Rainer told me that he watched a program on German TV where Germany’s top newscasters discussed the German view of America. Over the years since WWII, consistently 85-90% of Germans had a positive view of America. When George W. took office, this percentage dropped to about 65%, then after September 11, it rose back to 90%. Once “W” decided to go to war with Iraq, the percentage dropped to 20% and has stayed there ever since.
There is also a new hit song criticizing politicians by the popular German band Die Ärzte (The Physicians). The video shows a guy in a cowboy hat on a ranch having a good ole time driving a remote controlled tank over models of the landmarks of Europe. Here is my translation of the lyrics:
DIE KLÜGSTEN MÄNNER DER WELT (The wisest men of the world)
They look dapper and are charming.
Are well-dressed and elegant.
Each one’s a hero –
those are the wisest men of the world.
They smile at the press corps,
and no answer fails them.
Carefully managing our money –
the wisest men of the world.
They decide for us.
Yes, they suffer for us.
Our mysteries will be illuminated through them –
those are the wisest men of the world.
They know how, they know when,
and what one can expect of us.
Because we often miss the big picture,
we voted them into office.
Sometimes they make themselves unpopular.
It is often difficult for us to understand them.
Politics is a complicated field –
but not for the wisest men of the world.
They decide for us.
Yes, they suffer for us.
Our mysteries will be illuminated through them –
those are the wisest men of the world.
If soon everything blazes and burns,
and the earth quakes from the bombardment.
If nothing more remains for us, but to pray for salvation
then let them eulogize us –
the wisest men on our planet.
