One Day at a Time for Recovering Lefties

The following story from Germany concerns a sort of rehab program for leftist fanatics. The translator includes this note:

Here is a brief article that is almost a parody, as only the Germans can do it.

I wonder if there is a twelve-step program. Do you call your sponsor at midnight and say: “Help! I can’t stop thinking about Lenin!”

What I find interesting in this story is that the reporter is willing to refer to the clients of the program as “Left Extremists”. In the English-speaking world, such phraseology is all but unheard of. There are “progressives” or “activists” on the Left, but only right-wingers can be “extremists”.

Many thanks to JLH for translating this article from Junge Freiheit:

Thursday October 6, 2011

Security Services Begin Exit Program for Left Extremists

Berlin — The federal intelligence service has initiated the first Exit Program for Left Extremists. An announcement by the intelligence service says: the program is part of a series of government measures against “extremism and violence, and toward more tolerance and democracy” and is intended for persons who have decided to leave the leftist extremist scene, but are unable to do this on their own.

Since Thursday, a 24-hour contact phone number has been available to them. Those willing to exit the movement can also contact the staff of the program by e-mail. Anyone in this situation who turns to the organization is assured of absolute confidentiality.

Through the exit program, leftist extremists will be helped above all with everyday problems, for example, looking for a residence or a job, alcohol or drug therapy or debt counseling. Beyond that, the exit program offers a counseling venue for family members and friends of people in the leftist extremist scene.