...and this guy is happy about it.
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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!"
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I don't understand this obsession with Schroeder. It's nearly as bad and nearly as exaggerated as the left's obsession with Bush. Both are neither appropriate, useful, mature nor healthy in my very humble opinion.
I can promise you, you won't be happy with the new Merkel government either, because individuals are important, but not sooooo important in shaping policies and statements.
Anyway, and now for something completely different: Does anyone feel that Bush is talking for you or about you when he said the following the other day?
"German Americans have played an important role in establishing America as a land where liberty is protected for all of its citizens. Each year on German-American Day, we celebrate the contributions the millions of Americans of German descent have made to our great Nation.
Among the early German immigrants, many saw America as a beacon of religious freedom and an opportunity for an improved standard of living. German immigrants helped pioneer the first American colony at Jamestown. Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg served as the first Speaker of the House of Representatives; in this role, he certified the final version of the Bill of Rights.
Throughout our country's history, men and women of German descent have worn the uniform of the United States military to defend our country's freedom. Among these were Admiral Chester Nimitz, Commander in Chief of the United States Pacific Fleet during World War II, and General Dwight D. Eisenhower, who went on to become one of America's Presidents of German ancestry. Today, German-American troops continue to serve proudly in our Nation's Armed Forces.
German Americans have enriched many other aspects of American life. Albert Einstein's advancements in the field of physics help define our understanding of the universe. Theodor Seuss Geisel, more commonly known as Dr. Seuss, has captivated the imaginations of children for generations with his timeless classics. Baseball great Lou Gehrig's courage on and off the field continues to inspire the American spirit more than 60 years after his death.
On German-American Day, we also honor the important friendship between the United States and Germany. Our nations share beliefs in human rights and dignity, and on this day, I join all Americans in celebrating the bonds that tie our two nations and in reaffirming the importance of our continuing friendship.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 6, 2005, as German-American Day. I encourage all Americans to celebrate the many contributions German Americans have made to our Nation's liberty and prosperity.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixth day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirtieth.
GEORGE W. BUSH"
http://www.germany.info/relaunch/politics/new/pol_german_american_day_proclamation_2005.html
Posted by: Atlanticus | October 11, 2005 at 11:51 PM
Atlanticus! What a beautiful post...except we're Americans now. Not German-Americans. Just Americans.
So um, back on topic, how do you think Germans will feel about Gerhard working for the capitalist pig company Merill Lynch?
BWAHAHAHA!
Oh, sorry.
Posted by: Pamela | October 12, 2005 at 02:35 AM
Atlanticus
I think it depends on your expectation of what Merkel can and cannot do. If you are putting this in the context of German American relationship, then nothing will change. If you are referring to what she will do for Germans then I too fear she will fail. It will not be her fault as much as the hand she has been dealt. Then again, I do not think the majority of Germans want her to be sucessful. If they did, then they would have voted differently in the election. The Germans got just what they wanted and should be very happy with the results and the future direction this government will lead them.
To answer your question about GWB. No and no.
Had he have said something to the effect that German Americans have made a great contribution to our nation and this we all can be proud of. Americans have also made a significant contribution to Germany by sharing a common bond of security interests within the framework of NATO.
Today Germany has come of age as a full and mature nation leading Europe. Europe is both at peace and is secure. Therefore the mission of NATO has been accomplished. We will present at the next meeting of the NATO Ministers the US's plan to disband NATO.
Had he have said this, then Yes he would have been speaking for me.
Posted by: joe | October 12, 2005 at 04:00 AM
Have you guys just heard Uncle Gerhards speech at the Unions Meeting on NTV?
OUCH!
Posted by: Doughnut Boy Andy | October 12, 2005 at 01:41 PM
I hope Gerhard enjoys his new career as a blood sucker for Merrill Lynch.
Posted by: LouMinatti | October 12, 2005 at 02:05 PM
@Atlanticus: In contrast to Bush Schröder was caught red-handed in an attempt to steal an election. Just like the American Greens spoilt the Democratic Vote in Florida 2000, the Left Party spoilt his majority, and still he trued to keep up a claim of leadership. Even Al Gore was comparatively reasonable in conceding defeat.
After stepping down, he will hopefully become as irrelevant as Gore. They can pass him trough the talkshows so that he can tell again how he invented the internet.
Posted by: FranzisM | October 13, 2005 at 01:16 AM
"I don't understand this obsession with Schroeder. It's nearly as bad and nearly as exaggerated as the left's obsession with Bush."
I don't entirely understand it myself, Atlanticus, except that Schroeder has become the poster child for the infectious version of Tourette's Syndrome which has overcome the European Left (particularly the German press and political establishment).
Apart from running against Bush rather than his opponent in both 2002 and 2006 Schroeder personally hasn't been as bad as various current and ex-members of his government. At least until his parting shot a couple days ago, that is.
For a long time German politicians and press bemoaned how little attention the US paid them. Well that has changed - and it may yet finish off the NATO alliance.
It's very clear that many Germans don't believe they need NATO any more, so therefore it is at last time for the US to salute and take orders from Germany. What the 68'ers are missing is that the US doesn't need NATO - and never did, at least in the sense that Germany did. The Germans may have been freed from the threat of the USSR, but that doesn't mean that the tables have been turned.
Schroeder and his government behaved as though the tables had been turned and the US was a ally who needed them, but they never seemed to ask what threat the US face or what value Germany can bring to the alliance to justify the demands that the US follow Germany's orders? The overwhelming threat from Canada and/or Mexico, perhaps? China perhaps - someday. But how can Germany help against China - other than not selling advanced military technology to China - something Schroeder was determined to do against the wishes of most of her allies.
Posted by: Don | October 15, 2005 at 03:08 AM
@Pamela: ...we're Americans now....Just Americans.
What means an american? A pseudo english with german surname or maybe
a pizza-eater from "little italy"??? I think americans should loose all
her european habits...and inventing a own national language just spoken in northern america but not in europe! "We're Americans now"...really?
I don't think so!
Posted by: M.S. | October 15, 2005 at 11:20 AM
I don't understand this obsession with Schroeder. It's nearly as bad and nearly as exaggerated as the left's obsession with Bush.
Germans will have additional reasons, but for Americans it's because Schroeder has leveraged his political career on legitimising a socially acceptable and popular bigotry against us. We want the bigot gone.
I'd argue that it isn't the same with Bush, because he's done no such thing. He's guilty of nothing more than adhering to a political philosophy they despise more than themselves. Unless those on the left have an unvoiced (though often-expressed) affinity for and identification with terrorists, that is... in that case, I'll conceded that he's unquestionably leveraged a bias against terrorists, but I'll also posit that this bias should exist without him anyway. It's a bias with actual merit.
Do you see the stark contrast between Bush's attitude toward Germans and Schroeder's attitude toward Americans? Granted, your Bush quote could be expected to be little else than praise on the occasion of announcing German-American Day, but Bush speaks of Germans as respected partners. Schroeder speaks of Americans as distasteful lessers, who unfortunately must be abided because somehow they are inexplicably powerful. Honestly - can you see Schroeder proclaiming a "German-American Day" in Germany, or reciting any list of American "contributions to our nation's liberty and prosperity"? I believe that he'd prefer to erase any record of such contributions having existed.
But remember to chant "Bush alienates the whole world!" at least three times daily. Inculcation beats education, reality be damned.
And to answer your question - yes, I do feel he was talking about me, but indirectly. It was my grandparents who were German-Americans in my mind, and the subsequest generations are American. They unquestionably served and helped build this country; entrepreneurship, a Rosie the Riveter in WWII, military service in WWII and Korea, and moving forward to raise a fine family in this society and personify the American Dream. It's an honor to have their lifetimes of contribution recognized.
Posted by: Doug | October 17, 2005 at 07:38 AM