“Order against animal seriousness”
“Where you lift the mask on the right, hatred flares up”: Iris Berben celebrated for her speech against lateral thinkers
Iris Berben was the first woman to be awarded the Order against Animal Seriousness
© Henning Kaiser/ / Picture Alliance
For the first time, the Aachen carnivalists awarded the “Order against animal seriousness” to a woman: Iris Berben. In her speech, she clearly speaks out against the right and for democratic values.
The actress Iris Berben is the new knight of the Aachen carnival order against animal seriousness. She received the award on Friday, and ARD broadcast the award ceremony on Monday. In contrast to the winners of previous years, the 71-year-old took the opportunity to make a political statement. Numerous users reacted to her speech on social media.
First of all, Berben expressed himself in view of the medal holders, who are otherwise mostly male and come from politics: “As a representative of the IG clowns, actresses and hiking enthusiasts, I am still surprised by my knightly blow,” she said. She called for more power for women and support for the cultural scene. Dressed in a red and white harlequin costume, Berben delivered her speech in a fool’s cage.
“Even more unused space” than in the head of the AfD boss
In addition, she called for support for the cultural scene. After all, art and humor are indispensable for denouncing grievances in a society. “It’s no wonder that the AfD theater wants to close down. Hatred flares up where the right-wing mask is lifted,” says the actress. You need art as a bulwark against the cross and lateral thinkers. “Otherwise the Monday walks will soon turn into torchlight marches again,” she warns.
Berben also targeted other parties and politicians: she criticized the CDU’s lack of differentiation from the right. Apparently, the space to the right of Hans-Georg Maaßen is large, with “even more unused space” than in the head of AfD boss Tino Chrupalla, the actress jokes.
Iris Berben calls for the protection of democracy
On the other hand, Berben expressed her admiration for Health Minister Karl Lauterbach. She described him as “a cheerful Rhenish nature who doesn’t give in to any mutation.”
At the end of her speech, the actress spoke out in favor of democratic values such as tolerance and solidarity. “I really never thought that we would have to protect democracy again,” she says. But it is now of great importance to stand up against those who hate everyone, who “look different, love different, feel different or believe different”.
Previous winners have been exclusively men
The “Order against animal seriousness” honors national and international personalities who have shown humor and humanity in office. Earlier winners include the politicians Konrad Adenauer (CDU), Hans-Dietrich Genscher (FDP), Cem Özdemir (Greens) and Gregor Gysi (Left).
sources: Cologne city gazetteAFP, dpa