"A modern nation state cannot be built on an ontological notion of who belongs and who does not,..."

“A modern nation state cannot be built on an ontological notion of who belongs and who does not, whether it’s outright ethnic or pseudo-cultural. It needs to build on the notion of the nation as a community — a community including those who were born here, those who came to stay and those who will stay for a while and then return to their homes. The rights and duties of the members of this community should be defined by their achievements, and by the rule of law — not by whether they eat schnitzel or wear a head scarf.”

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Anna Sauerbrey, What Is German?

from Stowe Boyd http://www.stoweboyd.com/post/145003990257