Observing Hermann...

Berlin’s Justice Senator Karin Schubert is a strong supporter of classic native Rhineland Karnival culture (Fasching in the South) and seems to be a little miffed that these stick-in-the-mud Berliners up here (also occasionally referred to as Prussians) just don’t get it and refuse to get it and simply won’t lighten up.

I mean, everybody in Berlin will be going to work tomorrow and the whole bit. On Rose Monday!

But keep your shirt on, lady. This is a woman who openly admits to cutting off 50 to 100 men’s ties every Carnival Thursday (when the heavy nonsense starts on Altweiber or “The women’s day”) every year, a criminal act (I would think), and then goes on to become Justice Senator.

So where’s the justice for all of those drunken men walking around through the streets of Cologne or wherever with chopped up, mutilated ties, huh?

And just what is this ritual supposed to symbolize anyway?

And of course she’s right when she says that Berlin needs more Rhinelandish cheerfulness and exuberance. So make it happen. Get together with your buds at the Senate and make Rose Monday an official holiday in Berlin. And "Fat Tuesday" while you're at it. Okay, for next year then. That would be a good start, at least.

Wat dann nun? Noch ausgelassener?