German of the day: Ruhig Blut. That means keep your blood calm. You know, as in steady, there, keep your shirt on?
Überraschend und entgegen der meisten Umfragen heißt der kommende Präsident der USA Donald Trump.
Tag Archives: Media
Young Germans Shamelessly Copying Americans Again
Or at least that’s what the latest “Generation What?” survey taken by a German media group indicates to me: More than 70 percent of the young people here have no confidence in politics.
When asked about political institutions, only 27 percent replied that they “more or less” had confidence in them. Only one percent asked said they trusted these institutions completely.
They were nearly as skeptical when it came to confidence in religious institutions and in the media itself.
Mehr als 70 Prozent der jungen Menschen ohne Vertrauen in die Politik.
German Of The Day: Sexmonster
That means sex monster.
But that’s only because this year’s presidential election is a real Schlammschlacht.
German word-compounding really shines: Schlamm means “filth” (with connotations of “slime”), and Schlacht, in addition to meaning “fight,” as it’s used here, also means “slaughter” (which you may remember from Schlachthof-fünf in the Vonnegut classic).
German Of The Day: Rechtspopulistisch
That means right-wing populist. You know, like what the German state TV channel ARD has insisted upon labeling the AfD party up until now?
This has changed, however. As the head talking head what’s in charge over there (in there?) explains: “The background behind this is the fact that given the latest state elections, the AfD has attained such a high level of recognition that the permanent classification of them through this attribute is no longer necessary in order to make an orientation possible by the viewers.” The proper orientation, I assume he means.
The Pöbel (rabble) has now finally been dutifully informed so the ARD is going to gracefully condescend to move on to the next Umerziehungsmaßnahme (re-education measure) on the list. Whatever that might be. So stay tuned. As if you had a choice.
Hintergrund dieser Vorgehensweise ist die Tatsache, dass die AfD nicht zuletzt aufgrund der zurückliegenden Landtagswahlen einen solch hohen Bekanntheitsgrad erreicht hat, dass es der permanenten Einordnung durch dieses Attribut nicht mehr Bedarf, um den Zuschauerinnen und Zuschauern eine Orientierung zu ermöglichen
Big Anti-AfD Mass Rally Held In Berlin
Only without the masses. That’s strange. As we all know, or at least told time and time again, the “Alternative for Germany” AfD party is a serious threat to “all those who don’t fit into its view of the world” and must be stopped at all costs or something. So why didn’t anybody show up at the mass rally held against them yesterday in Berlin?
Maybe those telling as these things (the established parties and the established media outlets) don’t fit into the view of the German voter’s world anymore. Gee. I wonder how the regional election in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is going to go today?
The event, which was held in Berlin on September 3, managed to only attract 2,500 people, according to police sources. The organizers of the rally had expected around 10,000 demonstrators and said their count was 6,000 attendees.
German Of The Day: Stinkefinger
That means stinky finger. You know, as in the finger?
SPD boss Sigmar Gabriel recently got some Sommerloch good press by doing what is generally considered to be a bad thing. Only he was flipping off neo-Nazis who were heckling him so that made it a good thing.
Getting in a little more mileage out of it, he has now said in an interview that his only regret is not having used two stinky fingers (no, not the peace sign, he means two hands).
“Ich habe nicht beide Hände benutzt.”
PS: A Sommerloch or summer hole is the “silly season” during summer vacation months typified by frivolous or unimportant news stories in the media.
Too Early To Tell
Again, I mean.
There will be no jumping to conclusions here, dear German readers. It is verboten or something. But we do have to consider the remote possibility that maybe, just perhaps, this latest attack in Ansbach was also an act of Islamic terror (itself). It is too early to tell, however, like I said. And we certainly would not want to hurt anybody’s feelings by doing so.
What is going on in Germany?, the BBC journalist above asks. Well just don’t ask any German journalists if you want to know.
Es „fühlte sich wie Terror an“, muss aber keiner gewesen sein.
German Of The Day: Under-reported
OK. That’s English. But still.
Authorities now say that more than 1,200 women were sexually assaulted across Germany that night, including about 400 in Hamburg and more than 600 in Cologne, by more than 2,000 men. Previous estimates had ranged in the dozens, both for the victims as well as suspects.
About half of the 120 suspects whose identity has been established had come to Germany from a foreign countries within the last years.
Uhm… Why was it under-reported? I mean, what could possibly be the reason for doing so? Does anyone know? I’m just asking.
“There is a connection between the emergence of this phenomenon and the rapid migration in 2015.”
It’s Magic
Wow. The refugees have suddenly stopped coming to Germany. Just like that.
All it took, the German government (and government media) tell us today, was Angela Merkel’s strong leadership and the EU’s agreement with Turkey to return migrants who cross the Aegean Sea to Europe illegally. Well…
Most experts, however, say the deal with Turkey, the main plank of German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s plan to reduce refugee flows to Europe, had nothing to do with the fall in numbers since it has only been implemented for a few days. Rather, they say the decrease is mainly due to the closure of national borders by countries on the migrants’ Balkan route, a policy Ms. Merkel has vehemently opposed.
That’s right. This is the same German government (and government media) that said that putting stringent border controls in place wouldn’t and couldn’t solve the problem. So I guess, well, uh… Go ahead. You do the math.
Once again: Thanks, Austria. Sometimes – even in ze Europe – just making things happen is the best way to go.
Flüchtlinge: Zahlen sinken drastisch
This Is The Monster We Are Supposed To Hate
Get used to her face, too.
Her name is Frauke Petry and Angela Merkel’s refugee policy fiasco, and her refugee policy fiasco alone, is virtually assuring her party’s entry and establishment in the German political landscape and it is unfortunately too late now to do anything about it.
Petry says outrageous things like “People must stop migrants from crossing illegally from Austria into Germany. If necessary, through the use of firearms. I don’t want this, but the use of armed force is there as a last resort.”
Imagine that, suggesting the use of firearms to protect your borders as a last resort. Unthinkable, right? Well it is here. But the real outrageous part is the first part of what she said. It is outrageous because that is precisely what most Germans want and Chancellor Merkel refuses to respect this. It’s time to close the borders. It’s been time to close the borders. And it will remain time to close the borders until the borders get closed – presumably following the next election.
Sehe ich so aus, als sei ich unter Druck?
Observing Hermann 