I had travelled a long way to a student organisation for a podium discussion on the topic of ‘Democracy – under threat?’ The four of us sat on the podium and discussed the situation and political orientations of young people in our country. After a very honest and open exchange, we were asked at the end what we wanted for our democracy. Referring to a story by Martin Buber, I posed the question: When does the night end? His answer: When we discover our sister and brother in the face of every stranger. After me, a highly committed Muslim teacher was given the word. With wide eyes that revealed her inner emotion, she said, referring to my statement: ‘Wherever we treat each other with great honesty, openness and appreciation, “oases of peace” are created.’ Our various contributions allowed me to feel the living God in the midst of his people, to whom we all belong.
