Thursday, July 1st, 2021
Thea Dorn on Cancel Culture
“I feel uncomfortable”
By Marko Schlichting
According to an Allensbach survey, only 45 percent of those questioned believe that political opinion can be freely expressed. That is the lowest level since 1953. The writer Thea Dorn is concerned that one would be considered “poisoned” after making a thoughtless statement.
The writer Thea Dorn has criticized the so-called culture cancel culture. For example, words in older books are replaced by others because they are now considered racist. Basically there is freedom of discourse in Germany, said the writer, whose book “Trost. Letters to Max” was recently published, in the ZDF panel discussion with Markus Lanz. But then she added: “We have all become more cautious.” Everyone in Germany could say their opinion. Nevertheless, she says: “As a writer, I know that words can also hurt.”
It becomes more difficult if not even single words are allowed to be quoted, because they are perceived as so hurtful that one would rather let them disappear completely from the language. “Then I tend to feel uncomfortable.” As an example, she named the “N word” and reported on an American professor who had been fired from his university for using the corresponding abbreviation. “I wonder what that does with the ability to speak.”
On the culture cancel issue, she demands that literature should not be changed. A well-known example is the book “Pippi Longstocking” by Astrid Lindgren, who originally called the child’s father the “Negro king”. In more recent editions it became a “South Sea King”. “You have to explain that to the children,” said Dorn. Thea Dorn particularly refused to delete books for adults. Books by the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche are very misogynistic. Still, she recommended finding out what could be learned from this author anyway.
Lehmann expulsion an overreaction?
The author criticized a new form of discussion culture. “We are now in the phase where we are closing spaces of freedom again,” said Thea Dorn using the example of the discussion about women’s rights.
In this context, Dorn also commented on the Jens Lehmann case. It was an overreaction that the ex-soccer player lost his supervisory board position at Hertha BSC because of a careless statement. In May, Lehmann had called his colleague Dennis Aogo a “quota black” in a WhatsApp message. Then several business partners severed the connection with the ex-professional footballer. In an interview with “Zeit” recently, Lehmann rejected allegations of racism. As a footballer, you live inclusion, respect and tolerance.
“There must be contradiction in an open society,” said Dorn. But that should not lead to condemnation of people in a fluff. Sometimes she got the impression that someone would almost be considered “poisoned” because of a careless statement.
This is different only with people who represent conspiracy theories, so Thea Dorn. If we confuse critical opinions and conspiracy theories, “it has nothing to do with the culture of debate.”
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