I agree t shouldn't have happened, but your earlier comment paints it differently then your second.

My original comment was aimed at how it sounded to me like you were playing it off like it wasn't so important. I have an understanding why some islamic extremists do what they do.. but I will never understand why they do it. Two different meanings that are hard to convey in text. If that even makes sense.

We withhold information about criminal suspects from the public to manipulate/control them and prevent violence as well, that's entirely different, but it shows a possible reason. Understanding the reason is the only way to discuss and come to a compromise (and maybe punish as well, later on).

Do we really withhold information about criminals from the public in order to manipulate them? The only thing we don't know is their name, we know the crime, nobody hides what went on, we usually even know age/gender/race etc. The reasoning isn't hard to comprehend, but that doesn't excuse it.

"a privileged elite has done something" - You can't call millions of people a privileged elite (well, we westeners are all privileged, but that's different).

Nah I think that's pretty fair, 750 million people in europe, 7.5M/1%-75M/10% are extremely privileged. And even if everyone in Germany was on board, it's still the most well-off in europe dictating/threatening what everyone must do against their will. Don't forget the media is playing the exact same manipulation game too, the racism and negatives are too uncomfortable, it's easier to pretend everyone is fine, which just leads to more distrust and ill feeling.

"don't get it twisted in thinking we're all doing fine." - That's not at all what I'm doing. I was explaining the reason why I still have 'faith' in my government. I didn't mention the thousands of 'victims' (physical and other) in a specific argument but we do have a huge problem, I totally see that.

I still don't understand your faith. We have MPs in scandals every weeks, expenses, selling themselves, pedo rings. I don't see anyone I can put my trust in. Complete incompetence in so many areas, hatred and bigotry from others.

I wanted to add that accepting these refugees, in many ways and by many people, IS a selfless act. Some people (Merkel) act selfishly, but I'm still proud of our society in which many do act selflessly.

If you're forced to do something you don't want to do, it isn't a selfless act. Many people have acted selflessly and even though I think it's right, I can't really take pride in my country doing something that mostly the poorest 75% do not want to do, I would have been extremely proud if most people did want it but that's just not the case.