We noticed an interesting post (in German) over at Statler & Waldorf entitled, "Why Do We Need Pro-American Blogs?" Check it out and be sure to weigh-in with your comments.
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The Debate
- "In much of Europe's public debate, the true meaning of human rights has degenerated into a tool that gives anti-Americanism an aura of legitimacy. The real, horrendous human-rights violations in the Middle East, North Korea, China, Cuba, etc., are largely ignored or relegated to news blurs on the back pages. For front-page coverage, you need an American angle." ---The Wall Street Journal
- "I discovered that European social democracy, too, was a kind of fundamentalism, rigid and doctrinaire, yielding what Swedish writer Johan Norberg calls "one-idea states"—nations where an echo chamber of insular elites calls the shots, where monochrome media daily reiterate statist mantras and shut out contrarian views, and where teachers and professors systematically misrepresent the U.S. (millions of Europeans believe that free public schools, unemployment insurance, and pensions are unknown in America). The more I saw of the European elites' chronic distrust of the public, and the public's habitual deference to those elites, the fonder I grew of the nasty, ridiculous rough-and-tumble of American democracy..." ---Bruce Bawer
- "In the European media as well as on the public stage, prizes and publicity go overwhelmingly to Americans who serve as witnesses against their own government and nation. (...) The defense mechanism is simple enough: "After all, they are saying this, too, so how can we be accused of anti-Americanism?" A similar phenomenon attaches itself to Israel, where "post-" or anti-Zionist spokesmen are given top billing in the European media." ---Josef Joffe
- "The point is to be aware that for many of the foreigners issuing what they claim to be "simply constructive criticism", the evidence shows that criticizing America is all they do, criticizing America is all they ever have done, and criticizing America is all they ever will do." ---Erik Svane, Americans Anonymous
- "To get an impression, take a look at David's Medienkritik, a Web log in English dedicated, among other things, to exposing biased reporting on the United States in the German media. Be it stories about the war in Iraq, the conduct of U.S. soldiers abroad, American reservations regarding the Kyoto Protocol and the International Criminal Court or even the Katrina disaster, more often than not the German public is presented with a distorted picture. There are laudable exceptions. But generally the blows are low, and the public is left to form its opinion base on half-truths and false analyses." ---Julian Knapp
- "Negative sentiments and views have been driven not only - or even primarily - by what the United States does, but rather by an animus against what Europeans have believed that America is. While the politics, style, and discourse of the Bush terms - and of President Bush as a person - have undoubtedly exacerbated anti-American sentiment among Europeans and fostered a heretofore unmatched degree of unity between elite and mass opinion in Europe, they are not anti-Americanism's cause. Indeed, a change to a center-left administration in Washington, led by a Democratic president, would not bring about its abatement, let alone its disappearance." ---Andrei Markovits
- "Anti-Americanism is hypocrisy at its finest. You can spend your evening catching the latest episode of "24" and then complain about Guantanamo the next morning. You can claim that the Americans have themselves to blame for terrorism, while at the same time calling for tougher restrictions on Muslim immigration to Germany. You can call the American president a mass murderer and book a flight to New York the next day. You can lament the average American's supposed lack of culture and savvy and meanwhile send off for the documents for the Green Card lottery. Not a day passes in Germany when someone isn't making the wildest claims, hurling the vilest insults or spreading the most outlandish conspiracy theories about the United States. But there's no risk involved and it all serves mainly to boost the German feeling of self-righteousness." ---C.C. Malzahn
- "The protests against nuclear weapons, for instance, concentrated on American weapons. The anti-war rallies were against American-led wars. The anti death penalty campaign focused on Texas. A pattern was emerging and has never seriously been altered. A pattern of willingness to condemn America for the tiniest indiscretion - or to magnify those indiscretions - while leaving the murderers, dictators, and thieves who run other nations oddly untouched." ---Justin Webb
- The fundamental role of anti-Americanism in Europe in general, and particularly among those on the Left, is to absolve themselves of their own moral failings and intellectual errors by heaping them onto the monster scapegoat, the United States of America. For stupidity and bloodshed to vanish from Europe, the U.S. must be identified as the singular threat to democracy (contrary to every lesson of actual history)." ---Jean-François Revel
- "In five years there will be a different President and Iraq will likely be pacified. That would naturally have impacts on the strength of the resentments that have fixed themselves onto certain individuals in the present situation. But beneath the surface smolder the long-burning embers of latent anti-Americanism. It has a long tradition and will remain, also when President Bush is no longer in office and Palestine is peaceful." ---Lutz Erbring
- "A writer for the German weekly Der Spiegel told me during the Iraq debate not to take offense at the crude anti-American covers of the magazine such as the ugly, bearded, drooling Rambo figure it used to show the typical GI in Iraq. 'We're just trying to please our million readers,' he explained." ---Jeff Gedmin
Testimonials
- "...the best web guide to the German media is Davids Medienkritik." ---American Thinker
- "To David-- An army of you! Keep that slingshot ready!" Glenn Reynolds
- "The best blog on German politics" Andrew Sullivan
- "For daily commentary on the hostile German press, we direct you to Davids Medienkritik which we recommend reading on a regular basis." Geopolitical Review
- "I'm going to have to keep an eye on this gem of a blog."
- "David's Medienkritik is an essential read for a perspective on the European media."
- "By the way, Medienkritik is an excellent blog, and so I am adding it to the Daily Pundit blogroll."
- "I applaud David for his stance against the trashy media here in Germany"
- "Ausgezeichneter Blog, Glückwunsch! Habe sofort gebookmarkt. Ich dachte schon, ich sei der einzige, der unter der Käseglocke der deutschen Medienlandschaft erstickt... der Blog ist wie ein Hauch frischer Luft, keep up the good work!"
IG Metall
DER SPIEGEL
STERN
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After reading the comments section on the Statler & Waldorf blog I keep asking myself "Why do decent conservatives allow lefties (i.e. socialists and communists) to comment on their blogs? I know it's a lot of work to delete unwanted comments but there has to be a way of keeping the left out. Don't get me wrong I'm all for freedom of speech but not for communists / socialists. They've had their say far too long and I don't want to hear from them again, ever!
Posted by: disillusioned_german | September 06, 2005 at 12:13 AM
I agree with the sentiment Statler expresses in his posting. As for the comments concerning Medienkritik, some of them are fitting, some of them aren't. I obviously agree with the notion that Medienkritik "deepens the transatlantican divide" (neokomplott). I've said pretty much the same thing. I don't know whether you "like to delete criticism" (buenavista); so far, you've let my comments in peace, even though I have been critical. (That might be because you don't think me worth your time, I don't know. But I prefer to think of you more favourably ;).)
Posted by: St.Roch | September 06, 2005 at 12:25 AM
@ St.Roch,
We don't normally erase critical comments. But we do have a clear comments policy and we follow it. It seems that all of the DMK "haters" have congregated over at Statler & Waldorf because they know they can get away with ripping us over there.
Anyway, I firmly believe that we aren't the ones "deepening the transatlantic divide." The people and media that we report on are the ones "deepening the divide." If they didn't exhibit the sort of hatred and outrageous bias towards the USA that they do on a daily basis then this blog would cease to exist. That is a simple, undeniable fact.
And please, don't blame us for not keeping quiet about it. The German media is what it is and people have a right to know exactly how the German media is negatively impacting German thought and opinion on the US. And as long as they keep on doing what they do, we will keep on doing what we do...and we don't ever plan to stop. And, let me be really clear about this: We won't ever apologize to anyone, anywhere for who we are or what we do.
That said, we are interested in differing points of view as long as they remain civil and respectful. This is about having a discussion about the German media. We appreciate people like you St.Roch and you know (from your own experience) that we don't erase comments just because someone doesn't agree with us.
Posted by: RayD | September 06, 2005 at 12:53 AM
Ray D.:
>>We don't normally erase critical comments. But we do have a clear comments policy and we follow it. It seems that all of the DMK "haters" have congregated over at Statler & Waldorf because they know they can get away with ripping us over there.<<
Ah. I guessed as much.
>>Anyway, I firmly believe that we aren't the ones "deepening the transatlantic divide." <<
Yes, I believe that's what you believe. But please understand that I'm not seeing it this way. You're right that the media are biased in Germany. And you've got a right - and my support - to criticize them for it as long as they keep that attitude. Loudly, even. But I think you're sometimes over-reacting. And when a German stumbles upon this blog and reads several of these articles in a row, he's going to think "what's their problem? stupid blog. stupid americans" because the criticism he sees is unwarranted (to him). He won't notice that there are many other articles that are very justified in their criticism, simply because he'll never visit the site again, or delve too deeply into the archives. He'll leave with the impression that "the Americans" are cranky, don't react well to criticism, can't laugh at a joke and are altogether just as stupid as the media tell him they are. And I think that's sad, and avoidable.
I'm not out to change your attitude. This is your blog and David's. But, again, I think you could very well do what you've always intended to do - alert people about the bias of German media - and function as bridge between Europe and America.
Posted by: St.Roch | September 06, 2005 at 01:21 AM
St.Roch,
from some of your previous comments I have come to appreciate your well-reasoned criticism of much of what is said around here. however, I fail to understand how you can blame a pro-american blog for deepening the trans-atlantic divide ? do you not agree that there is a poisened athmosphere of spite and malice in the press whenever it comes to America ? don't you think that this is not all about bashing her president and the "neocons" but about America herself ? I know you agree that those resentments run very deep with the German people and I think it is not entirely wrong to blame the media for it. how can you blame this blog and others like it for pointing out that poison affecting peoples' minds ? pointing out old Europe's conceit and self-righteousness whenever it comes to lecturing the America about morale and people's rights. how do you explain for the fact that leading politicians dare to spit in her face only days before national elections, by scorning her elected leaders in the hour of a national catastophe, if it were not for the fact that this is exactly what the German people like to hear ? you know and i know they do, St.Roch, and not because of this blog. if americans, because of this blog, begin to realize what germany really thinks of them, it is not DMK to take the blame. i think they have a right to know what's going on here. do you not agree ?
Posted by: Toby | September 06, 2005 at 01:22 AM
@Toby: Yes, no argument. But I was primarily thinking about the German side, as I explained to Ray.
Posted by: St.Roch | September 06, 2005 at 01:25 AM
@ St.Roch,
Well, you are right in a sense. We are not a blog for Germans who basically think their media is objective with just a few exceptions. There are clearly many Germans who are so used to the decades of bias that they have come to see it as perfectly normal. So, yeah, maybe they would have a problem with this site. But that doesn't mean that what we have to say isn't valid or right. It just means most Germans aren't used to seeing this form of criticism and might react adversely to it or perceive it as over-reaction.
We are under no illusions about how long it will take to change attitudes on both sides of the Atlantic. Clearly, we aren't going to change things overnight. This will probably take years or even decades. But every journey begins with one step and we are going to see that journey through.
And by the way, David is German and I am a dual citizen (German-American). So to call us Americans is only 25% accurate.
Posted by: RayD | September 06, 2005 at 01:41 AM
RayD:
>>It just means most Germans aren't used to seeing this form of criticism and might react adversely to it or perceive it as over-reaction.<<
Of course. But don't you think that sometimes, you have over-reacted? That's my impression in a few cases. I had been reading your blog for a week or so, with no complaints (or I would have voiced them). But then came along the Trittin comments which I felt were unfairly biased (and I've made clear that I may vote for the Greens but that I've got no love for Trittin himself). There have been similar issues where I think you jumped into the fray far too emotionally charged. Not many, but they're there.
Of course Medienkritik isn't nearly as responsible for the American/German division as the German media. But it's not helping, either. And that's a sad thing because, although I realize that this is not your main aim, I think it could.
>>And by the way, David is German and I am a dual citizen (German-American). So to call us Americans is only 25% accurate.<<
Oh. I'm sorry I didn't realize this. It does tell something about your (David's at least) skill with the English language, though :).
Posted by: St.Roch | September 06, 2005 at 02:18 AM
I think the US media is every bit as bad as the glimpses of the German MSM that Medienkritik lets us non German speakers see. I don't give them (the US MSM) a free pass either. That said I don't see the hate in the US MSM that I see in many of these articles. That kind of thing would only be seen in some trash throw away publication of some off the wall political movement or some sick website. These are unfortunately major German publications. You can't deny that.
Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom | September 06, 2005 at 02:19 AM
@ St.Roch
OK, fair enough, and you are honest about your viewpoint. We are glad to have a different, honest point of view about what we do. Some people think we occasionally go too far, others think we sometimes don't go far enough. I can say that David and I are satisfied that the work we do is worthwhile and necessary.
Posted by: RayD | September 06, 2005 at 03:08 AM
"There have been similar issues where I think you jumped into the fray far too emotionally charged. Not many, but they're there."
See, to me this is bordering on double standards. Not by you necessarily, but I have heard this so often... that the right-of-center gets called out for being "too emotional", while the other side gets a soft chuckle and an eye-roll when they are overly emotional. *shrug*
"Of course Medienkritik isn't nearly as responsible for the American/German division as the German media. But it's not helping, either. And that's a sad thing because, although I realize that this is not your main aim, I think it could."
I can't imagine exactly how Medienkritik isn't helping more than harming. IMO, shaming them (if they had any *ahem* ;) ) by highlighting just in what way they are expressing anti-Americanisms is quite useful. If it helps folks reflect a little more it does help repair the German/American divide. ;)
But then there are Americans who believe non-Americans are getting a tainted picture when other Americans in the media who spend lots of time highlighting how much America is the source of so much that is wrong with the world are not helping with the World/America rift. :)
Posted by: Anondson | September 06, 2005 at 03:08 AM
It's easy to *know* a lie when one's own intentions are misrepresented.
"The people and media that we report on are the ones "deepening the divide."
...yep, the German media seem to have a distorted view of reality...they feed from the conflicts they amplify, distort and help perpetuate. They hunger for damning evidence they "know" exists...but they don't *know*...
so they lie
...they lie to maintain their sanity...
they lie to maintain their world-view
They are "reporters" - jack of alltrades, master of none. Some have a strong, clear grasp of reality, others are so well versed as to seem to be mind-readers...and I always say beware of mind-readers...people that "know" what you think...people that claim to "know" what will happen...these are often the same people that are pondering the worst that can happen, instead of proposing the most viable solutions...
I want solutions, not more problems people.
German media (as the majority of American mainstream media) can be given credit for their part in perpetuating hateful stereotypes...for contributing to the ignorance to their countrymen. I see that stern mag with its "Bush as Hitler" pose...that's quite a bit of work there...finding the right angle, make sure he's waving to someone with his left hand...good job stern...you get the point through just fine...I'm sure the people of the Party of Lincoln, the party that freed the slaves can appreciate how their extreme right wing views put them on the equivalence trail with Hitler...
...oh...yeah...I know a lie when I see it...
This blog points out some of those lies propogating in German over there. What one thinks about this spotlight being good or bad says more about them than this blog. I tend toward learning the truth, speaking the truth, and working to make this a better world.
Obviously not everyone is on the same page.
I don't see solutions, I see lots of bitching, fingerpointing and projection...infantile attitudes and adolescent logic.
Welcome to the mainstream media.
Posted by: Orbit Rain | September 06, 2005 at 03:11 AM
Sadly it seems that the MSM in general (and that includes the US itself) is anti-American. There is only one European newspaper I consider generally balanced in that regard - the Telegraph. Thankfully the blogsphere has done a lot of good by giving decent people with an open mind a chance to see what is happening. Why do you think it is that - apart from Sky Digital (which is admittedly owned by Mr. R.M.) - no other European media service provider has allowed Fox News onto their airwaves? I can only urge other like-minded folks in Germany to write to their cable companies asking to get Fox News on there. It really is like a breeze of fresh air. I'm still ashamed to be German nonetheless. What I've read on German media websites the past couple of days has definetely "taken the biscuit".
Posted by: disillusioned_german | September 06, 2005 at 03:52 AM
I think the only way you will see reform of German media is if Germany pays an economic price for it. I think Americans need to be made aware of it. Unfortunately, the US media doesn't report on this type of stuff. They don't spend their time investigating European countries. Germany should be happy that most Americans are unaware of the viscious anti-American propaganda in German media and ingrained anti-Americanism of Germans, because I suspect that it would lead to many Americans to boycott German goods.
Posted by: atmx | September 06, 2005 at 04:24 AM
St. Roche, you're just not used to having your dirty linen washed in public.
You'll get used to it. We have.
Posted by: grlzjustwant2havefun | September 06, 2005 at 07:01 AM
But then came along the Trittin comments which I felt were unfairly biased
thereby demonstrating that you haven't bothered even to check the easily available online information from hurricane experts, who clearly show that Trittin's comments not only have no basis in science, the quantitative evidence clearly shows that the opposite is true.
If you are too ideological to factcheck something this straightforward, why should we pay attention to your political comments?
Posted by: Robin Burk | September 06, 2005 at 03:04 PM
Just to clarify that comment: setting aside the odious and reprehensibly smug delight in the suffering of others for a moment, Trittin's basic claims about a link between Katrina and current US policies is not only not supported by the science, there is clear, significant and extensive scientific data that contradicts those claims.
So he's both wrong on the facts and also beneath contempt as a human being.
Posted by: Robin Burk | September 06, 2005 at 03:06 PM
"You're right that the media are biased in Germany. And you've got a right - and my support - to criticize them for it as long as they keep that attitude. Loudly, even. But I think you're sometimes over-reacting. And when a German stumbles upon this blog and reads several of these articles in a row, he's going to think "what's their problem? stupid blog. stupid americans" because the criticism he sees is unwarranted (to him)."
But you misunderstand if you think that ANY message will be 100% effective
Of course some, and maybe even many or most, Germans who view this blog will go away thinking as you describe
But some, and I hope a growing number, will begin to understand that their media is one-sided and that the america bashing has influenced them to hold some opinions that are not valid
The US isn't really the source of most of the worlds problems as the German ( and often US! ) MSM assert
Posted by: Pogue Mahone | September 06, 2005 at 04:28 PM
Well put Pogue...we can't work miracles here.
Posted by: RayD | September 06, 2005 at 04:51 PM
RayD:
>>OK, fair enough, and you are honest about your viewpoint. We are glad to have a different, honest point of view about what we do. Some people think we occasionally go too far, others think we sometimes don't go far enough. I can say that David and I are satisfied that the work we do is worthwhile and necessary.<<
Fair enough. Ok, I'll let it stand at that.
Anondson:
>>I can't imagine exactly how Medienkritik isn't helping more than harming. IMO, shaming them (if they had any *ahem* ;) ) by highlighting just in what way they are expressing anti-Americanisms is quite useful. If it helps folks reflect a little more it does help repair the German/American divide. ;)<<
All true. But that works only if there are actually a great number of Germans reading this blog. Not just one or two.
Robin Burk:
>>thereby demonstrating that you haven't bothered even to check the easily available online information from hurricane experts, who clearly show that Trittin's comments not only have no basis in science, the quantitative evidence clearly shows that the opposite is true.<<
Simple googling turns up, for example, this, this, and this. You might call at least one of these sources biased, ok. And yes, google also finds pages that say that all this global warming hysteria is indeed nothing but this: hysteria. The only fact is that there is no final, 100% factual proof that either side is right. The claims Trittin has actually made are supported by these websites. That doesn't mean they're neccessarily correct, but they're not neccessarily false, either.
>>Trittin's basic claims about a link between Katrina and current US policies is not only not supported by the science, there is clear, significant and extensive scientific data that contradicts those claims.<<
Which is probably why Trittin didn't claim anything like this. There's a lot to be angry about in his articles, and if one is so inclined, one can guess that Trittin intended to blame Bush's policies for Katrina. But did he outright say so? No. Please stop believing what others tell you he said and do your own factchecking. You don't even have to google, I've accumulated all information in the comments section of the articles "German-American friendship" and "Lecturing the American friends while they drown".
Posted by: St.Roch | September 07, 2005 at 12:04 AM
David, You are tilting at windmills attempting to placate St Roch. He is classically "shooting the messenger!" It isn't the hateful implications, the ugly bias caricatures or the myopic obsession with doom, gloom, race and failure in the German MSMs. . . no, no, the only problem is that you would have the testikels to point it out.
St Roch, find me similar articles (or even one) in an American MSM magazine or publication. STERN and DER SPEIGEL being the equivalent of a TIME or NEWSWEEK. I have played this game with my Germans friends who, because of the nonsense spewed by the German medias, were absolutely certain that the NEOCON extreme rightwing controls the American media. Which, if that were true, then obviously the anti- European/ anti-Old Europe/ anti-French/ anti-German etc, in it would be ubiquitous.
Oddly enough, none have found and sent me an article yet, even from the dreaded FOX. I must say that if this is the "sophistication" and "nuanced" understanding that Europeans possess and Americans lack, then you all can keep it.
I venture out into the world out of curiosity and wonder, not to find difference that I can highlight to criticize and smugly use to point out my own superiority.
I had a wonderful time living in Europe but the rose colored blinders definately came off about them and their world view. There are just as many German/Alabama rednecks as there are Bavarian/American rednecks, it just sounds "cooler" when you are narrow minded and parochial in a foreign language.
Tyranno
Posted by: Tyranno | September 07, 2005 at 05:14 AM
St.Roch:
>>St Roch, find me similar articles (or even one) in an American MSM magazine or publication.<<
And I would have to do that because...? I have neither accused David and Ray of "being hypocrites because the American media hate Germany, too" (which I neither believe nor have evidence about), nor have I said that it's wrong what the two are doing. I have said that I think they're sometimes overdoing it and losing objectivity. Ray has accepted that as an opinion differing from his own, end of argument.
Posted by: St.Roch | September 07, 2005 at 02:11 PM