America - Quo Vadis?
As a child, growing up in the beautiful, idyllic Mulde Valley, not far from Penig, I was often here. By bike, with friends, simply to pass the time in Little America. Back then, I could still dream of the big America and the story of unlimited opportunities, of dishwashers becoming millionaires, and of seemingly endless freedom.
By Yvonne Hösel
By Yvonne Hösel
I'm not an expert on anything, not a historian or anything like that, just an ordinary citizen living in the maelstrom of regional and global events and experiencing them firsthand. I'm only speaking from my own perspective and thoughts here; I could be completely wrong for others, which is fine, but I'm still thinking about it.
Another week where the news is overflowing and different TV programs are reporting completely differently. I'm often left wondering what to believe and what the truth is.
It's about the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
He was reportedly the founder of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA and a close confidant of Donald Trump.
He was shot dead on September 10, 2025, during a speech on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. It's being called a targeted assassination, and even before a perpetrator or motive is known, the death penalty is being discussed.
Initially, it didn't really affect me; I didn't know him, never even noticed him. But then a completely different scenario unfolded, something that's becoming increasingly common.
I'm constantly amazed by the kind of staging and martyrdom that's possible in the USA. As I mentioned, he was completely unknown to me, and I don't care about his political motivations. The fact is, he was a father and a husband, a human being after all. It's bad enough that the USA glorifies and vehemently defends its gun lobby, calling it part of America's DNA. Following this logic, even someone who would never have believed it would affect them is now being targeted. At the same time, there's a political co-optation, outrage, and an appearance by JDVance at the transfer of the body, which seems more like a welcome theatrical performance--welcome for Trump because it fits so well into his agenda. And surprisingly, there are groups in Germany who are also jumping on the bandwagon and celebrating this imported polarization.
It's immediately clear it was "leftists," and then a completely typical American scenario unfolds. Trump orders the flag to be flown at half-staff, posthumously awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the whole thing is called "War on the Right." The death is seen as proof of "leftist violence." Calls for revenge are made, others celebrate it, and Twitter and other social media platforms practically explode. Countless videos are uploaded and posted, including one of JD Vance placing his hand on the coffin and Trump declaring his intention to attend the funeral. The whole thing seems like a PR stunt and reinforces the martyr narrative of the MAGA movement. A show of unity is displayed, diverting attention from other issues.
Every tragedy becomes a campaign against the enemy.
And this despite the fact that the US has its own questionable history regarding assassinations. The assassination of JFK inevitably brought to mind the question of whether the perpetrator would even be caught alive, as it's not uncommon for someone to be fatally wounded during the arrest. and then the story finds a fitting conclusion. And at that moment comes the shock of realizing what kind of image I actually have of the USA. But is it unfounded? The glorification of guns is real; after every attack or mass shooting, etc., the shock is immense, but the will to change seems to be blocked by the gun lobby. It's a vicious cycle: the lobby pushes through, politicians use it for show, and in the end, only one person suffers--negligible compared to the profit.
On the contrary, the call for even more weapons grows louder because otherwise, one can't protect oneself. It almost seems like a Western: first, the shooting starts, then I ask what he wants. Especially in Germany, these gun laws seem absurd, where we can reassure ourselves with a weapons-free zone, but those are more about knives than firearms.
That the AfD immediately feigns shock is probably a necessity, in case allies with international reach are needed, at least for shaping public opinion and international influence. Visibility, as seen here in Musk's intervention under the guise of freedom of speech. In truth, I doubt that the AfD enjoys becoming dependent in any way, nor does Musk want to continue this indefinitely without any benefit. The AfD doesn't have to do anything more than chant "See?" It remains a matter of slogans and the desire to win, no matter what, similar to Chancellor Merz, who desperately wanted to be chancellor. It took him a few years, but delivering results is now considerably more difficult.
This is probably where Merz and the AfD are very similar; they thrive on polarization.
But back to America: attacks still carry the lingering suspicion that they were more of a diversionary tactic, which is also conceivable here. Of course, some of the speculation will be conspiracy theories, but do they come from nowhere and are they not entirely unfounded?What? There were apparently differences between Kirk and Trump regarding the Epstein investigation, so a death would be very convenient. Even more fitting would be a dead perpetrator, as we've already seen with JFK. Why? It fits the pattern where a single death creates a distraction without risking major revelations.
Kirk linked Epstein to Mossad (Israel) and the Deep State. In June 2025, he said, "Epstein was recruited by Mossad," which, of course, must have annoyed Netanyahu and Trump.
But as I said, it's all just speculation, but unfortunately, it's entirely conceivable.
Even more reprehensible is the fact that there was no news blackout until the perpetrator was apprehended and a possible motive was identified. This opened the floodgates to all kinds of speculation in all available media, sometimes every 15 minutes. So, there's a lot of noise, but no perpetrator. I know that the US avoids news blackouts to avoid appearing "censored," but whether that's always a smart move remains to be seen. This turns a tragedy into a media spectacle, which doesn't exactly inspire confidence in a genuine interest in the truth.
My prediction, based on patterns and current dynamics, that the perpetrator would at best be found dead, has surprisingly been disproven as I write this. Deep down, I actually knew that a dead perpetrator would be a PR victory, without a trial, and perfectly suited to answering all the questions that would arise. The tragedy is compounded by the fact that the father was involved in the extradition, which isn't exactly ideal either. At least he can know that he won't be getting his child home.
Back to my point: how is it possible that there are so many distrustful voices that view the attack differently and also make the knee-jerk demand for the death penalty?
Given current American politics, many suitable perpetrators are possible; it all comes down to where they would be most useful. That is, assuming he dies during his arrest, because there are countless problems both domestically and internationally, which are drowned out by the widespread outrage, and facts can be wonderfully created in secret.
Since the pandemic, we have been in a global crisis of truth, a construct of lies that prioritizes narratives over facts and relies on the constant fueling of social media, which it gratefully accepts as a distraction. Outrage as a distraction is deliberate chaos. It is almost impossible to distinguish between truth and construct anymore, nor is it intentional. Each side fuels its own agenda and bends its truth and facts to suit its needs. This seems to be a point that is absent in countries with dictatorships, since the state already determines public opinion, which in turn is a different kind of catastrophe. Nevertheless, people seem to be just as overwhelmed by freedom of expression as they are by personal responsibility, and yes, the situation has intensified under the pandemic, and apparently even accelerated. The compass seems to have shifted, and truth and construct seem almost indistinguishable. The pandemic has fostered mistrust, polarization, and disinformation. Things are accelerating, and truth is harder to grasp than ever.
This also explains why the wave of outrage is so massive and appears so chaotic. The media thrives on clicks, politicians on mobilization (revenge rhetoric), and citizens on confirmation of their echo chamber.
Humans, as a species with the belief that they have a right to land ownership or even hunting, are less cohesive than any other living being and are destroying themselves in the process. Through division, greed, and conflict, arrogant in their claim to power, and no one unites to seek the truth. Animals would protect the pack--humans are splitting apart.
I suspect that Trump himself hasn't yet realized that he, too, has been harmed, because he'll be missing a Charlie Kirk to mobilize young people. What's truly bitter, however, is the development of America, which began long before Trump. Nothing seems to remain of the once promising land of unlimited opportunities. It manifests itself in a mixture of money ruling the world and a policy under Trump, who constantly proclaims himself worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize, celebrates his own advantage and self-indulgence, and simultaneously considers himself all-powerful on earth, but in reality does nothing for the country he claims to love. It has degenerated into a nation that is merely a stage for his ego.
The decline began with economic inequality, deregulation during the Reagan era, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, which undermined trust in institutions. The financial crises of 2008 and 2011, along with Occupy Wall Street, made it clear: money rules the world, and the coronavirus pandemic exacerbated everything. Trump didn't create the crises, but he exploited them. His "America First" policy promised revival but has so far delivered only a show.
He loves the USNot as a community, but as a reflection of his ego.
A country where all sorts of motives for murder are conceivable has lost its sovereignty and control. A country that once promised opportunities is tearing itself apart in a spectacle where money and power reign supreme. Corona may have made distrust global, but the USA is the epicenter, and that is incredibly bitter.
Trump's narcissism is legendary and blocks any reflection. Claiming the Nobel Peace Prize, even though none of the conflicts have been resolved, sounds like a joke, and what his mental legacy will be remains to be seen--what will be left in 2029.
He has so alienated former allies that the USA is quite isolated, and the allies are turning away and reorganizing. For these countries, there will be no going back as allies; there is no longer any need. And I think Trump overestimated himself immensely and thought too short-sightedly.
And yet, there is a small glimmer of hope, because America is not just the USA. It is the diversity of a continent encompassing Canada, South and Central America. Reducing America solely to the USA reflects not only the cultural and geopolitical arrogance of the US, but also the loss of recognition for countries with their own identities, challenges, and strengths, overshadowed by US dominance at a time when internal crises are eroding their sovereignty and credibility.
Back to the beginning: Little America, a small district, has borne its name since the 19th century--supposedly because of emigrants who wanted to go to the USA, but perhaps it is mockery of US arrogance, yet still an invitation to redefine America.
September 22, 2025
© Yvonne Hösel
Yvonne Hösel, 56 years old and mother of three.
As a trained nurse, I worked in the operating room for over 20 years.
I was born and raised in East Germany, experienced the fall of the Berlin Wall firsthand, and still live in Leipzig.
CLICK HERE FOR THE NEW BOOK
Another week where the news is overflowing and different TV programs are reporting completely differently. I'm often left wondering what to believe and what the truth is.
It's about the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
He was reportedly the founder of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA and a close confidant of Donald Trump.
He was shot dead on September 10, 2025, during a speech on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. It's being called a targeted assassination, and even before a perpetrator or motive is known, the death penalty is being discussed.
Initially, it didn't really affect me; I didn't know him, never even noticed him. But then a completely different scenario unfolded, something that's becoming increasingly common.
I'm constantly amazed by the kind of staging and martyrdom that's possible in the USA. As I mentioned, he was completely unknown to me, and I don't care about his political motivations. The fact is, he was a father and a husband, a human being after all. It's bad enough that the USA glorifies and vehemently defends its gun lobby, calling it part of America's DNA. Following this logic, even someone who would never have believed it would affect them is now being targeted. At the same time, there's a political co-optation, outrage, and an appearance by JDVance at the transfer of the body, which seems more like a welcome theatrical performance--welcome for Trump because it fits so well into his agenda. And surprisingly, there are groups in Germany who are also jumping on the bandwagon and celebrating this imported polarization.
It's immediately clear it was "leftists," and then a completely typical American scenario unfolds. Trump orders the flag to be flown at half-staff, posthumously awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the whole thing is called "War on the Right." The death is seen as proof of "leftist violence." Calls for revenge are made, others celebrate it, and Twitter and other social media platforms practically explode. Countless videos are uploaded and posted, including one of JD Vance placing his hand on the coffin and Trump declaring his intention to attend the funeral. The whole thing seems like a PR stunt and reinforces the martyr narrative of the MAGA movement. A show of unity is displayed, diverting attention from other issues.
Every tragedy becomes a campaign against the enemy.
And this despite the fact that the US has its own questionable history regarding assassinations. The assassination of JFK inevitably brought to mind the question of whether the perpetrator would even be caught alive, as it's not uncommon for someone to be fatally wounded during the arrest. and then the story finds a fitting conclusion. And at that moment comes the shock of realizing what kind of image I actually have of the USA. But is it unfounded? The glorification of guns is real; after every attack or mass shooting, etc., the shock is immense, but the will to change seems to be blocked by the gun lobby. It's a vicious cycle: the lobby pushes through, politicians use it for show, and in the end, only one person suffers--negligible compared to the profit.
On the contrary, the call for even more weapons grows louder because otherwise, one can't protect oneself. It almost seems like a Western: first, the shooting starts, then I ask what he wants. Especially in Germany, these gun laws seem absurd, where we can reassure ourselves with a weapons-free zone, but those are more about knives than firearms.
That the AfD immediately feigns shock is probably a necessity, in case allies with international reach are needed, at least for shaping public opinion and international influence. Visibility, as seen here in Musk's intervention under the guise of freedom of speech. In truth, I doubt that the AfD enjoys becoming dependent in any way, nor does Musk want to continue this indefinitely without any benefit. The AfD doesn't have to do anything more than chant "See?" It remains a matter of slogans and the desire to win, no matter what, similar to Chancellor Merz, who desperately wanted to be chancellor. It took him a few years, but delivering results is now considerably more difficult.
This is probably where Merz and the AfD are very similar; they thrive on polarization.
But back to America: attacks still carry the lingering suspicion that they were more of a diversionary tactic, which is also conceivable here. Of course, some of the speculation will be conspiracy theories, but do they come from nowhere and are they not entirely unfounded?What? There were apparently differences between Kirk and Trump regarding the Epstein investigation, so a death would be very convenient. Even more fitting would be a dead perpetrator, as we've already seen with JFK. Why? It fits the pattern where a single death creates a distraction without risking major revelations.
Kirk linked Epstein to Mossad (Israel) and the Deep State. In June 2025, he said, "Epstein was recruited by Mossad," which, of course, must have annoyed Netanyahu and Trump.
But as I said, it's all just speculation, but unfortunately, it's entirely conceivable.
Even more reprehensible is the fact that there was no news blackout until the perpetrator was apprehended and a possible motive was identified. This opened the floodgates to all kinds of speculation in all available media, sometimes every 15 minutes. So, there's a lot of noise, but no perpetrator. I know that the US avoids news blackouts to avoid appearing "censored," but whether that's always a smart move remains to be seen. This turns a tragedy into a media spectacle, which doesn't exactly inspire confidence in a genuine interest in the truth.
My prediction, based on patterns and current dynamics, that the perpetrator would at best be found dead, has surprisingly been disproven as I write this. Deep down, I actually knew that a dead perpetrator would be a PR victory, without a trial, and perfectly suited to answering all the questions that would arise. The tragedy is compounded by the fact that the father was involved in the extradition, which isn't exactly ideal either. At least he can know that he won't be getting his child home.
Back to my point: how is it possible that there are so many distrustful voices that view the attack differently and also make the knee-jerk demand for the death penalty?
Given current American politics, many suitable perpetrators are possible; it all comes down to where they would be most useful. That is, assuming he dies during his arrest, because there are countless problems both domestically and internationally, which are drowned out by the widespread outrage, and facts can be wonderfully created in secret.
Since the pandemic, we have been in a global crisis of truth, a construct of lies that prioritizes narratives over facts and relies on the constant fueling of social media, which it gratefully accepts as a distraction. Outrage as a distraction is deliberate chaos. It is almost impossible to distinguish between truth and construct anymore, nor is it intentional. Each side fuels its own agenda and bends its truth and facts to suit its needs. This seems to be a point that is absent in countries with dictatorships, since the state already determines public opinion, which in turn is a different kind of catastrophe. Nevertheless, people seem to be just as overwhelmed by freedom of expression as they are by personal responsibility, and yes, the situation has intensified under the pandemic, and apparently even accelerated. The compass seems to have shifted, and truth and construct seem almost indistinguishable. The pandemic has fostered mistrust, polarization, and disinformation. Things are accelerating, and truth is harder to grasp than ever.
This also explains why the wave of outrage is so massive and appears so chaotic. The media thrives on clicks, politicians on mobilization (revenge rhetoric), and citizens on confirmation of their echo chamber.
Humans, as a species with the belief that they have a right to land ownership or even hunting, are less cohesive than any other living being and are destroying themselves in the process. Through division, greed, and conflict, arrogant in their claim to power, and no one unites to seek the truth. Animals would protect the pack--humans are splitting apart.
I suspect that Trump himself hasn't yet realized that he, too, has been harmed, because he'll be missing a Charlie Kirk to mobilize young people. What's truly bitter, however, is the development of America, which began long before Trump. Nothing seems to remain of the once promising land of unlimited opportunities. It manifests itself in a mixture of money ruling the world and a policy under Trump, who constantly proclaims himself worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize, celebrates his own advantage and self-indulgence, and simultaneously considers himself all-powerful on earth, but in reality does nothing for the country he claims to love. It has degenerated into a nation that is merely a stage for his ego.
The decline began with economic inequality, deregulation during the Reagan era, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, which undermined trust in institutions. The financial crises of 2008 and 2011, along with Occupy Wall Street, made it clear: money rules the world, and the coronavirus pandemic exacerbated everything. Trump didn't create the crises, but he exploited them. His "America First" policy promised revival but has so far delivered only a show.
He loves the USNot as a community, but as a reflection of his ego.
A country where all sorts of motives for murder are conceivable has lost its sovereignty and control. A country that once promised opportunities is tearing itself apart in a spectacle where money and power reign supreme. Corona may have made distrust global, but the USA is the epicenter, and that is incredibly bitter.
Trump's narcissism is legendary and blocks any reflection. Claiming the Nobel Peace Prize, even though none of the conflicts have been resolved, sounds like a joke, and what his mental legacy will be remains to be seen--what will be left in 2029.
He has so alienated former allies that the USA is quite isolated, and the allies are turning away and reorganizing. For these countries, there will be no going back as allies; there is no longer any need. And I think Trump overestimated himself immensely and thought too short-sightedly.
And yet, there is a small glimmer of hope, because America is not just the USA. It is the diversity of a continent encompassing Canada, South and Central America. Reducing America solely to the USA reflects not only the cultural and geopolitical arrogance of the US, but also the loss of recognition for countries with their own identities, challenges, and strengths, overshadowed by US dominance at a time when internal crises are eroding their sovereignty and credibility.
Back to the beginning: Little America, a small district, has borne its name since the 19th century--supposedly because of emigrants who wanted to go to the USA, but perhaps it is mockery of US arrogance, yet still an invitation to redefine America.
September 22, 2025
© Yvonne Hösel
Yvonne Hösel, 56 years old and mother of three.
As a trained nurse, I worked in the operating room for over 20 years.
I was born and raised in East Germany, experienced the fall of the Berlin Wall firsthand, and still live in Leipzig.
CLICK HERE FOR THE NEW BOOK
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