In truth, the family is by no means a guarantee for children to grow up in a safe and loving place. Ideally, this is the case; but reality often tells another tale.

In the fall of 2024, I took up work on the series "The Extended Family of My Childhood". The background: Our young "family of five" lived in my grandparents's house, the "Walther house". To my grandfather Adolf Walther, sixteen children had been born, nine with his first wife Mina, who died soon after giving birth to her youngest child, and seven with his second wife Therese. She became the mother of my Dad Papa Willi, thus my direct grandmother. 

It is one of our greatest, most important liberties, to chose freely whom we consider family. We are not chained by blood bounds. And this is nothing new: More than two thousand years ago Jesus himself layed down the principle, when he asked the people to follow him - if necessary by splitting up with their families. In modern times, I think of the genial Swedish author Astrid Lindgren, who in her children's books created the cheerful rebellious protagonist Pippi Longstocking, who used to sing: "Vidde-Vidde-Vitt / two times three is four / plus three is nine / I make myself the world  / Vidde-Vidde-Vitt just as I will". So - why not - now I am gonna pick myself brothers and sisters as I will...

When the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, made his first visit to the White House in February 2025, he expected to find support and practical help in the defense against Russia, by a strong friend and ally. In contrast, however, Zelenskyy had to put up with humiliation and accusations. On top, a reporter from the audience asked him: "Why don't you wear a suit? Don't you have a suit?"