'Yes We Scan': Germans Protest at Checkpoint Charlie as Obama Arrives in Berlin

[xchrom]

http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2013/06/yes-we-scan-germans-protest-at-checkpoint-charlie-as-obama-arrives-in-berlin/277008/

President Obama landed in Berlin this evening for his first official visit to the German capital, but his reception in the privacy-loving nation might have been warmer if not for the recent revelations about the National Security Agency's surveillance programs.

A few dozen demonstrators gathered at Checkpoint Charlie, the Berlin Wall crossing that became a historic symbol of Cold War tensions. Wielding signs reading "Yes We Scan" and "Privacy Ends Here," the group told reporters that they see widespread data collection as a human rights violation.

Here are a few of the images from the demonstration, via Digitale Gesellschaft, a German advocacy group:

[KG]

1. they never loved him anyway

[xchrom]

3. !

[progressoid]

9. Yep. They should have voted for Romney.

[SammyWinstonJack]

29. ...

[The Link]

2. Rec.

[backscatter712]

4. When the Germans are telling us our police-state is out of control, that really says something!

K&R!

[tblue]

14. No. These guys would be anti-Stasi.

These aren't hypocrites saying, "Don't do what we do." More like, "Don't do what our gov't used to do. And believe us, it gets real sucky real fast."

[dipsydoodle]

5. Stasi 2.0 sounds about right.

.

[xchrom]

6. ...

[99Forever]

7. That'll leave a mark.

A very well earned one.

[EC]

10. About a few dozen guys get this much coverage?

and the way people around them are looking at them, they were not the general sentiment of the crowd.

[JEB]

13. Yeah, I guess the protesters are just not "good Germans".

[tblue]

16. I'm sure the frowners just LOVE Stasi tactics.

Why are so many people on DU on the American Stasi side and belittling a protest? Do you know? I can't figure it out.

[EC]

20. Just not the prevailing attitude

of the rest. Maybe even hired to be there - who knows. But your slur isn't warrented since that is not what I said.

[reorg]

21. Please tell us all about it

the "prevailing attitude" you pretend to know.

[Monkie]

28. anti-surveillance protesters might be hired to be there, we have a new one!

this is a new slant, someone is paying protesters to be against warrentless and/or blanket surveillance by a foreign nation!

do i get bonus points for suggesting they are being paid by the chinese?!?!
do i get bonus points for suggesting they are being paid by racists who hate obama because he is black?

[excringency]

23. You're right,

"good Germans" would follow orders.

[The Straight Story]

26. Imagine if they had taken off their shirts

[toby jo]

11. Don't pissa da off da Germans Herr O.

[Harmony Blue]

12. This is not surprising

corporate dems need to awake from their slumber.

[marmar]

15. Man, how the script has flipped.

Remember this scene when candidate Obama appeared in Berlin in 2008, back in the hope and change days?

[tblue]

17. They wanted change too.

This is so sad.

[LittleGirl]

18. Yes, I remember

I was nearly there. I wanted to go so bad but husband had to work instead.

Germans are very liberal and this display is not the majority opinion there. I went to several places where politics was brought up during the first election and they were very excited about Bush's term ended. They hated that guy. Hated him. Most were rooting for Obama too.

just my 2 cents.

[Catherina]

19. Imagine what could have been n/t

[riverbendviewgal]

22. Europe and the rest of the world are waking up..

Read this article out today.

http://clsbluesky.law.columbia.edu/2013/06/19/should-lex-americana-be-universal-fatca-turns-foreign-banks-into-tax-informants/

I am not an international law expert, but I would strongly argue for a delay to FATCA and the opening of serious discussions at the OECD to figure out an acceptable way to ensure equity between countries. Why would the US be the only tax authorities to benefit from information provided foreign tax authorities?

I would not dare to even suggest how this could be achieved. In the meantime the movement to repeal FATCA is growing. Should all countries decide that their citizens will be taxed on a worldwide basis, as the United States does, working abroad will become increasingly onerous and create absolute confusion? The core of this debate is only emerging: Either the system is based on territoriality, or it is based on nationality. Having it both ways won’t work.

The United States has to ask itself the question of whether its actions are legitimate and question its objectives and the ways it goes about achieving them. This is especially pertinent at a time when the United States seems to reserve a right to eavesdrop upon foreign nationals.

[Mira]

24. Had a phone call from a friend in Germany - last night

A German in his late sixties. He told me about "Yes we scan" and that the general temperature of enthusiasm for our President has diminished greatly in Germany. Not just with the young people.

He said it was also personal, and that the German people did not appreciate this was his first visit since he got elected with such huge support for him at the start.

[treestar]

25. Not really a fair criticism

What government doesn't have security and use modern tech? Only very poor ones.

[reorg]

27. huh?

What the hell are you talking about.

[BrotherIvan]

30. The only appropriate response.