Time for (another) Lecture - or - Germany Releases (another) Terrorist Killer of American Soldier

Joerg at Atlantic Review has more.

This time it is an RAF killer - last time a Hezbollah killer of another US service member. Of course the eternal apologists for all that is wrong with Germany will tell us we should "respect" German law. Sorry - no sale.

In other news, Joerg reports that Germany's travelers are being encouraged by their Foreign Ministry to lecture others on human rights abuses while abroad. This German habit of lecturing the rest of the world on virtually everything is growing extremely tiresome to many Americans (and others) - particularly since so little of the criticism is actually constructive or based on a full understanding of facts and circumstances. The credibility of Germany is further decimated by its Foreign Ministry when top diplomats attempt to deny that anti-Americanism exists in German media and society.

Perhaps Americans ought to respond to the endless barrage of stupid and predictable criticism by mentioning the release of the two murderers above and the outrageous epidemic of unthinking anti-Americanism in German media. The fundamental reason that Americans will never respond with the same intensity is because they generally view such lecturing as highly impolite and off-putting and often don't care for the uninformed opinions of biased foreigners.

For what it's worth, here is our list of favorite "pet issues" of the German media in their coverage of the United States:

1. Perceived American religiosity and/or prudishness.
2. Perceived American obsession with guns and violence.
3. The death penalty.
4. The perceived excess and superficiality of American capitalism and (non)culture (i.e. fat people, the super rich, SUVs, fast-food, M-TV/hip-hop culture, Hollywood, corporate scandals, buy-outs and "excessive" profits.)
5. Perceived social inequality in the United States (i.e. amerikanische Verhaeltnisse, poor Americans are starving and freezing to death or at least struggling with 2-3 jobs and no health insurance while the rich live it up. Perception that America has no social safety net or a woefully inadequate social safety net.)
6. Perceived American unilateralism/exceptionalism (i.e. Iraq, Kyoto, ICC, Guantanamo)
7. Perceived American "hurrah" patriotism or "hyper" patriotism (i.e. flag-waving).
8. Perceived American paranoia/overreaction about terror and obsession with security and the "war" on terror and the perceived willingness of Americans to sacrifice key civil liberties (the Patriot Act has become a favored target) and take extrajudicial actions involving torture, renditions, etc.
9. The perception that the Bush administration controls (or at least dominates) the media and can somehow intimidate media into following the party line. The perceived view that there is a lack of diversity of opinion in US media and that FoxNews, talk radio and blogs are the menacing conservative vanguard of what all US media are becoming or have already become. (i.e. US media are "gleichgeschaltet" or in lock-step.)
10. Anything that casts a negative light on the US military (i.e. Abu Ghraib, trials of US troops, bombings or killings of civilians real or imagined).
11. Anything that casts a negative light on the Bush administration.
12. Iraq is a disaster-quagmire-catastrophe-debacle perhaps unparalleled in human history. Iraq = Vietnam = defeat and humiliation for America, the US military and Bush.
13. The perception of the US as an imperial hegemon out to expand its global power and military-industrial complex while using democracy as a convenient (yet false) excuse to do so. Oil = blood = Halliburton = war.

Interestingly enough - Stern's latest America correspondent - Jan Christoph Wiechmann - has already gotten off to a fast start. His first few articles are on problems with health insurance, the super rich and the sensational socialist extremes in New York City. He also dedicates a piece to defending Gerhard Schroeder and whines about a judgmental American professor (yeah as if there are no Americans who have not been through much worse with Europeans). Now all that's missing is a piece on guns, fast food, hyper patriotism or anything else that makes the United States look extreme, ugly or sensational to Stern's far-left Hate-America readership. We are sure Mr. Wiechmann won't disappoint us - he is welcome to use the list above for ideas.

Comments

[Scott_H]

"The perceived excess and superficiality of American capitalism and (non)culture (i.e. fat people, the super rich, SUVs, fast-food, M-TV/hip-hop culture, Hollywood, corporate scandals, buy-outs and "excessive" profits.)"

Has anyone taken a good look at the Autobahn, lately? To say that German SUV use is growing would be an understatement. And, we're not talking gas-sipping Toyatas and Hondas. We're talking gas-guzzling Porches, BMWs, VWs, and Mercedes -- blasting along at 200 kph. The Germans are heavy users of SUVs and vans. There's no moral high ground for them on this one.

As for fast food, I've never seen an empty McDonalds or Burger King in Germany -- nor have I ever seen anyone with a gun to their head or with their arm twisted. And, the ubiquitous Bratwurst stand is the epitomy of fat, er, fast food.

"Perceived social inequality in the United States (i.e. amerikanische Verhaeltnisse, poor Americans are starving and freezing to death or at least struggling with 2-3 jobs and no health insurance while the rich live it up. Perception that America has no social safety net or a woefully inadequate social safety net.)"

I hear this one all the time -- but, almost never from folks who have actually visited the US. It's funny, but no one spouting this hogwash can ever back it up by firsthand observation.

[Scott_H]

Actually, here's an interesting article from SPON that makes my point about SUVs in Germany:

http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/0,1518,476278,00.html

The CEO of DaimlerChrysler even coined a term, "eco-schizophrenia," to describe the way folks talk about being environmentally conscious but don't back it up with their actions -- they love their big, powerful vehicles.

Here's a choice quote:

"And yet even drivers can learn to adapt. Sometimes they even change their attitude faster than the industry would like. That's just what's happening in the United States, of all countries -- the land of gas-guzzling monster vehicles.

"Ever since gas prices started climbing there, sales of heavy SUVs and pickup trucks have declined dramatically. "

[WhatDoIKnow]

I bet most Germans find the Foreign Ministry's idea ridiculous, but this ridiculous idea is actually based on a fundamental truth - Oberlehrer behavior is a German trait. (Obligatory disclaimer: this does not apply to every single German on the face of the earth.)

[...]

I just spent about a minute trying to remember if I ever met an American Oberlehrer. I am sure there are some, but I personally haven't met any. I have met plenty of Americans very proud of their country, but not in an Oberlehrer manner. OTOH, I don't have to think for one minute to remember encounters with German Oberlehrer.

[Pamela]

Germany's travelers are being encouraged by their Foreign Ministry to lecture others on human rights abuses while abroad.

I saw a blurb about this in the Financial Times last week.

Bring it on.

The last time I witnessed this crap, two German tourists got their asses escorted out of Pentagon City mall by mall security.

[Helian]

Deutsche Verhältnisse

[Pamela]

Helian, my German sucks. Given that, correct me if I'm wrong.

Some neo-Nazis attacked a festival - apparenly held by Hindus - yelling 'Foreigners out!! The police had forewarning but did nothing.

Your point is?

Oh, wait.

This is where I get confused. I can't tell if the report is representing someone else's viewpoint or its own. Basically, at the end it says (forgive my translation) just because these guys picked on this particular group, that's no grounds for calling them equally racist across the board - even tho they uttered racist language, that language may be consistent with racist language but it is not in and of itself enough to be considered - in the context - racist.

Am I getting this? I put this thru a translation engine after my own German gave up the ghost, so please enlighten.

[MyVoice]

EU demands execution stop in Texas (article in German)

Interestingly, the Constitution of the socialist EU dictatorship allows executions.

[Mike H.]

German Voice, I think that they aren't thinking too clearly. They tell us to stop dispensing justice in our manner and yet blow off their own system. From the previous thread we find that they just released a killer after 18 years who was supposed to be in prison for life on the second of two convictions. That puts a killer back on the streets who might not be repentant. I doubt that the recidivism rate is that much different between the US and Europe, criminals being what they are, which means that there is the potential for a similar crime to be committed.

I don't think that the EU has too much weight with Tejas and I would be angry if they did.

[Helian]

@Pamela

"Am I getting this? I put this thru a translation engine after my own German gave up the ghost, so please enlighten."

America hating German quasi-racists will often use the code words "Amerikanische Verhältnisse" or "American conditions" (wink, wink, nod, nod) to describe whatever perceived evils they can find in their eager daily searches through our news and history for something to bitch about as they strike holier-than-thou poses. Amerika bashing has already become quite formalized. No doubt the grandma and grandpa of today's America haters once referred to "Jewish conditions" in the same context.

[Pamela]

Helian,
CNN International covered this story on its noon news. Guess what? It's not a German problem - it's an EAST German problem. Apparently, it was an annual town festival. The only video available was from a cell phone. There was some fire, but the video was so grainy, I couldn't tell if it was from torches used for the festival or something more sinister.

They did interview one of the victims - who had a very swollen black eye. He said they took refuge in a pizzeria and that no one came to their help. Apparently the pizzeria was trashed also. The CNN report attributed the whole episode to neo-nazis in EAST Germany and quoted an anonymous 'Jewish leader' (I love that trick) as saying there may be areas in EAST Germany that Jews are going to have to consider 'no go' zones.

So, how's the reconciliation thing working out for you guys? IIRC, not one East German has ever posted here.

More on topic regarding the whole nine yards of anti-American comforting preconceptions: I have to say this is a reflection of the profound failure of the U.S. diplomatic core - more concerned about trade, security, etc. For our current asshole of an ambassador to say, in effect, "there is no anti-Americanism in Germany" just makes me want to bitch-slap him, Condi Rice and George Bush right in to next week.

This crap has to be confronted and neutered, and our gov't isn't doing it.

[Sagredo]

@Pamela
"...current asshole of an ambassador to say, in effect, "there is no anti-Americanism in Germany"
This is like telling our ambassador to convince inhabitants of a pigstye that they are wallowing in intellectual and emotional pigshit. They need it like the air they breath. They will never recognize also because it is the air they breath (to mix a metaphor).

And you are asking our governentto clean an Augean stable.