Also, Nazi Germany was pretty big on military marches, parades and 'Deutschland über alles'. That is why most Germans like to keep a distance to stuff like that and tend to be a little frightened or bewildered about that kind of mass displays of Patriotism, Nationalism and Chauvinism.
Do you mean, "is influenced by history of THEIR troops and THEIR country?"
Good explanation that makes a lot of sense. Such American displays are Patriotic and Nationalistic, but I disagree with the use of the term Chauvinisitc to describe them.
That's simply a convenient argument to use, like the BS argument years ago that Germany could do much in Desert Storm because their Constitution prevented them.
Bottom line, your people and the political establishment likes the position they're in. They enjoy not being the target of drug cartels, Islamic radicals, communist or rouge despots. It's nice only spending 1.5% of GDP on defense, while the US and other spend double or more. Germany is in a position where she can suck on the teat of free trade, where her people can move around freely, where she has complete and unlimited access to the worlds resources, where a world order exists that protects intellectual property, allows for the open use of water ways, where her people can fly safely over the Mediterranean and vacation in Egypt, Israel, but Germany is simply a nation that does not want to move a finger to do anything for it.
The arguments of some historic hang up, the Constitution preventing it, bla bla bla, are facade arguments, crap pulled straight from the ass to make oneself feel good. ***Germany today is simply a nation that does not want to pay the price economically, politically, or in blood/security for taking action.*** If S. Korea were invaded tomorrow, what would your people and government do? What exactly is your excuse in Afghanistan again? Uneingeschraengte solidaritaet, right? How long did that last?
***The German way is to redefine their inaction through Heuchelei and schadenfreude as some great act of strength, intellectual superiority, courage, or even moral superiority.*** Look at Iraq, the war on drugs, Libya.... as examples.