I felt like I was Eichmann on trial in Israel. Remember, this was just a few days after Iraq invaded, long before anyone responded. But I guess among Germans, the U.S. was always the bad guy, I guess because it was a foregone conclusion we would invade Iraq. I don't remember any shade being cast at Saddam Hussein. Boy, that was uncomfortable.
I bet.
Nice personal story.
IMHO, the Germans are a mass experiment in “group think” that went horribly wrong and worked!
There are some beutiful things about the Germans and their rule following (they are less corrupt than we are), how they create a mass consensus on everything and it’s expected to go along with that (everything is neat, organized and standardized), but it can also go horribly wrong and they will lockstep march off that cliff or stuff 6.5 million folks in ovens.
Ordnug muss sein!
The Germans are very trusting of authority in general, you do not question the doctor or Fuhrer, whoever that is. They will follow any rule to the maximum, even if it defies reason or morality. Rules have a purpose and you are a better person if you follow them! Personal thought is not appreciated. Rules must be followed because this world will fall into total chaos and disarray if people are left making any decisions or having any opinion on their own. In fact, even disagreeing with Covid and the official state narrative needs censored since opposing thought is dangerous: https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/german-gov-t-met-with-representatives-of-social-networks-in-2020-over-covid-related-posts-report/2797579 Thier level of censorship went far beyond ours. But IMHO almost all censorship should be stricken, even the crap we do in the name of public safety, national security, for the children, bla bla bla.
Some of my stories having lived there much of my life: They will dig through your trash and turn you in if you don’t recycle. But they are offended and do not understand when you say they really haven’t changed or learned much from the past.
If at a crosswalk and the man is red. Do not cross. Even if it is at night, no car is visibly coming and the road is dead as in minutes of no car coming by. Do not cross. The greater “intent” of a managed crosswalk does not matter. The man is red and the rule is you do not walk. If you do, you may get the evil eye.
The Germans really do not get when they are made out as rule following clowns in some especially older war movies. They think and say, “that’s not how we are” but the truth is when looking at them from the outside, that is exactly the way they are.
Don’t get me wrong, their commitment to follow the rules makes them excellent soldiers most of the time, but it’s also a weakness.