@looki

I am a German who has lived in the US for a number of years (WA and CA). I now live in Germany again. I can relate to some of the criticism of Germans as not being as approachable as people in the US or Latin America. However, I find accusations of racism as leveled by you and others in this forum wholly inappropriate.

Sure, there are racists in Germany. There are racists in the US (ask the blacks/Latinos/Asians). There are racists in Mexico (ask the Guatemalans and indigenous people). There are racists in the UK (ask the Indians). There are racists in Japan (ask the Ainu). The list goes on. I honestly can't see anything special about Germany in this regard. In my experience, it's all about how you approach people yourself. That will, to a large extent, determine how they approach you. If you expect them to be racist to begin with, you shouldn't be surprised if they actually are toward you.

It seems to me a lot of you Germany haters out there are really only getting what you ask for. Guess what, we are people, too, not incarnations of your twisted imagination. Treat us as people, and you will be treated in kind.

And sure, Germany's history is replete with wars and examples of how bad man can be unto his fellow man. But, for example, so is the UK's -- the entire history of the British Empire is one big display of atrocities. Ask any Indian or African that has the dimmest idea of his country's history. Does that mean I hate the Brits? No. I might as well hate humanity, which I don't either. The point is, there are good people and evil people everywhere.

I liked a lot of things about the US when I lived there, and I disliked a lot of things. You don't have to love Germany, just be a little more balanced in your assessments. The world is not black and white, and neither is Germany.

aleman 10 apr 2009, 08:58 - Rapporteer misbruik