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Comment by trallnag | Hacker News Reader

Why is it ironic? Racism and right wing extremism comes in many shapes and colors. Some want to make Poland Germany again, others what to keep non-Europeans out of Europe with all means necessary

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I agree. Ironic isn’t the right term because while these groups are often tied to different national identities, they often share white nationalism, conservative Christianity, etc. and have been able to agree on a common set of enemies. This would fall apart quickly if they had to govern together but it’s fairly effective until they run out of enemies.

" Some want to make Poland Germany again, " This is a very fringe view in German politics, almost non existing.

" what to keep non-Europeans out of Europe with all means necessary " I guess thats far more popular.

If the sentiment that regions beyond the Oder-Neiße are part of Germany is fringe, why label Sachsen, Thüringen and Sachsen-Anhalt as Mitteldeutschland? Why is there a Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk (MDR) but not an Ostdeutscher Rundfunk, as an analog to NDR, WDR, SDR? It's territory can hardly be seen as the middle of Germany. If you hold the belief that Schlesien is a part of Germany, however, that label suddenly makes sense.

Yes ans that is the greatest reminiscence and given you couldn't name any politician I guess everybody sees how fringe it is.

Most Germans aren't aware of the German speaking minority in Silisea.

The term Mitteldeutschland has a far longer history going back to the 19th century - to define a different collection of region between the big Northern Germany (then prussian dominated) and Southern Germany (then Bavarian and partially Austrian dominated). I'm not sure if it was wise to keep using it because of misunderstandings like yours, but there seem to a form of mitteldeutscher identity. And what is called Ostdeutschland ist not just MDR but also RBB and NDR. Take a look at the map: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datei:ARD_Karte.svg

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