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FreeRepublic , LLC PO BOX 9771 FRESNO, CA 93794
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Posted on 07/12/2003 6:08:56 AM PDT by Lorenb420
Germany's biggest newspaper, Bild, responded to Italian politicians' insults at its nation and its tourists yesterday by staging a "beach scene" outside the Italian embassy in Berlin.
Topless blond and brunette beauties cavorted under large striped umbrellas or lolled on deck chairs.
The idea was to demonstrate to everyone -- to Italians, in particular -- just how "beautiful, sexy and charming" the Germans are.
Bild also published a list of phrases that German travellers in Italy might find useful in "these difficult times." These range from "Great wine, do you have any other warm drinks?" and "It's delicious -- I love cold pizza" to "Keep your greasy eyes off my wife."
The paper is also organizing a free flight for Germans to the Italian resort of Rimini.
"Bild will show how friendly, cheerful and pleasant German holidaymakers really are," the top-selling daily said.
It all started last week. In an unguarded moment, Silvio Berlusconi, the hot-tempered Italian Prime Minister, interrupted a speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg to berate a German politician who was heckling him.
Martin Schulz should look for other work, he suggested, such as taking the role of a Nazi concentration camp guard in a movie being shot in Italy.
Mr. Berlusconi was quickly followed by one of his junior ministers. Stefano Stefani, whose responsibilities included tourism, advised Germans to avoid his country because they were "hyper-nationalist," loud and arrogant. They were also arrogant beer guzzlers who hold "noisy burping conditions."
Miffed, Gerhard Schroeder , the German Chancellor, cancelled his family's annual holiday on the Adriatic coast. "Nix vino, nix pasta," commented Bild.
Instead, they will spend their vacation near their home in Hanover.
Other members of Mr. Schroeder's Social Democratic Party have also abandoned plans to holiday in Italy.
Italian tourism authorities are distraught at the prospect of losing their best customers -- Germans make up more than 25%of visitors to Italy.
"This is all getting out of control," said Bernabo Bocca, president of Italy's national hotels association.
"Germans are our honoured guests and it would be a serious loss if they decided to boycott Italy because of one man's recklessness."
Hoteliers in Vicenza, Mr. Stefani's hometown, plan to offer German tourists bottles of wine and flowers as part of "Operation Charm."
Pesaro, the coastal resort where Mr. Schroeder had planned to holiday, said it will declare a "state of calamity" and demand compensation for any drop in tourism.
The spat has also paid off for Mr. Schroeder, although he admitted one of his daughters was far from pleased at having to stay home.
A poll taken this week showed 66% approve of the Chancellor's decision. This pushes him to heights of popularity not seen since last September during his re-election campaign, when he told the United States Germany would not join a war in Iraq.
In contrast, Mr. Berlusconi is in trouble at home, with his ruling coalition so deeply split he may no longer be able to govern.
Yesterday, he bowed to pressure and agreed to fire Mr. Stefani.
"A fool is just a fool. Nothing but a fool," said Gianfranco Fini, the Italian deputy prime minister, as he announced Mr. Stefani's departure.
Mr. Stefani attempted a belated about-face yesterday, saying: "I love Germany. If my words caused a misunderstanding for many Germans, I would like to say here that I am very sorry."
The row with Italy comes as Germans are struggling to remake their image. They want to replace the stereotypes of Nazis and sunbed-stealing tourists with a more relaxed, hip and even erotic portrayal of their people and language that owes something to Britain's Cool Britannia.
German authorities are keen to promote their country with images of half-naked youngsters dancing at the Love Parade, Berlin's annual techno dance festival, along with such cultural "ambassadors" as supermodel Claudia Schiffer and former tennis champion Boris Becker.
Last week, at the behest of Johannes Rau, the German President, the Luftwaffe logo was removed from aircraft used by top government officials.
"Obviously, when the president flew to countries where there are certain historic resentments against the Luftwaffe, he didn't exactly get off to a good start when the plane landed with that word dominating the plane," said one government official, who asked not to be identified.
"It wasn't the best advertisement for a modern-day republic to have this staring out at hosts as President Rau walked down the aircraft steps."
Hmm, let's see... countries start flinging insults at each other, beautiful girls take their tops off. What message does this send?
More international tensions, please!
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FreeRepublic , LLC PO BOX 9771 FRESNO, CA 93794
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It is in the breaking news sidebar! |
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Do we really want to see that? :-O lol
I had no idea.
That goes beyond the bounds of decency.
Do we want to?
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