have taken in order to survive the pandemic as lightly as possible.

The pandemic requires new, adapted measures with each virus variant of the coronavirus SARS-Cov-2.

Therefore, the appeal to all Bruckers, to all citizens, be confident and make your solidarity contribution as individuals, which unfortunately can only be effective if as many as possible contribute.

We therefore ask you all to sign the declaration and thus make it clear that the silent majority is impressively speaking out.

Likewise, we ask all those who disagree to be open to the exchange of arguments and to distance themselves from those who, at their core, want a different community.”

The mayors of the city of Fürstenfeldbruck

Erich Raff, Lord Mayor

Christian Stangl, 2nd mayor

Birgitta Klemenz, 3rd mayor

comes to the call

one under www.bit.ly/stadtffb_petition