Posted on 02/05/2004 3:16:00 AM PST by kattracks
Michael, I know that I have told you before about why I have the feelings that I do towards Germans. I will inform you again .. and you, as well, Prodigal Son. However, I know in advance what your responses will be .. Michael, you've already given me yours once before, and so I can see the result of this already, but I will try.
Just going to and from my kaserne resulted in my being spit upon, shoved, verbally harassed, and physically harassed by those representatives of the German citizenry who decided to oppose the US government's decision for the deployment of Theater Nuclear weapons. When waiting at a strassenbahn stop, I was assaulted by a crowd .. polite language for "mob" .. of college-age Germans (who, when the Protesting Season began, never seemed to actually BE in classes) and was put in the hospital for six days with a concussion after being struck in the back and head with a steel pipe. After I went down, I was kicked repeatedly in the head, sides, and back by these "peaceloving" thugs. From what I was told, no German made a move to stop the assault and it appears it was only broken up when some passing polizei intervened. No German was ever arrested much less prosecuted for it; the attitude appeared to be "Oh, it was just high-spirited college students exercising their rights to protest."
Some time later, my Australian wife, while enroute from the commissary to our apartment, was standing at the strassenbahn stop near the PX/commissary, waiting for the streetcar with her cart of groceries. This was a place where the "anti-war/anti-American" protesters regularly hung out because they could harass soldiers' wives and children. Three of your wonderful children approached my wife and began verbally haranging her. True to our briefings to be "good neighbors and visitors to their country," she ignored them. Then one shoved her and another pushed her cart off the platform onto the tracks. None of the German citizens there made a move to intervene. One of the thugs was carrying an anti-American sign (cardboard on a four or five foot long 2x2). She grabbed the sign away from him and proceeded to beat the three of them bloody. They all took off running as the polizei and MPs intervened. Care to guess who the polizei wanted to arrest? Right ...
The German police questioned her and released her to the MPs. The MPs released her to me and, that afternoon, with my company commander's permission, we drove to Holland where I put her on a plane for home. The company commander moved me into the barracks and, as soon as I could process out, I was transferred back to the States. For all I know, there may still be warrants out for either of us.
So, there you have it. Those are my reasons. As I said, they are personal and are not likely to change any time in the foreseeable future. Governmental and political decisions on the part of the German government, as well as the outright ingratitude of the German population for the number of years that we protected them .. with our lives and wealth .. have been enough for me to confirm in my own mind that I am right.
Go to war with the Germans? Well, I'd much rather it was France or Belgium, but I, for one, would volunteer to be re-called for that purpose.
So make of that what you will.
I will say this much though. On my first tour to Germany, we were conducting a mechanized road march during REFORGER (1976, I think), travelling between Wildflecken and the Graefenwoehr training center. My unit, Company C, 2/12 Cavalry, were riding our APCs all through the back roads, passing through little town after little town. I was standing in the back hatch of my M-113; as the M-60 gunner for the squad in the rearmost APC, I was "rear security". I remember passing through one of many villages and there were fairly substantial crowds of Germans standing beside the roadway, watching us pass. The kids, generally, appeared to be very excited at the "parade" and were waving at us, while we waved back at them.
The road took a sharp left turn halfway through the village and, as the APC made its turn, I was looking down what might be considered a small alleyway. The upper story of the house on the left side of the alley had a window that projected somewhat over it, but I doubt if anybody else in the column really noticed it. But I did. In that window was a very young boy .. maybe five or six. What I've since guessed is that his parents wouldn't let him come outside to watch the road march for whatever reason, and he was watching it from the window as best he could. When I first caught sight of him, he was waving his hand in a desultory manner; obviously, he had been waving, hoping that somebody would see him but, also obviously, no other member of my company had. When I saw him waving, I smiled and waved back ... you could just see him sit up straight, break into a huge smile, and start waving happily.
The road continued straight for about two blocks before making another turn; for that whole time, he and I waved at each other, and you could just see him getting happier and happier at the interchange. Then the APC slewed around and I lost sight of him.
I don't remember the name of the little town that we passed through, but I often think of and relate that story to others. I still get a little misty-eyed when I think of it.
So, in general, pay no attention to me. I'm getting grouchy in my old age. My wife says that my temper will be the death of me (usually when I lose it at her and she threatens to kill me).
I´m not. The election in 2002 was won by the SPD in the East, due to the pacifistic (not anti-american) attitude there and the floodings, if you recall.
Hm... you mean, being against a war is nearly as bad as starting one? In fact, Schroeder is just a Machtmensch. A red painted Kohl, no difference.
The way you´re talking about Dr. Kohl is deterring. In fact, I believe that it is absolutely wrong to allow a regime to oppress its own people, to kill hundreds of thousands opponents - like Saddam Hussein did. Therefore, ending the era Hussein was an honest act for humanity and needs applause rather than disapproval.
Adenauer is the guy who sold german unity for the price of being a part of the NATO, instead of just being neutral... right?
Sounds as if you don´t understand that Adenauers road to the west was one of the necessities for reunification. Only fools claim that the Stalin proposal 1952 was a honest trial to reunite Germany. Adenauer was absolutely right. You more and more prove me that you are a leftist.
You blame him for following the word & idea of the Grundgesetz?
No. I blame Schröder for crushing our economy, not caring about the people, making a foreign policy that sells our reputation and that leads to more killing. If Bush hadn´t invaded Iraq, how many people would have been killed by Saddam and his followers in addition to the hundreds of thousands?
Oh, and don´t try to lecture me on law. You have proven that you can read the law. But you failed to interprete it. May I remind you of the sentences of the highest Court in Germany - the only court that is entitled to interprete the Constitution? It ruled in 1999 and 2001 that the wars against Yugoslavia and Afghanistan, as well as the German participation, are fully compatible with the Constitution. Therefore, a NATO decision on Iraq would have been alright to send German troops to the desert.
A "conservative value" is to forbid discussions?? What are the Justices doing when talking about the interpretation of our constitution? Being silent? Discussions are necessary in our democracy. I can understand that you Iraq-war-opponent hate discussions - you really can´t defend your position on a basis of morality.
I won`t [lecture you on what you should think or say], I`m a democrat... it`s just my opinion.
Oh, sure. That´s why you call me a traitor when I express my support for the Iraq war and my opposition against the Schröder-Administration. That´s why you call me a "Held", when I say that the Iraq war served the interests of the Iraqi people.
How about talking to people, watching TV and radio, or read a newspaper?
No wonder, the media is absolutely biased against Bush. But have we voted on him? How can you even think you have a saying who should be US President? Do you want Americans to interfere in our election campaigns?
Dreamer. It [Election in 2002] WAS a "was an expression of disapproval" [for Bush], that`s how Schroeder won... what else?
Thanks for the "dreamer". You have a very interesting style of posting.
The election was neither about Bush, nor about the US. It was about German participation during the coming Iraq war and heavily influenced by the floodings in the East.
You are a Bundeswehr Reservist. Keep your oath and read the Grundgesetz. BTW: PPL hate traitors and boot lickers, that`s why many of the Freepers don`t respect you.
And your job as a servant of the Schröder administration qualifies you for what exactly?? You call me radical, just because I defend values you have forgotten respectively are willing to give up?? What about freedom for the people of Iraq, what about defending human rights and bringing down evil regimes? You don´t have to tell me that I should keep my vow (I didn´t need to loyally and to defend brave the right and the freedom of the German people. I cannot see how I would violate that vow by supporting the defeat of evil people, like Saddam Hussein.
Oh, and thanks for the news that "many don´t respect me". Can you explain me the difference between lacking respect and disagreements?
The legal issues, again, are no problem if we get a NATO decision on that. That´s what the Constitutional Court has hold several times. The precedents are Afghanistan and Kosovo.
And now it´s your turn: prove me that you are a conservative, now that you´ve shown that you disregard Kohl and Adenauer.
What do you think about less government, more self responsibility, more freedom and less social nanny-state?
What do you think about Ronald Reagan and his achievements during the Cold War?
That´ll say a lot about you and your true intentions. I´m very curious to know wether you are a disruptor or a FReeper. Let me know!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.