[popdonnelly]

I was sitting in a coffee shop one day during the Elian Gonzalez controversy. A German tourist took a seat at the table next to me. As he read the paper about the furor created by the possibility of sending Elian back to Cuba, he began a loud complaint so everyone could here. He said it showed how self-righteous America was - typically American.

Now, I am generally not into "manners", but when I go to a foreign country I don't make it a point to insult the country and its citizens in a loud manner. But Mr. Kraut did want everyone in provincial America to know he thought himself morally and philosophically superior to his American hosts.

[popdonnelly]

here=hear

[elhombrelibre]

That's the German arrogance; it's very difficult for them to conceal their disdain for people like us. They're convinced too that the way to peace in the world is to be a soft power. Of course that only works if there is a hard power behind you, but never mind that they forget that fact. They're content to be the scolding pontificators of pacifism.