"Why aren't Germans patriotic?" (Great answer)

[kpete]

[dalton99a]

1. GOP patriotism means making the top 1% more rich and powerful

[Fritz Walter]

20. One need look no farther than Drumpf's choice of Veep

One heartbeat -- or 25th Amendment action -- away from the Oval Office.

In his nomination acceptance speech, here's how he introduced himself: "I am a Christian, a Conservative and a Republican. In that order." (and the crowd cheered and applauded).
"Patriotic American" apparently comes in much later,... 10th, maybe?

I would post the video, but watching him gives me high blood pressure.

[First Speaker]

2. It might be up to Germany to save democracy in the 21st century...

...history is full of ironies, but would there be a greater one than this...?

[maddiemom]

6. Exactly!

Seems the Germans (who are half both my and Trump's heritage), after two disasters in the twentieth century, have learned from their history. The U.S., not so much. For instance, Republicans mess us up, we elect a Democrat to clean things up, then we elect another Republican. Rinse and repeat.

[uponit7771]

10. +1

[iluvtennis]

17. + 1 + 1

[IronLionZion]

3. GOP patriotically screw the people and land of these United States for profit

and turn Americans against each other over idiotic stuff like race, gender, LGBT, etc as if there's only one type of real American.

Our Democratic convention showed a lot of liberal patriotism that helps our fellow citizens.

[smirkymonkey]

4. Angela Merkel, leader of the free world!

[DFW]

5. Here is a perfect example of the difference:

In December of 2000, we attended a sort of "meeting of the minds" gathering in South Carolina for the first time. The only requirement was that everyone there was required to participate. This is NOT a TED conference. If you're there, you take part. Period.

We raised our daughters bilingually, but they were born and raised in Germany, and still consider German their first language. At this conference, our elder daughter in particular was a little intimidated at being asked to participate in a few panels on her own at age 17. One of them bothered her in the extreme. It asked the participants to talk about who their heroes were. She was upset because being raised in post-war Germany, they had gone 180° from the Nazi idolizing of Teutonic heroes, and were taught that it was a bad concept in general. She was very upset at being asked to talk about her heroes after being raised in a culture that discouraged the concept altogether, and asked us what to do about it. We told her to say exactly what she had just told us--that she didn't really have any heroes per se, and here's why. She was still nervous, but agreed to say just that. She came to us after the panel, beaming, telling us that American kids on her panel were all fascinated by her completely fresh viewpoint on the concept and that she was the hit of her panel.

It doesn't have to get lost in the translation, but you DO have to translate it and explain it. Anyone who thinks theirs is the only way of looking at things lives in a very narrow world, indeed (and is in dire need of seeing the film "The Dead Poets Society&quot .

The taxes ARE a little crazy in Germany, and there are so many different ones, I can't keep track of them all. On the other hand, Germany DID find itself with something like a €40 billion surplus last year, and they were in the enviable position of arguing whether to give it back to the people who had paid it in, spend it themselves, or spend in ON themselves. Nice problem to have! It's not one many countries face these days,and nor will we, even if Trump blows up every school and hospital in the lower 48.

[pangaia]

7. Well said..

And then there are all those wind turbines.. and trains and beer and nichts als 130( haven't been there in a while)

[Solly Mack]

16. Thank you.

Especially the point about heroes.

[BarbD]

8. Powerful commentary

[american_ideals]

9. Most important. Patriotism is paying taxes to help the less fortunate.

[oasis]

11. In that case, "Ich bin ein Berliner".

I'm with you in spirit Jens.

[Doreen]

18. Ich auch. Well, not really but I sure as hell want to be.

Though, in Frankfurt with my boyfriend where he grew up.

[Skittles]

12. nice stereotyping

I have sent care packages to soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2005

not all of us are repuke assholes

[ProudLib72]

13. I was passed on the road today

by a little pickup flying a full sized US flag. This was on an interstate doing 65, and it was pouring rain. I didn't think that was very patriotic at all. In fact, I kind of felt sick to my stomach.

[ThoughtCriminal]

14. They have seen the kind of "Patriotism" that American Right-Wingers practice before

It was a very painful lesson on what white nationalism leads to.

[JI7]

15. i think it has more to do with the holocaust

and doing anything to avoid things that led up to it.

[mdbl]

21. was my first thought

blind patriotism was dangerous. Maybe they are just being cautious.

[Paka]

19. K&R

Sincere patriotism.

[llmart]

22. Patriotism in the US...

has become nothing but nationalistic fervor and translates into doing the really easy stuff such as wearing a flag on your lapel, or shopping for red, white and blue underwear on Memorial Day. It became so obvious after 9/11/2001.

I'd like to see us redefine what patriotism is along the same vein as what this twitter poster says about Germans. It will be up to Democrats to do that because repukes are all about money. They define everything in terms of money.

Patriotism and having something to be proud about in the US should NOT be about just the economy and the military. I saw this coming after 9/11 - the glorification of all things military - and it made me shudder.

I'm so proud to be half German and yes, Germany under the leadership of Angela Merkel is now to be envied, but the US? Not so much.