Überlingen – Diplomacy is “understanding how other people see us”. This is the brief definition that the students and teachers at the Schloss Salem school hear from Rüdiger von Fritsch. The former German ambassador is a guest at the “Spetzgart Supper” in the dining room of Spetzgart Castle in Überlingen-Hödingen. He describes his career and shares his opinions on current political events.
Diplomacy failed for now
The task of diplomacy is to maintain peace, explained Fritsch. Given the current conflicts and wars, this has failed for the time being. “The West and Russia saw each other very differently,” says the former diplomat, explaining his point of view on the origins of the Ukraine war. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s goal is to “reunite the heartland of the Russian Empire.” Fritsch describes Russia as a state as a dictatorship. Money also controls Putin’s decisions. Von Fritsch says that problems in Russia are not solved, but rather bought away. The motto is to say now: “Dear Vladimir, we are after your wallet.”
“The Ukraine war is connected to the Middle East conflict,” says von Fritsch. Despite its feeling of solidarity with Ukraine, Israel did not take a clear position on the war going on there. “Israel needed a good relationship with Russia,” he explains. He explains Israel’s interest by saying that Russia has good relations with Iran. This calculation did not work out. “I think the war in the Middle East is more dangerous,” says Rüdiger von Fritsch. The war in Ukraine was predictable, but Hamas’ attack on Israel was “irrational.”
16-year-old Titus Colsman is involved in the school’s political office and moderated the “Spetzgarter Abendbrot” with his classmate Meltem Cicek. The political office meets regularly to discuss current political issues and to help organize events for political participation at the Schloss Salem school. “Of course, it is also expected to a certain extent that you are aware of current events in the interests of education,” explains the student. That’s why politics plays a big role at the Schloss Salem school.
But it’s not just the “Spetzgart Supper” that offers students the opportunity to understand and experience politics. Adrian Evers is 17 years old and comes from New York. According to him, student co-management and parliament are special opportunities for political participation at the school. Parliament is a body that consists of two-thirds of high school students and one-third of teachers, which makes school decisions and discusses them. The parliament also has nine members who play crucial roles in various aspects of the school community.
Discuss like in the UN
Evers himself was student representative last year. This is the highest position a student can achieve. As a student representative, you not only represent the students, but also the teachers. At the Schloss Salem school there is also the opportunity to get involved in working groups such as the Model United Nations (MUN) or the International Court of Justice (ICJ). In the MUN, students can discuss political issues in the style of the United Nations (UN), whereas in the ICJ the International Court of Justice, which is also an organ of the UN, is simulated. The international nature of the school is an advantage for US students. You learn to better grasp different opinions.
2023-11-17 05:02:34
#Überlingen #Political #education #castle #school
