the german spirit...
I think there's a really interesting discussion right now in germany. With the world cup here and people really getting crazy about german flags, the constant question is: is it okay to hang flags out?
Germany has a different stand towards pride of the nation and it should have, because the past and WWII is not and should never be forgotten. But with just how much pride can this nation live and how much is too much?
CONTRA
Some people will always say that one flag in a window is one flag too much, whilst other people moan that it never is allowed to be supportive and proud of germany.
The world cup gives people a chance to be a team, to cheer with others and be a part of something bigger. It's a very understandable wish. I understand it, even though I am not a fan of masses, especially of overly enthusiastic ones. I tend to get scared at concerts or demonstration when I get the feeling of not having control. Masses can go horribly wrong, just think about the people who die at pilgrimages and mass panics every year. And I have a really horrible picture in my mind, too... I see thousands of people, excited, cheering, heated faces: cheering a madman who was the death of millions of people 60 years ago. I know it is far-fetched, but propaganda and the wish to be part of something had horrible outcomes in the past and it's just an affiliating thought that doesn't exactly make me cheerful.
PRO
On the other hand, I am not only heartily glad to be german (being a woman in other parts of the world is not something to wish for.) and to be born into a middle income family that can allow itself to send me to college. I am also proud of this country's constitution, it's legal system, freedom of expression and press... But not of being german. And yes, I support the german team, but mostly because it's more fun to watch football when you have a certain team you can support and especially if it's the team most people around you favour.
AND I am so far kinda happy with the world cup. Most guests seem to enjoy themselves, the weather has not been as good as it could have been, but the first few days were awesome! and overall there seem to have been a spirit of international understanding which I like to see!
We live kinda far off, with no teams staying in Münster and no games in the vicinity, but next month I am going to see my sis kskitten in Berlin and I am kinda excited to see the fan-mile. (I don't think I'll be able to drag my sis there, though.)
Germany has a different stand towards pride of the nation and it should have, because the past and WWII is not and should never be forgotten. But with just how much pride can this nation live and how much is too much?
CONTRA
Some people will always say that one flag in a window is one flag too much, whilst other people moan that it never is allowed to be supportive and proud of germany.
The world cup gives people a chance to be a team, to cheer with others and be a part of something bigger. It's a very understandable wish. I understand it, even though I am not a fan of masses, especially of overly enthusiastic ones. I tend to get scared at concerts or demonstration when I get the feeling of not having control. Masses can go horribly wrong, just think about the people who die at pilgrimages and mass panics every year. And I have a really horrible picture in my mind, too... I see thousands of people, excited, cheering, heated faces: cheering a madman who was the death of millions of people 60 years ago. I know it is far-fetched, but propaganda and the wish to be part of something had horrible outcomes in the past and it's just an affiliating thought that doesn't exactly make me cheerful.
PRO
On the other hand, I am not only heartily glad to be german (being a woman in other parts of the world is not something to wish for.) and to be born into a middle income family that can allow itself to send me to college. I am also proud of this country's constitution, it's legal system, freedom of expression and press... But not of being german. And yes, I support the german team, but mostly because it's more fun to watch football when you have a certain team you can support and especially if it's the team most people around you favour.
AND I am so far kinda happy with the world cup. Most guests seem to enjoy themselves, the weather has not been as good as it could have been, but the first few days were awesome! and overall there seem to have been a spirit of international understanding which I like to see!
We live kinda far off, with no teams staying in Münster and no games in the vicinity, but next month I am going to see my sis kskitten in Berlin and I am kinda excited to see the fan-mile. (I don't think I'll be able to drag my sis there, though.)