My ancestors are German, so I have decided to learn more about the country and the language (if not for the damn foreign language requirement I wouldn’t be, but that’s another story). When I first expressed my desire to learn German, people called me a Nazi just because I wanted to learn a language. Many of my friends are learning Spanish, but I’m not calling them conquistadors. What’s up with this? FTR, I don’t hate Jews (other than Woody Allen) and I think Hitler was an Asshole Supreme (the real person, not the poster).
“There are many sweeping generalizations that are always true” -Space Ghost
I recall some flake from a Jewish league saying that all Germans regardless of anything were at fault for the Holocaust. When asked “How about a German living in Canada during WW2?” Answer “Guilty”. “How about a German child?” Answer “Guilty”. Etc. Although one can undestand his bitterness and anger it does little good to have it misplaced.
Of course, I am also reminded about how a local Aryan Nation flake said (in a letter to the local paper) “The Jews deserved it since they were secretly plotting to exterminate the German people.”
Ahhh … the human race. Flakes come in all shapes and sizes.
Your not a Nazi for wanting to learn German.
I’m 1/2 German and I also read & study a lot about Germany, I’m not anti-semetic or a Nazi either.
Funny sidenote: I was at a function at my-inlaws (whom are all Polish) shortly after the reunification of Germany, during dinner I anounced I heard Germany was moving their capital, someone inquired where to, I said Warsaw and then I starting laughing uncontrollably. They were not amused.
kknick34: Funny sidenote: I was at a function at my-inlaws (whom are all Polish) shortly after the reunification of Germany, during dinner I anounced I heard Germany was moving their capital, someone inquired where to, I said Warsaw and then I starting laughing uncontrollably. They were not amused.
Another funny sidenote: after the reunification, SNL’s Weekend Update reported it (Kevin Nealon as anchor). They then showed Francois Mitterand and Jean-Claude Killey (sp?) participating in “the wave” at some sporting event, they arms raised. Nealon continued (paraphrased), “Upon hearing of the reunification of Germany, France surrendered.”
As my family is Jewish, I see a lot of this. Many years ago, my brother was forbidden from learning German because, among other reasons, the sound of that language terrifies some Holocaust survivors. My mother is extremely turned off by the idea of tattoos, because of the serial numbers you can find on some people’s arms. Basically, that was a very fucked-up period of time, and it has left scars on the survivors and their children that are so deep, you can’t imagine it.
It goes too far though, sometimes. I have an “uncle” (close friend of family) who must be restrained from saying “filthy Nazi bastards!” every time he sees a German over the age of 60, figuring they were there and were part of it. the restraint isn’t always sufficient.
Personally, I think German is a lovely language – at least it can be. there are elements of the German cultural mindset that terrify me or at least worry me, but the language is not to blame.
My girlfriend just finished her M.A. in German. (She’d planned to get a Ph.D. in the subject but changed her mind.) Half the people I know in this city are grad students who plan to make a life’s work of studying or teaching German.
Well, Longhrn99, I applaud your decision to learn German. The German program was small at my school, but no one ever called me the N-word. (They were too busy calling me weirdo and stuff.)
One thing that is great about German is that some very smart writers will right in very plain German sometimes. I’ve read Gunther Grass, Herman Hesse, etc. short stories, which were at my level though I never got very advanced. So it’s pretty quick to progress beyond the “Claudia und Hans go to the cinema” phase of reading.
I loved reading stuff in German, though it’s been hard to keep it brushed up without a short-wave radio.
Nothing I write about any person or group should be applied to a larger group.
Or how about after the Littleton shootings, when people were talking about Messrs. Harris and Klebold’s taste im music, saying that they were Nazis because, among other things, they listened to German bands like Rammstein and KMFDM. All German bands are Nazis. That’s a bit like saying all American bands are in favor of slavery.
Modest? You bet I’m modest! I am the queen of modesty!
That irks me even more. KMFDM is the most anti-fascist band I’ve ever … understood the lyrics to. Too bad Harris and Klebold didn’t take their anti-violence message to heart.
Nothing I write about any person or group should be applied to a larger group.
Kknick34, that had to be the funniest thing I’ve read in ages, and I’m 100% Polish. Thanks
As for the OP, I really don’t see how learning the German language would make you a Nazi. Hell, I’m sure the US is full of skinhead neo-Nazis who wouldn’t know German if it attacked them in a dark alley.
“I guess it is possible for one person to make a difference, although most of the time they probably shouldn’t.”
Does this remind anyone else of The Brady Bunch episode where Peter is going to be Benedict Arnold in the school play, and suddenly all his friends call him a traitor?
Poor Peter, I hope his problems got worked out by the end of the episode.
Enright3
“Damn, it’d be like two days at Disneyland without the kids!” - Comment by a male friend the first time he saw a picture of Phouka and her breasts.
Sorry, Decended into Raiders of the Lost Ark for a minute.
Your friends are morons, plain and simple. You would be dumb if you wanted to learn greek (I did…for two years. What I remember? Se Ubi de Ubi. Thats it)
Amsterdam calling - yes, the Netherlands. Heavily opressed by the Germans in WWII. Terror. Fear. The Works.
Do we hate Germans ? Sometimes. Whenever we have to play them in soccer. And although I’m sure there are enough ignorant Dutchies who will disagree, we (in general) have nothing against Germans per se. Sure, war criminals (if still alive) must be proscecuted with all possible means. The rest of the Germans are guilt-free and welcome in my country, my home and my heart if they prove worthy - just like anyone else. Hell, am I to be held responsible because my Dutch ancestors (actually, I’m 1/16th German, but that’s another story that dates back to WAY before WWII - it involves Napoleon) shipped Africans to the New World to enslave them ?
I think not.
As for people judging you because you want to learn German: never listen to ignorant twats whose IQ’s are less than room temperature (choose fahrenheit or celcius here, I don’t care ).
The German language is a beautiful one, and I enjoy to speak it very much - actually I’m quite good at it too. But, as a Dutchman, German is a pretty easy language to get started on.
Viel Erfolg, mein Freund. Vielleicht in ein paar Wochen koennen wir zusammen Deutsch reden.
“Better the pride that resides
in a Citizen of the World,
Then the pride that divides,
when a colourful rag is unfurled.”
).