Observing Hermann...

Somebody call the cops. Or just tap the shoulder of one or two of the people standing next to you at one of those World Cup public viewing areas if you prefer, he or she is bound to be one (they’re everywhere these days because of security, you see). This has to be reported immediately. The Germans are beginning to discard their post-war reluctance about thinking, feeling or even, gulp, displaying anything positive about their country. What, you say? The cop standing next to you is waving a damned flag, too? I mean jeez, what is that?

Let’s study this phenomenon. Is all of this simply due to the World Cup and Germany’s “obligation” to wave flags along with everybody else? Has a soccer tournament managed to settle an issue overnight what generations of Germans haven’t been willing to openly and honestly address? Yes. And no.

For one thing, all the flag waving is an indication of the current national mood. And the mood, for being a German one, is remarkably good. Germans do everything they can to paint things black, of course, but it is also a well-known fact that German Handwerk (craftsmanship) is going through a bit of a crisis these days (more black paint please) and their painting technique obviously isn’t what it used to be. Or is black paint production just not keeping up with demand at the moment?

Then there’s the generational issue, which actually isn’t even an issue at all. Sedimentary layer upon sedimentary layer of German generational time is slowly but surely covering up that dastardly and once so “directly perceived” ugly brown past. The past is still there, of course, as is the responsibility to it. But it’s a past that’s not as heavy as it used to be and a responsibility that the Germans now almost cheerfully accept.

So why do so many Germans seem concerned these days about all of this new-found national pride? That’s an easy one: Because being concerned about national pride is just what they do. And this, too, is another thing to be proud about. Good, healthy scepticism is another reason to get out there and show a little pride in your country, people. Is this confusing? Sure it is. After all, we’re discussing Germans and Germany here.

I think their only real concern should be what a good friend of mine has always suspected of them. Germans might just be too much like their weather. There’s never any moderation here when it comes to the weather. It’s always either unpleasantly warm and humid or cold and clammy. The sun is shining and it’s mild at the moment and this seems to be making some folks nervous. The cold and the clammy is what they know best.

But then again, on the other hand, we all know how reliable weather reports are in this country, so let’s not worry so much about what today’s or tomorrow’s forecast might be. The sun is shining now for once. Let’s just enjoy it while it lasts.

Submitted to Carnival of German-American Relations