In early October Denk.Raum.Fresach initiator Wilfried Seywald published a guest commentary on refugee issues in the Vienna Newspaper “Die Presse” in order to get a picture of the mood in Austria. The response was extremely harsh. Dozens of comments, sometimes very violent and spiteful, but negative for the most part, followed: from Communist Manifesto, expropriation fantasies to the reproach of a confused babble and “Tolerance as last virtue of a dying society”, loosely based on a quote from Aristotle. Hendrik Broder writes in “Die Welt” that WE are not to blame for the plight of refugees. The problem of the refugees should be resolved where it was generated – following the polluter pays principle and with the help of organizations which are responsible for the “Islamic solidarity”. But just – this is not enough. Here all the responsibility is shifted away – and ignores the situation in Europe. (ws)
