This is so sad... / Dies ist so traurig...

(Deutsche Übersetzung: Am Ende dieses Postings. Bitte "Continue..." anklicken.)

...but it sounds so familiar. This is a comment (posted by N. Hale at September 25, 2003) to "Vernichtende Niederlage von Schröders SPD / Devastating Defeat for Schroeder's SPD" in this blog.

I would like to comment on the level of Anti-Americanism I have encountered in the Ruhrgebiet.  Two weeks ago, I was at a party given by friends.  At this party, there were many people who expressed their opinions as follows:  "The American Soldiers in Iraq and Afganistan are murderers",  "Bush is a murderer of women, children and old men in Iraq", "American soldiers are all war criminals", "America is a terrorist nation", "America has broken international law by invading Iraq".  There were also many references to lies made be The Bush and Blair team, so on and so forth.  These are people who are well educated and hold professional degrees in law, education, medicine.  Their opinions were directed at me as the lone American at this party. 

It was very difficult to maintain my composure and to absorb this verbal abuse.  I was not able to discuss this with them as the hate for America and Americans was so great.  I am hindered by my limited capacity to speak German.  My wife tried her best to discuss these clearly hateful statements but with every attempt to obtain the facts from these people she was verbally attacked by them all.  It was impossible to discuss with them in an intelligent and unbiased manner.  They had no facts to back up their opinions, they could only quote from the newspapers and the magazines that they read.  These included Der Spiegel, Stern, Suddeutsche Zeitung, WAZ, and many others. 

When we tried to bring forth the facts of our research into all the usual statements, some people who had no way of justifying their stance, got up and left the table. My wife and I have done extensive research into the opinions reflected by the media in Germany and have found that the media frequently make mistakes in translations of speeches made by US officials or they take one statement completely out of context. 

I can't speak for any other area than where I live. Here in the Ruhrgebiet, the Anti-American climate is growing stronger everyday.  My stepson is being indoctrinated by his teachers, the school he attends encourages Anti-Americanism.  Children's radio programs have Anti-American overtones in them, WDR 5 has been extremely disgusting in this matter.  I have students in Düsseldorf who openly say that they hope that America is destroyed.  These students are between 18 and 45 years of age and come from all ethnic backgrounds in Germany.  I know only a few people who have said that they support America and her allies in the war on terror. 

It is my belief that the media in Germany have done their very best to stir up Anti-American sentiment.

I wish I could say it isn't true...

(Deutsche Übersetzung)

...aber es klingt so vertraut. Dies ist ein Kommentar (von N. Hale am 25. September 2003) zu dem Posting "Vernichtende Niederlage von Schröders SPD / Devastating Defeat for Schroeder's SPD" in diesem Weblog.

"Ich möchte das Ausmaß von Anti-Amerikanismus kommentieren, das ich im Ruhrgebiet erlebt habe. Vor zwei Wochen war ich auf einer Party von Freunden. Auf dieser Party drückten viele ihre Meinung so aus: "Die amerikanischen Soldaten im Irak und Afghanistan sind Mörder", "Bush ist ein Mörder von Frauen, Kindern und alten Männern im Irak", "Amerikanische Soldaten sind alle Kriegsverbrecher", "Amerika ist eine Terror-Nation", "Amerika hat das internationale Recht durch die Invasion des Irak gebrochen". Es gab auch viele Hinweise auf Lügen des "Bush und Blair Teams", usw., usw. Dies waren Leute, die gut erzogen waren und akademische Grade in Recht, Erziehung, Medizin hielten. Sie sagten mir ihre Meinung, weil ich der einzige Amerikaner auf dieser Party war.

Es ist mir sehr schwer gefallen, mich zurückzuhalten, und diesen verbalen Angriffen standzuhalten. Ich konnte mit ihnen nicht diskutieren, weil der Haß auf Amerika und die Amerikaner so groß war. Ich war durch meine begrenzten Deutschkenntnisse behindert. Meine Frau gab ihr Bestes, diese eindeutig haßerfüllten Aussagen zu diskutieren, aber mit jedem Versuch, Fakten von diesen Leuten zu erhalten, wurde sie verbal attackiert. Es war unmöglich, mit diesen Leuten in intelligenter und unvoreingenommener Weise zu diskutieren. Sie hatten keine Fakten, um ihre Ansichten zu belegen, sie konnten nur aus Zeitungen und Zeitschriften, die sie lesen, zitieren. Diese schlossen den SPIEGEL, den Stern, die Süddeutsche Zeitung, die WAZ, und viele andere ein.

Als wir versuchten, die Fakten unserer Untersuchungen einzubringen, verschlossen sich einige Leute, standen auf und verließen den Tisch. Meine Frau und ich haben die Meinungen der Medien in Deutschland ausführlich studiert und fanden, daß die Medien häufig Übersetzungsfehler von Reden von US-Offiziellen machen, oder sie zitieren eine Stellungnahme völlig außerhalb des Zusammenhangs.

Ich kann nur für die Gegend sprechen, in der ich lebe. Hier im Ruhrgebiet wird das anti-amerikanische Klima jeden Tag schlechter. Mein Stiefsohn wird von seinen Lehrern indoktriniert, die Schule, die er besucht, ermutigt Anti-Amerikanismus. Kinder-Programme im Radio haben anti-amerikanische Untertöne, WDR 5 ist in diesem Zusammenhang extrem unangenehm. Ich habe Studenten in Düsseldorf, die ganz offen sagen, daß sie hoffen, Amerika werde zerstört. Diese Studenten sind zwischen 18 und 45 Jahren und von unterschiedlicher ethnischer Herkunft. Ich kenne nur einige wenige Leute, die gesagt haben, daß sie Amerika und seine Allierten im Krieg gegen den Terrorismus unterstützen.

Ich glaube, daß die Medien in Deutschland ihr Bestes gegeben haben, um anti-amerikanische Gefühle hervorzurufen."

Ich wünschte, ich könnte sagen, daß das alles nicht stimmt...

Comments

[Erik Eisel]

Dear N.H.--

Hang in there! Be proud! Walk tall! Many of us have lived in Germany, and, let's face it, it's not the easiest place to live. Still, we've probably all had a lot of great experiences with the people there. As an American, you'll probably be loved in Germany more genuinely than in any other country. At least, I hope that continues to be true. I haven't been there in three years. Have things changed that fast?

I am saddened nevertheless by the conversations you tell about, and I believe you're telling the truth. Currently, it does appear that Germans, who are normally level-headed, are being whipped up into a hysteria. What's most frustrating to me is that no one can identify the causes. It's not you, it's not me, and it's certainly not your stepson. Something is certainly rotten in Duisburg...

As I see it, you have a few avenues you can pursue. First, you can educate yourself, so that you can defend yourself and your beliefs in reasonable conversations. But, pick your battles, and try to avoid obvious lunatics. Vent on the Internet instead. Second, you can sit down with your stepson and explain to him how you feel about America and Germany's long history with her. His teachers in Germany are re-writing history right now. His teachers in the States are doing the same thing, anyway. Be a good parent. Third, make sure everyone in your family learns to love German and speaks it fluently. It's a beautiful language, and the Germans will respect everyone who learns it well. Seek other topics of conversation, and have a good time. You're in the Ruhrgebiet. Go to some soccer games. Just don't root for Bayern. It'll get you killed:-)

Kopf hoch!

Erik

[Charles Stewart]

These anecdotes do indicate the existence of anti-americanism in Germany, but they do not help us to see how bad it is, particularly when compared with other european countries. An american could have a similar experience in Britain (without the language difficulties). There *must* be surveys done that nail down the extent of the problem: where are they?

[ian]

Dear N H,

My experience here in Berlin seems to be exactly the same. I have no ideas and no solutions, all I can try to do is reason. Interestingly enough, I am not even American but it is just expected that I share the same lunatic views as most of the Germans I meet. It seems that wherever two or more Germans gather, there is some kind of competition to come up with the best (read: most offensive) story about the US/Bush. Walking away from such stupidity seems like condoning it so I always have to put in a dissenting voice. I know I won't change any dogmatic opinions but maybe someone in the group will benefit from the fact that not everyone agrees with them.

Incidently, I have been here for nearly two years now and this strange, perverted, view of America, with accompanying antagonism, has been here since I arrived. This is not a new phenomenon and it probably will not change within our lifetime. I wish it would. I wish it would.

Kopf hoch,

Ian

[JSS]

In my experience, both from living in Germany for some years, and as the child of a German immigrant, the Germans are very, very proud of their manners. They are also very proud of their educations, and so it is very difficult indeed to pursuade them that they are incorrect, unless your degree outranks theirs, ie if you can speak as a specialist on the matter.

Therefore, I would suggest that instead of trying to argue with them, simply respond to each anti-american comment with something along the lines of, "My mother taught me it is rude to contradict my host, no matter how much I may disagree." This puts the German in the position of host, which they take quite seriously. You won't change his opinion (which as you've seen won't happen anyway), but at least his behaviour should improve.

[N. Hale 2003]

First let me say this, I was quite surprised by the amount of interest in my last post regarding my view of anti-Americanism in Germany. I wish to express my thanks to those who have responded. I find it easier to continue with my daily life, when I know that there are others who have had similar experiences.

I have a question for all of you out there. What can we do as a group, to help change this anti-Americanism, that is obviously based on misinformation from the mass media? Does anyone have any ideas how we can combat this in the current political environment? How can we motivate the Expatriots to respond in a united front?

To those Expats from the USA like myself, we are all from the "can do" country, let us put our individual talents together and take the bull by the horns. I think that the blogosphere is a great place to express ourselves and want to thank David for his site and expertise in translating all in English.

I wish to extend an invitation to those European nationals who wish to assist in this matter to join us in setting the record straight. Again, I think David has been doing a great job with his Medienkritik site.

I look forward to your responses.

N. Hale 2003

[berlinese]

My experience here in Berlin seems to be exactly the same. I have no ideas and no solutions, all I can try to do is reason. Interestingly enough, I am not even American but it is just expected that I share the same lunatic views as most of the Germans I meet. It seems that wherever two or more Germans gather, there is some kind of competition to come up with the best (read: most offensive) story about the US/Bush. Walking away from such stupidity seems like condoning it so I always have to put in a dissenting voice. I know I won't change any dogmatic opinions but maybe someone in the group will benefit from the fact that not everyone agrees with them.

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http://www.bromastelefono.com/

[double]

Hang in there! Be proud! Walk tall! Many of us have lived in Germany, and, let's face it, it's not the easiest place to live. Still, we've probably all had a lot of great experiences with the people there. As an American, you'll probably be loved in Germany more genuinely than in any other country. At least, I hope that continues to be true. I haven't been there in three years. Have things changed that fast?

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http://www.juegos2005.com/