I trust everyone had a pleasant 4th of July. Some people here in Munich were taken aback as I touted off a ‘Happy 4th’ and then had to explain, today is my country’s independence day. Even Alex was unaware. All the typical happenings that surround Independence Day hadn’t really played a major role in my life so I don’t feel much home sickness on the 4th nor compelled to recite cliché sayings about freedom and pride.
But one of the tv morning shows yesterday, in light of America’s Independence day, had carried out a poll asking Germans if they thought the US had a positive or negative influence on the world: 20% said positive, 72% negative. Pfif. Suddenly I felt a surge of patriotism in spite of myself. Aside from a very unpopular war, when you look at the whole pie, America isn’t all that bad, people.
I was also told at our grill fest on the Isar last night that ARD’s Tagesthemen displayed the American flag with 14 stripes. I half believed it since they botched the German flag during a newscast over the German-Turkey European Championship (soccer) game. But here’s the video proof:
Update: to ARD’s credit, it isn’t so easy to identify a wrong flag at first glance. You can quiz your flag knowledge here, if you can read German.
Do you ever get the feeling that many of the German young people are suffering from a lack of world history? I am appalled at what the American schools aren’t teaching and it appears that the Germans are just as guilty. Sad. History tells us so much!
I have noticed that it just seems to be trendy to hate America right now.
I understand the legitimate reasons for disagreeing with our foreign policy, etc, but that does not rationalize a hatred for every commercial thing from the U.S. and a rudeness towards all of its citizens.
Even in the U.S. it seems to be trendy for young people to bash our country, but they are apparently too apathetic to do anything more than complain.
and to the previous commentor:
I am positive that they learn more world history than America’s students, who can’t even find Germany on a map!
They should have asked a second question: Why do you think so? I´m pretty sure the answers would prove the trend-theory.
I’m always surprised by the number of people (in the UK and Oz) who remember to acknowledge the 4th when talking to me. In fact, at our departmental drinks yesterday they had decorated the tea room with American flag paraphenelia. It was a little surreal actually.
Yeah, anti-American sentiment can get my back up as well, but only from non-Americans. I’m not a big fan of our country’s current incarnation. Which is one of the reasons I no longer live there!
I just discover your blog thanks to Expat blog!
Grussie aus München
Flo Bretzel