"The American Civil War was one of the bloodiest in the history of the world up to that point. Sherman's march through the south was devastating--every field of crops, building, village, and city burned to the ground in the wake of his path. We Americans are quite familiar with the suffering and carnage and hell of war."
Ok, maybe my irony didn't work in this case. I apologize. I actually took a course on the American Civil in unversity, so I actually studied the history of the civil war a bit (we also read a few novels like "The Red Badge of Courage"). And you are right, it was bloody.
I'll give you an example of what I mean: When my father was 9 years old, he and my grandparents fled to the countryside, because in 1944 basically every city was burnt to the ground. Unfortunately some Waffen-SS idiots still continued to fight for a lost cause, so he had to witness American soldiers and said Germans killing each other on the streets from his hinding place in the cellar.
My father fervently hates the French, because he had to grow up in the French-occupied zone, and everybody there could see how much better off those in the American and British zone were. While the French were dismantling the last factories, American soldiers distributed chocolate among children. But despite all the negative feelings towards the French he still prefers having the European Union. Why? Because he had to witness the killings at the age of nine.
And yes, I am quite aware that Germany brought this on itself. The biggest enemy of the German people was actually Hitler himself.
And no, I don't wanna compare numbers. I just wanted to be sarcastic.
"Yes, I do see. You want to play a numbers game. You are saying that you Europeans have suffered so much and therefore we Americans just don't understand you."
Most Americans don't, just as most Germans and other Europeans don't understand the inner workings of the U.S.. Personally I find this tragic.
" The only reason you Europeans haven't continued to kill millions over the past 60 years is the presence of American troops in your country. But don't worry, those American troops will be gone sometime over the next 10 years. Let us hope that your great suffering will have given you some sense of maturity not to repeat your past predilections."
That is pure nonsense. I am too young to "have suffered" anyway, just as you probably haven't partaken in the Civil War. Again: My sarcasm was out of place, apologize. BUT: Different peoples made different experiences - and these experiences play into the decisions politicians make. The main reason for that stupid anti-americanism here in Europe, was above all, LACK OF UNDERSTANDING. Just like with those prejudices about Europe on the other side of the Atlantic... but that's exactly why I find it better to talk to each other.
"But don't worry, those American troops will be gone sometime over the next 10 years. Let us hope that your great suffering will have given you some sense of maturity not to repeat your past predilections."
That would be most regrettable. Although Germany doesn't NEED American army bases for finacial reasons, the vast mayority of the people that live close to these installations WANT their neighbors and friends to stay. Practically all of the American soldiers I spoke to also prefer Germany to Romania anyway ;-).
Thanks for clearing this up. I thought you were using national (not personal but vicarious) suffering of the past to make sure there was no understanding of national intentions in the present. I see now that was not your meaning, though it seems that irony and sarcasm helped to cloud your words.
The main reason for that stupid anti-americanism here in Europe, was above all, LACK OF UNDERSTANDING. Just like with those prejudices about Europe on the other side of the Atlantic... but that's exactly why I find it better to talk to each other.
Yes, a conversation is a good thing if it brings understanding of the argument into focus. We may not always agree, but at least we should try to be clear about what our differing points of view are. We may even find areas of agreement.
I do believe that Germans and Americans have more in common than not, even though our national histories are quite different. The ideas upon which America is founded are European to the core in that that is where they originated from. And though those European ideas developed in somehwhat directions in American soil than they did in Europe itself, we are still more alike than not.