Der Spiegel is worried about a perceived rise in anti-German sentiment in Britain. A recent article cites this story in the Independent about some Welsh 13-year-olds who were suspended for giving the full-arm "Hitler salute" to a German teacher at their school. (When I was in middle school, some of the kids occasionally went around giving the old "Heil Hitler", having seen it on Hogan's Heroes and not knowing any better).
Another story in today's Der Spiegel says
Germans are arrogant, overbearing, anxious. At least that's what many in Britain believe. The German Embassy and the Goethe-Institute in London are now trying to spruce up Germany's tattered image with the "Cool Germany" ad campaign.Der Spiegel spoke with The Times' Berlin correspondent, Roger Boyes, who calls the ad campaign a "hopeless undertaking".
Der Spiegel: Herr Boyes, why can't the English stand the Germans?Meanwhile, Der Spiegel's top story of this hour:
Roger Boyes: Is that a serious question? My God, why do the Germans care so much about what other people think of them? You need to cure yourselves of this psychosis. Do you think the English care whether or not we're loved? We couldn't care less if the Dutch like us or not. Nations can't fall in love, all that matters is that people get along with one another.
Kelly's Death Poses Difficulties for BlairThe implication is that Kelly had the goods on Blair and that Blair is somehow responsible for Kelly's death, even though there is no evidence for either insinuation. One can only wonder how much this story will aid the cause of British-German relations.He was the man who put Tony Blair on the hotseat: David Kelly, former UN weapons inspector und government advisor, had apparently leaked to the media that the British Prime Minister exaggerated evidence of Iraqi WMD. Now the weapons expert has been found dead. The pressure on Blair is mounting.
While touring in Europe, our bus driver was German and he used to call England "Ape Island".
Which is just about the funniest thing i have heard in years.
We had a substitute teacher, origanally from Germany, in my schools who was married to an American after WW2. She would NOT let her kids watch Hogan's Heroes! LMAO
Posted by: Kevin on July 19, 2003 12:09 PMI can help British people to improve their German accent. Even though many Brits do it kind of not too bad - and it's invariably funny of course - there is room for so much improvement!!!!
A one day course on site on any of the British Isles will be cheap (only BPD 1.000/day per participant) and make all your friends envious. You'll have the REAL accent, not just the deteriorated one you hear too often on televison!
So don't hesitate, contact me and become one of the many successful alumni of GERACCINT (German Accent International - the first and only school for the perfect German accent - worldwide).
It's at your fingertips: you can be funny, you get better jobs, you make more money: and it only takes one day!
Posted by: Hans on August 24, 2003 11:43 AMironic that if the germans had won the war thats what those welsh children would have had to do anyway (on punishment of death). Honestly I blame the fucking yanks though, our german counterparts are a much different bunch of people now, and if it wasnt for "american democracy" we wouldnt have this racist shit and suing culture. fuck the yanks thats what I say
Posted by: nobhead on December 1, 2003 05:24 PM