NSA Revelations Cause Surge in German Patriotism

Unlike Americans, Germans typically don't exhibit a great deal of patriotic fervor.  Except evey four years during the World Cup Soccer games.  Then the flags come out in full force, but are quickly stored away in the attic until the next games.

All that changed with the leaked reports from Edward Snowden that the NSA was monitoring the communication of German citizens - including the private cell phone of the chancellor.  Suddenly people were outraged that German national sovereignty had been violated.  Conservatives, socialists and liberals were united in condemning the United States - calling to mind the words of the Kaiser: "Ich kenne keine Parteien mehr, ich kenne nur noch Deutsche!" ( I don't recognize parties any longer - I only recognize Germans!).  It helps to have a common enemy, and now Germany can join with the Iranians and Egyptians in accusing the US as being the root of everything evil in the world.

I lived through a similar experience in the US in 2001 after the 9'/11 attacks. Then, too, there was a surge in patriotism.  But we had suffered a devastating blow to our greatest city with a huge loss of life.  Snowden's leaks have only led to embarrassment over the lack of technical sophistication to detect the surveillance.  In the US, the Bush/Cheney team was able to manipulate the temporary surge in national solidarity to launch a needless and destructive invasion of Iraq.  Fortunately, nothing like that could ever happen in Germany.  The worst outcome might be that Berlin relieves Vladimir Putin of giving sanctuary to Edward Snowden.  That would certainly teach the Americans a lesson: 

Der neue deutsche Patriotismus funktioniert wie das Licht von Planeten, das Millionen von Lichtjahren unterwegs war. Wenn es auf der Erde eintrifft, ist der Planet längst explodiert oder implodiert. Das Nachspiel zur Abhöraffäre ist eine schöne Gelegenheit, es den arroganten Amis heimzuzahlen. Rache für Nürnberg, die Luftbrücke, den Marshallplan und eine endlose Serie von Demütigungen, mit denen sie immer wieder ihre Überlegenheit demonstriert haben.

(The new German patriotism functions like the light from planets that has been traveling for millions of light years.  By the time it reaches earth, the planet has long since exploded or imploded.  The aftermath of the surveillance scandal presents us with a nice opportunity for payback against the arrogant Americans. Revenge for Nuremberg, the Berlin Air Lift, the Marshall Plan and the endless series of humiliations in which they have demonstrated their superiority.) 

Germany has much to be proud of: an exemplary, functioning democracy (unlike the US), a vibrant, resilient economy, strong cultural institutions.  A newfound patriotic pride is not a bad thing.  Too bad it's directed against Germany's  greatest ally in the world. 

Comments

[Hattie]

Would we object if German intelligence was tapping Obama's phone?

[David]

Yes, but we would be more upset at the deficit in technical security that would allow that to happen.

I don't necessarily believe it would lead to a demonizing of an ally.

[koogleschreiber]

We must have great scientists if we can detect the light of imploding planets in other galaxies. Though it might be a classical RIAS Lüge.

[jabgoe]

this citation sounds so much like broder. everything he doesn't like is german nationalism, nazis or antiamericanism. i thought he had moved over to iceland but unluckily he's still here.

[Zyme]

Germany's greatest ally in the world?

How can you not laugh at such a brazen distortion?

Had there been no American involvement directed fully against Germany and towards supporting its enemies twice in the last century, we Germans would be spared from the countless benefits of this "alliance".

[David]

Funny interpretation of history.

I guess you'd rather be speaking Russian now...

[Zyme]

Funny interpretation?

Don't you find it funny when Americans style themselves as the liberator of Europe, when it was American assistance that enabled the Soviet Union to prevail in the first place against the country which actually did something about Communism.