Free Republic

Speaking of Germany, it allows private schools, even religious schools. But all these schools have to teach a basic curriculum, made by the government (e.g. evolution). That is to maintain a certain standard for all students, and to keep the graduation comparable.

Germany does not deliver arms to Iran, but to Israel.
What´s your point?

I am a German, and fully a philosemit.
It´s not out of guilt, it´s because of our responsibility for the present. Who knows better than Germans that the Jewish heritage needs to be protected against its enemies?
There is no greater support for Israel compared to our friendship with France, the Netherlands, Poland or Britain. We have strong bonds within the EU. The thing is, that we don´t need to repeat that all the time, unlike our relations to Israel. Israel´s future is at risk, so it needs our solidarity and support. Other countries should do the same as we do, but they fail. So, I wouldn´t say our support for Israel is under a general view outstanding, it is outstanding because the rest of the world fails! We don´t do more than what we should do when a democratic and free country is threatened by its terrorist neighbours.

You´re denying the fact that Israel and Germany have a deep friendship since 1949, and that Germany is Israel´s second best ally, right behind the US. Military and armament support have been just one point, mutual visits from the head-of-state-level down to students exchanges another.

The problem is our people. They got the wrong message: not “no war” is the lesson from WW2, but “no tyranny”.
A minority understands that leaving Afghanistan would directly harm our national security, but thankfully the majority in the parliament and government knows that.

Because Merkel wants to be “all buddy buddy” with everyone in her election year. But then again... the Turkish President didn´t get a smile from her at the receipton yesterday, and the Russians aren´t on her “hot list”, too.

But, good news for y´all: Germans love America again (thanks to Barrack Hussein). 73% of Germans say that the US is a close ally they can trust in (78% for France, 68% for UK), while a majority says they can´t rely on China or Russia. lol

... glad we in Germany don´t have these hairnets any longer. They were abolished sometime in the 80´s...

The border patrol does the same with Germans, too. They´re unfriendly. If I were in charge, I´d order them to greet everyone with a smile and a “welcome to Germany”. They should behave as if they served the people, and not themselves.

I suspect that I know the answer to this already, but could it be that Europeans are so easy to impress/fool?

Good question. My newspaper says the same today, quoting Churchill ("the Germans are either at your throat..."), and they distinguish between foreign and local politicians. Germans fell in love with Hasselhoff (not for his music, and his alcohol problem was not much known here, but for Knight Rider and Baywatch. As a child of the 80´s, I was fascinated by Knight Rider as well. Germans fell in love for Al Gore (the brave and unjust loser of 2000 fights for our planet), and now for Obama. Definitely at least 2 points against us! :-)

Is your city ‘hot’ for 0bama?

Not really. There are many who prefer him over McCain, just because they feel stressed when they hear tough words, and they know, they won´t get those from Obama. But it´s largely the media creating this hype. I say I can judge this, since I heard many of friends, colleagues expressing the same view.

Reflects my opinion, too. I´m German, and I´ve no say in US elections. So why is he campaigning in my country? He´ll be welcome as US president (just like a President McCain), since he will represent a befriended nation of my country. But he´s no special person to me. Just a senator of a legislative of a foreign country.

As a German, I´m sick and tired of this Obama-Hype. I can´t stand this man, and I deeply hope that the people of America elect Senator McCain for President. Obama is an empty suit, he stands just for himself. The media praises Obama as the next great leader, who will save the world from all evil. I don´t believe this crap. Unfortunately, too many do. As always, a Republican candidate is never given a chance by the press. So it´s up to you, dear Americans, to give McCain a real chance. God bless!

I think it´s inappropriate to name Obama “the Messiah”. It´s profanity for me, since I believe that there was and is only one Messiah, our Saviour Jesus Christ. And I´m sure that my Messiah can speak German, which is MY native language.

Stop, he will speak NEAR (1/2 mile) not AT the Brandenburg Gate.

Ahh, here it is.

Ok, this is JFK´s note, on which he wrote the two German and the one Latin sentences:

Actually, Kennedy said the phrase two times. The first time, he made the analogy to Rome: “Two thousand years ago ... (repeating because of the noise) two thousand years ago, the proudet boast was: civis romanus sum. Today in the world of freedom, the proudest boast is ´Ich bin ein Berliner´” and as he finishes his speech he said it again in the context of “all free men”.

No, he actually said he was a Berliner:

“All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin. And therefore, as a free man, I take pride in the words: Ich bin ein Berliner!”

And you´re right that his words are not understood in a “pastry context”. A jelly-filled doughnut is called “Berliner” only in West Germany. In Southern Germany it´s called “Krapfen” and in the East they name it “Pfannkuchen” - all three words describe the same thing.

All you errors are belong to US.

Keep up your good work! I was quite happy to see the free world realizing the Chinese oppression of Tibet, and now the Chi-Coms are trying to distract from this. No Communist Olympics for me. And I will never spend a cent for or in an unfree country (the only exception may be to pay for a regime change).

Let freedom ring from the snow-covered mountains in Tibet to the green meadows at the Southern Chinese Sea!

Let freedom ring from the Taiwanese coastline to the Great Wall!

Let freedom ring!

I like your tagline!

Actually, the chairwoman of the CDU is Angela Merkel, since 2000. And Mr. Kauder is the chairman of the CDU parliamentary group in the federal parliament. And while my party is not nearly as powerful as the NSDAP was, it´s gladly the most influential party in Germany. We have 11 of 16 governors, half of the federal cabinet, the Chief Justice, the Federal President and most of mayors and city councils. We are Christian Democrats, believing in God, country, and the good sites of individuals. And when Chavez calls me a Nazi, I thank him, because from his far left viewpoint (almost as much left, that he comes back from the right side) I must be right in the middle of society. :-)

God bless Germany, America and the entire free world! And may our Heavenly Father give Mr. Chavez what he deserves.

Nope. She should be there, and she should make clear that the other Latin American countries cannot expect good relations with Europe when they follow Chavez´ path. And that´s what she did (behind closed doors).

I´ll start praying for a President called John McCain rather sooner than later.

Time to pull the plug on Operation Chaos! It is working too well!

Exactly what the GOP needed this year! If it weren´t the Democrats, one could feel sorry for them. ;)

Woohoo!! Hail to the Chief, President John McCain!! Prepare the McCain Fries for party!! :-)

Yeah, it was a Pommeranian grenadier, but I wasn´t sure how to spell Pommern and “Grenadier” in English, so I chose a not-so specific description. Pommerania was part of Prussia, and a grendaier is a soldier. :-)

Bismarck would not waste the bones of a single Prussian soldier for the Balkans. I don´t think that this is an option now, especially, since Prussia ceased to exist in 1945.

Can´t say that I share your sentimnent. Actually, I feel Schadenfreude. I´m still having the evil comments on Airbus´ miscalculations in mind.

Exactly. Sarkozy and Merkel won´t attend the ceremony - only PM Brown. Prove you have balls, Mr. President and let the Chicoms eat rice!

Who says or where stands that some ancestors are from “the old country”? There´s a region of Hamburg called “das alte Land” (literally translated: the old country/land). Is that a possible location? But then again, there may be several regions worldwide called like that.

Thankfully, the next US president - whoever it may be - will close Camp X-Ray, and it´s high time!

You´re right GSC - and pictures are better than radio. Problem is, that maybe just 10% of N Koreans have TV access. And power must be for rich only, as we can see that there are no lights on at night. The people of N Korea is too weak to stand up against their prison-guards. And we can hardly do a thing as long as China supports that - and does almost the same in Tibet.

Tibet, Myanmar (formerly Birma), N Korea - when will freedom prevail?

What a sad picture. That says it all!

I can´t get over the ignorance of our societies. Throughout the past decades, everyone felt pretty comfortable by ignoring the Tibet and Taiwan questions. Thankfully, the Taiwans are still free - but a majority of them is trying to bring the country closer to China, on the cost of the minority. Considering the presence of Myanmar/Bhirma in the news these days, I have a bad feeling about Tibet. The Chi-Coms are already taking care of the “problem” their usual way. In a few weeks, everybody is looking forward to see great games, because Tibet will be a non-issue - just like it has been in the past. Depressing!

It´s not about the Olympics, it´s not about sports or economics at all. It´s about freedom and morale! The entire free world should put low prices aside when it means to support a country that enslaves its citizens!

I understand that JFK isn´t popular among conservatives in America, but he got one thing right:

“Freedom is indivisible. When one man is enslaved, all are not free.”

While we cannot interfere in China and liberate the people of Tibet, we can show solidarity - by cancelling the Olympics, and by starting a boycot of Chinese goods. China is powerful. But in the end, freedom must prevail!

Happy Easter. But you don´t buy that, do you? There was no intention at all to put these “informations” to a probe. I mean, the US administration screwed the entire arguments for the Iraq war so terribly up, one cannot blame it on one dis-informant. And even worse, how can one blame German intel for sharing informations, that even the German government labeled as “not trustworthy”? I really expected the CIA to be better than that. Heck, just imagine for a second how the US would stand these days if there had been no Iraq war, and forget for a second the money it has cost.

Peter, we haven´t seen the bottom of the baisse right now. Nahh, this is not the end (of the baisse). It is is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning!

I realize noboy mentioned it before, so I´ll do the job:

I realize noboy mentioned it before, so I´ll do the job:

Yep, we are in a box. Oh, wait, actually, we´re in a cage - with the Linkspartei being the snake awaiting to eat finally the rabbit. The other rabbit is almost eaten up - the SPD. 22% compared to 14% for the Commies is not what you can call a “Volkspartei”.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTzYAUnjso4
How did you like Putin´s Kampfschlumpf?

I pray for a victory next year, but chances are at best 50:50.

Btw, good for you that McCain is leading now in polls. And I hope that the Obama hype has finally ended.

Best regards!

I´m afraid to disturb your view of the world, but the ca. 5 billion US $ exports from Germany to Iran in 2006 are far from being 1% of Germany´s exports. The problem is not Germany, the problem are the UN veto powers China and Russia.

Which genocide is a “minor faux pas” at all? And which murder can be called “minor”? Killing a human being is the ultimative crime. One can distinguish between the number of victims, but murder always is the most severe crime. No other nation has “made up” with its dark chapters of history like Germany, though there are many which are guilty of genocide, too. The relationship Germany has with Israel today is a great example that forgiving (a country) doesn´t mean forgetting.

How comes you´re using that unfriendly words about her? After all, it was Merkel who addressed Iran, human rights issues in China and Russia right from the taking the oath as Chancellor. I don´t think that there´s space for reproaching her with failure in foreign policy, except maybe the lack of support for more German troops in Afghanistan.

Merkel spoke well, and I think Germany - my country - is dealing very responsible and appropriate with its past. I like the strong support for Israel, which is outstanding in Europe.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel earned a standing ovation from Israel's parliament Tuesday after pledging to stand by Israel's side against any threat, particularly from Iran, and paying tribute to the victims of the Holocaust.

Bump that. May the great countries of Israel and Germany, and as well the bond between both states, never cease to exist!

I agree that the best method of stock investing is to buy a constant amount of money regulary. As you said: “It all averages out.”

Weren´t the brokers saying this when the Dow reached an all time high last year??

So you agree that the world's problems are best solved when the US is more willing to act unilaterally?

Definitely not. I can´t see where I should have expressed that. But global problems can be best solved when they´re not ignored or played down. I expect from a US president to push for reasonable solutions, and to be honest, President Bush has disappointed me with regard to Iran lately.

"Don´t worry, the Iraq war destroyed all the US reputation, but Barrack Osama will build it up again! :-/

The first half of the sentence is the present, the second is the future. My Icon is an expression of sadness/anxiousness. Although I think that Mr. Obama will make America looking better in the eyes of the world, because he won´t act "unilaterally", he´s also the worst choice for the global problems. So while I hope that the US reputation will increase (because you are our natural friend - given our cultural bonds), I hope it won´t be Obama doing that, but McCain.

These days, Army national guard patrols JFK airport, too.