President credits Pope for German reunification

CWNews.com ^ | Mar. 08

[presidio9]

Vatican, Mar. 08 (CWNews.com) - As he met with Pope John Paul II (bio - news) on March 6, German President Johannes Rau gave the Pontiff credit for the reunification of his country.

"Germany owes her unity to Poland and to the action of the Pope, without which she would still have a long road to go toward reunification," Rau said. Rau was speaking extemporaneously during a formal reception, as he presented the Pope with a miniature of the Brandenburg Gate: a symbol of divided Germany.

[Antoninus]

JPII bump and ping.

[Old Sarge]

German President Johannes Rau gave the Pontiff credit for the reunification of his country.

Of course, the Socialists would like us all to forget that Germany reunified largely because of THIS MAN:

[breakem]

Uh the pope and Ronnie actually conspired on the plan and the US exchanged intelligence with the Vatican to bring the Soviets down. One book I read a few years ago described a meeting in the Kremlin after this pope was elected. The subject of the meeting was how could they conter the effect of a pope from a communist country and the general air was one of uncertainty and even panic by some. So let's give em both a nod. Nice photo BTW!

[Old Sarge]

So let's give em both a nod.

Ah, but you missed my point: They would like the name of Reagan expunged from the collective unconsiousness.

While I admire, respect and revere His Holiness, who was it who commanded the armies, and told Gorby to "tear down this wall"?

[dfwgator]

"Germany owes her unity to Poland

Germany never would have been divided had she not invaded Poland in the first place.

[breakem]

I defer to your knowledge of the motivation of Germans.

[Old Sarge]

While I thank you, who among us can really claim to fathom such a culture?

[breakem]

Uh, I thought that's what you were doing. If not, I stand corrected.

They would like the name of Reagan expunged from the collective unconsiousness. -- Old Sarge

[mylife]

And Poland can thank Maggie for Polish Solidarity

[dfwgator]

As much as the Pope, as much credit needs also to be given to Lech Walesa.

Enough credit has not been given to those brave students in Tienanmen Square 15 years ago, who although they were not successful in their own country, gave inspiration to Eastern Europeans to overthrow their Communist governments.

[Old Sarge]

"They" being Socialists in general, and not only Germans.

I had the sad incident, about three years ago, to be listening to an NPR affiliate give a spiel about German youth. All this current generation of German kids, talked about how nationalism and patriotism is bad, one must not love their country or their heritage, to be good citizens.

And I was left thinking after 20 minutes of this: In three generations, a nation with a proud heritage of boldness, daring and courage, is now broken and weak. What is to come? And is that destined for these shores, as well?

[Old Sarge]

I would agree!

[Spotsy]

All this current generation of German kids, talked about how nationalism and patriotism is bad, one must not love their country or their heritage, to be good citizens.

Are German school children still subjected to mandatory indoctrination of self-loathing?

Some lefties would like to do the same in this country.

I have a radical idea - why don't we just teach these kids history? - and forget about all of the self-loathing and penance, which does nothing but reinforce the very evils it is intended to squelch.

[breakem]

I had a 17 year old German exchange student in our home and we met her parents. They were Doctors and lived in what was east Germany. After the fall of communism, they became affluent and experienced a degree of freedom they never thought would happen. They are pro-American and none of the socialist BS. They've been there, done that.

I don't know the prevalent views of young Germans, but I know one family who doesn't follow the BS.

[breakem]

I had a 17 year old German exchange student in our home and we met her parents. They were Doctors and lived in what was east Germany. After the fall of communism, they became affluent and experienced a degree of freedom they never thought would happen. They are pro-American and none of the socialist BS. They've been there, done that.

I don't know the prevalent views of young Germans, but I know one family who doesn't follow the BS.

[Kanardly]

Since shedding much of its World War II stigma, the German military has undergone major upgrades in the past decade. Recently, Berlin announced more.

Quoting German news sources, a Dec. 17, 2003, www.german-foreign-policy.com report stated, “By ‘means of a directive for the further development of the German Armed Forces,’ the German military shall be in a position, within a few years, to lead extended and ‘robust’ combat missions throughout the world. Thus, after the reorganization, the armed forces will become an instrument of ‘preemptive warfare.’”

German Defense Minister Peter Struck wants to restructure the army to be “more fit for action”—to develop a military “able to attack other states at any time” (ibid.).

Its navy and air force are undergoing serious upgrades. One air force bomber unit “has also been optimized for the deployment of nuclear weapons and also is scheduled into the plans of NATO—Berlin’s option for nuclear participation” (ibid.).

Struck announced the separation of the armed forces into three specialized parts—an intervention force, a stabilization force and support personnel—tripling the troop contingent available for deployment abroad.

Current troop deployments are already revealing Germany’s long-term motives. This German military buildup will lead to a time when a German-led Europe will be strong enough to overtake the key piece of real estate for which it has always lusted—the Middle East.


Above article & map link of German troop deployments Here.

Is a united-ever growing military power in Germany really what this world needs?
Has this generation so quickly forgotten who started the first two world wars?
I fail to "see" how or why this can be pleasing to anyone.

[NYer]

Catholic Ping - let me know if you want on/off this list

[presidio9]

ping