Posted on 05/16/2005 11:20:04 AM PDT by GoethesFaust
Hello there!
I am new to this forum. I am from Germany and I am interested in politics. I want to learn more from the US especially besides our papers and TV.
So as a start-up my question is: What do you think about WWII? Was everything such simple. Have there been certain interests of the Allies? What was the role of the UK? Was Germany the biggest danger or was it Russia?
Many question, I know. :) But more interesting for me: What is your point of view regarding Germany today? How do you consider the current politics of Germany?
And...of course, I would appreciate questions from your side.
Best regards from Germany GF
"Allowing immigrants (legally) into a country is not liberal. It's realistic.
In my country,(the grand ole USA!!) almost EVERYONE is an immigrant or decends from immigrants. It is how this nation was born.
It is the liberals (here, at least) who seem to cry for open borders with no regulation whatsoever. To anyone who stands for upholding and enforcing the immigration laws they cry "racism" and "ati-immigration" which is simply not the case."
This is just similar to Germany. Instead of the liberals you have Rot/Grün here which stands for the coalition between the SPD (Socialitic-democratic party of Germany) and Die Grünen (the green ones - which has it´s history in their "protect the nature" thinking). In case of critizising rising crime, taking advantage from our social net and danger for our culture due to the infiltration they like to call you a Nazi and everything is fine and calm after that. Everybody who is able to define national socialism and fascism knows that this is absolutely bullshit.
"(...)She has had two children while living in BErlin. For each child she was given money! Just for having a baby!! While it's nice for her and her husband, there is NO reason for it. It is a strain on the economy and unfair to those who do not have children. Why should a childless couple/person have to shell out their tax money to hand over to a brood mare? Throw in the fact that the immigrants from Turkey and other places tend to have many more children and there's a problem.
Some assistance is OK but only to a point. Socialist governments tend to be "nanny" states and take the incentive out of working hard and paying ones own way. Eventually people forget how to take care of themselves and a sense of entitlement grows."
You are absolutely right. Talking about child and supporting parents is always good during election. Especially our foreign "Germans" like to have children (up to 10 each family) and you can imagine whom they are going to vote, then. The German families have each 1,2 childs (statistic value) at present. We are going to die out.
"Do you think the Christian Democrats are much different from the Social Democrats in Germany? How much of a difference would it make if the Christian Democrats won the elections?"
Well, Nooseman has already given an answer in principle. I would be glad if the Christian Democrats take back the power in 2006 (next weekend we have an election here on state level - hopefully with the same result). But I see problems with their current foreman: Angela Merkel. I do not trust her and she is a possible candidate for becoming chancellor. I would prefer Edmund Stoiber. He is connected with the CSU, a sister party of the CDU (Christion Democratic...) which is locally powerful in Bavaria. They more conservative compared with the CDU and many things are better in Bavaria than in the rest of the country (Bavaria is situated in the south. Perhaps you heared about the Oktober Fest in Munich - well known).
"I hope you find some way to free your country from its latest incarnation of totalitarianism, the one that makes it illegal for you to speak the truth as you see it. It's only a matter of time, of course, before the Muslims push you hard enough to provoke the inevitable backlash against their barbarism... until then, Germany will have little to contribute to the wider world."
The definitive prerequisite for that will be a change of gouvernment in 2006!
P.S.: This is more a way I prefer to talk to you. Greets from the "forum troll" ;)
A good overview (with links to various articles) to the soul of American conservatism could be viewed here. Anything less than this would be considered leftists by US standards. This would put 90% of a typical non-US Westerner's beliefs as to the left of American political right, and the other 10% of beliefs as to the right of US political centre. This is perfectly normal because American conservatism is a completely different animal:
http://www.claremont.org/localliberty/archives/003145.html
Over here in the states, the ultra left-wing liberals like to throw around the term "Nazi" as well. They constantly call "another Hitler" and the Republican Party "Nazis". This is simply due to ignorance and trying to come up with the nastiest insult possible. We on the Right tend to call them what they are: Commie-loving, socialist America haters.;)
It seems to me that you are frustrated with the way your country is going. Keep searching and stay informed. And by all means, do not be afraid to speak your mind and speak out against the socialistic crap (and against the EU!!) infiltrating Europe as a whole.
Europe is a beautiful place and each nation within it is unique in its culture and history. To lose that in order to be politically correct would be tragic.
In today's world, with the lurking threat of terrorism coming from the insane Islamofascists (who want to kill any and everyone who doesn't march to their backwards drumbeat) and also the threat of losing the national identities of beautiful cultures to PC "multi-culturalism" - one must stay ever vigilant and hold onto what you hold dear. Be active, stay informed and utilize the power you have (at the ballot box, letter-writing, protest etc..) to preserve things and to allow for acceptable and reasonable change when needed. I hope that makes sense!
Overall, I believe that what a lot of us here at Free Republic do. There are many who do A LOT more than I and they are important and patriotic people who serve this nation well. I am constantly proud to be associated with them through this website.
This is a great place which is full of knowledge, humor and information. You wioll find a vast array of opinions and persons here. The biggest thing we have in common, in my opinion, is that we TRULY love the USA and what the USA stands for in the world. We believe in Freedom and we believe in conservative values.
Anyway - I hope you'll stick around. Perhaps you can teach some of your more liberal countrymen a few things. You will find that Americans are NOT ignorant nor are they arrogant as many accuse us of being.
: )
You said you live in Cologne. Then do Germany, do North-Rhine-Westphalia and do your city a favour: get a better state government!! Everywhere the (Enviro-)Socialists are in, they ruin it.
Your chance on Sunday!
Oh, and even better than voting is to encourage your friends, relatives and neighbours to vote for a new government! The more people disapprove the socialists, the better for your state!
"Anyway - I hope you'll stick around. Perhaps you can teach some of your more liberal countrymen a few things. You will find that Americans are NOT ignorant nor are they arrogant as many accuse us of being."
What shall I say: I am astonished. I had a conversation today with a collegue about my experience here. I said that I am very suprised about the knowledge and the interst in EU and/or German subjects. As you mentioned above, yes, one of those stereotypes are ignorant and arrogant. But this is one of the reasons why I am here. I want to make up my own mind. Now I tend to classify you more as proud and straight.
Both things are missing here in that country and I do not know anyone who really loves his (Germany) country. Perhaps the ones in Bavaria. But they have better circumstances down there.
There is simply nothing to be proud on. Our history has been reduced to the chapter national socialism. This chapter isn´t really a chapter to be proud of. And since the 80´s thing are getting more and more worse here. Again nothing to be proud on.
As I have already stated: The only chance is a change of the gouvernment. But you can influence the people so easy. A few spots in TV, a little bit advertising and they believe and vote again the current gouvernment.
On the other side some people become extreme national as a result of the PC here combined with a bad economic situation - expecially in eastern Germany. They are grouped around a party called NPD which is, according to my opinion, really neo-national socialistic. This is a very bad thing to all conservatives here because the other side can use the extreme ones for their propaganda in order to make the conservatives bad as well. We have a weird situation at the moment. Hopefully we will have a wise turn back on the correct lane without any extreme reactions.
"Oh, and even better than voting is to encourage your friends, relatives and neighbours to vote for a new government! The more people disapprove the socialists, the better for your state!"
Politics isn´t something to aproach with at your neighbour here. It is kept more secret. Anyway, most of my closest friends are around a conservative political attitude. But there are some I am not really sure about - but I do not want to discuss that subject with them. Ah, and yes, I have already voted for the upcoming Sunday by absentee ballot. ;)
plain wrong if they did.
But I have never heard anyone saying that Israel is commiting the same crimes that where commited in Germany during Hitlers regime. So please believe me thats just not the case.
But I think many people see fascistic elements in the politics of israel like in their behaviour to the palestinians. But this seems to change lately. Isreal did outreagous things, but that's because they life in an outrageous world.
People in Germany in elsewhere dont realize that Israel would just be inexistant if they didn't fight for their lifes ever since Israel existed. Many germans (aswell as many people elsewhere) just can't imagine how you feel and consequently act under this circumstances.
I think the fact, that germanys jewish population is strongly growing shows the good common spirit between todays cristian germans and their jewish fellow citizens.
Greatings
... it's surely hard to hold you breath and think if guys like thoughtomator show you, how welcome strangers are ;-)
I think you're right. These polls are sometimes done in order to produce outrage and are full of loaded questions.
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