"Where do you come from?": The ethnic order

Do you know this, that you praise strangers for nothing and nothing more? "You speak German well!" Or that they comment on your appearance? "You do not look Turkish, are you both parents from Turkey?" I already do. Overwhelming remarks on appearance, pronunciation and ancestral gallery are part of everyday life of many people, if they have a recognizable migration background .

Especially verbal expatriation - "Where are you from?" - can meet anytime, anywhere. In the subway, at the doctor's or in a casting show. This week, the Internet people used a section of "Das Supertalent" (RTL), in which juror Dieter Bohlen asks a five-year-old girl on stage, where it comes from. From Herne, is the answer. Unfortunately, Bohlen continues:

He: "And Mom and Dad? Philippines, or ...?"

She: "They are also in Herne."

He: "Where do you come from, from what country, native?"

She: "I do not know."

He: "Grandma and grandpa or something ...?"

Dieter Bruder, she has told you three times that she is from Herne and you are challenging the girl with the immigration story of her grandparents. 🤦🏾♂️ pic.twitter.com/yC2nid9kEX

Bohlen leaves only from her, as the mother from the edge of the stage says "Thailand". The interesting thing about the scene: The little girl does not understand what the man wants out. Here, two worlds collide, which can not only be explained with 60 years of age difference. Apparently little Melissa, that's the name of the girl, has not yet started her career as a German-Asian girl. The child actually thought until this encounter that it was from Herne and from here. Unfortunately, during her lifetime, she will be made aware even more often that this is not the case.

She is not alone with this experience. Up to a certain age one is spared from the ethnic ordnungsfimmel. But then, sometime, you realize it: that you are always asked where you come from - but not others. That with you "Herne", "Peine" or "Nuremberg" is not sufficient as an answer. That the questioning stops only when you say Turkey, Iran or Thailand. Even if you think that you are from here.

Millions of people are being forcibly migrated and many are annoyed by it. But every time you want to discuss it, the home detectives are surprised why the grumpy migrants are already doing so again. Where the questioners only show interest in the person and want to lead small talk. Where is the problem please?

One guy explained on Twitter as a matter of course that Melissa was just too small to know where she came from. And that's where the problem lies: he meant where she really came from, so ethnically, with ancestors, roots and all the trimmings.

Being German - as a clan, as a village, as a blood community

Those who are not constantly being addressed by their origins may not even notice it, but: We are obsessed with roots in Germany. We talk about tribes, origins and cultures as if it were the most natural thing in the world to put people in these drawers. We do not find it folkish at all, because of external characteristics, to draw a foreign origin, because it is interesting to ask for it. Because it allegedly says something about the person. And because it is not meant to be evil.

I do not mean it either, if I write this now:

It's not about how the questions are meant, but about the wooden root-small talk revealing a problematic self-image. The "Where do you come from" question is a relic of the nationalistic nationalism that has accompanied many states for centuries. As the question is mostly meant, it could also be: You are obviously not folk-german, which ethnic group do you belong to? And after a compliment for the "African" hair and the unexpected knowledge of the national language, it goes on comfortably: What are you doing professionally?

Above all, the root mania shows how we understand being German - as a clan, as a village, as a blood community. You're only really German if you have a Teutonic pedigree, Wolfgang or Susanne and look like what most real root Germans imagine. How can it be that we still have such a primitive view of people?

We finally have to talk about who belongs to it and why who is not. In 2016, a representative study dealt with the question of what people understand by national identity and how important "German ancestors" are. Nearly 37 percent of the interviewees found the case with the ancestors and genes crucial to being German. More than any third party. After all, ten years ago, almost every second thought so. Hopefully the group will continue to shrink and more and more people in Melissa just see a child from Herne, who was probably sent too young into a casting show.

Please do not get me wrong: Of course you can ask for the origin, I do that sometimes too. But one should accept the answer, no matter how it turns out, even if it does not satisfy root detectives. It would be even gallant, you let the nationalist small talk away and come right to the weather.