LOL! So if each European power is reviled by other countries on the continent, how is the concept of an EU (beyond the economic cooperation of course) ever going to work? Will they be able to overcome their long history of animosity/rivalries/wars and move forward towards a united Europe? This is why I think a "super" European state just won't be a reality anytime soon. There is a lot of cultural pride within France, Germany, and Britain, for example, so how will they ever overcome that?
Actually, I have almost only friendly feelings towards all the Western European countries I know, even though the older I get, the more I notice that there really are a lot of small cultural differences between the different countries. But that's not a bad thing. I will admit that the ones I am least crazy about are the French...no real reason, just personal experience, I guess. I just laugh at the British stereotypes in their tabloids when we play (and beat) them in football ("German tanks", "Blitzkrieg", yadayada). I just view it as admiration. Also, I love to play the Dutch in football when it counts, and I always hope it goes to the penalty shoot-out .
I think it's all just on the surface. The Danish for instance, complain that the German language is strident on the ears. It's all just innocent rivalry. Deep down they really love each other. The Europeans are one big happy family that just bickers amongst each other from time to time not unlike siblings would. Of course, the British and French really do dread each other though
ok that one was below the belt i think the competition between germany and holland in soccer is a good frienldy competition, The dutch are always focused when they play the germans.
Typical German! I watched the Dutch beat some team (I forgot which one) convincingly a few weeks ago, I think it might have been the Confederation Cup (the one Brazil won by smashing the Argentinians to pieces). The Dutch were VERY impressive, and I thought they were a bit more impressive than the German team, although both teams will definitely be finalists in next year's World Cup. I have always been impressed by the continueous high-level of football the Germans have been playing for the past decades. Their teams have always been top-notch. I love their passing style and their quickness, it's truly fun to watch. I think the World Cup next year will have Brazil pitted against either the Germans or the Dutch, so it should be lots of fun.
Oops! You are right! I can't believe I confused the Germans with the Dutch! It was Germany vs. Mexico, my bad! But, that just shows you how similar you Germanic peoples are, and how confusing it's for us in the outside world to distinguish you from one another!
Hey we are not german people the dutch soccer team has changed alot in the last year, from a very talented team with arogant players, into a less talented team with the drive to win, And ofcourse, Van basten is the Best(ok sorry for this of topic talk.)
Yah, he's amazing! I remember being in Egypt during the 1990 World Cup in Italy watching Egypt play Holland (it ended in a tie), and while I wasn't rooting for any particular team, my Egyptian friends were cursing every time Van Basten wasn't covered by at least two players, because he was that dangerous. I used to love watching him and Roberto Biggio (sp?) of Italy, they were two of my favorite players of the decade (besides Maradonna and Hossam Hassan)
Excellent advice! Well, I used to have a German gf in high school, but that didn't last long. It was a long time ago. Come to think of it, I think I just figured out why I am interested in German to begin with!
LOL! You just want to rub it in to arno, don't you? The West Germans knocked out the Dutch, and the W. Germans went on to win the World Cup finale against Mardonna and the Argentines. It was the most memorable World Cup in recent memory, I remember it like it was yesterday. Come to think of it, the Germans haven't won a World Cup since the unification, could it be that the East Germans are dragging you down?
Good point, actually! I never thought about that, but I think it's true! Not only do they drag us down economically, they also hurt our soccer efforts! Ballack (East German) better lead us to the title next year, or he's in trouble!
My wife has relatives in the Netherlands (her mother immigrated to the States when she was a teenager, in the '30's.), and I spent a few months there myself before I met my wife, in 1971. I can testify that Dutch, while sharing some roots with German, is quite different, at least to my ear. Several of the words are spelled the same, or nearly the same, as their English counterparts, and mean the same thing. It's true that some older Dutch people hold bitter fealings still from WWII. I've spoken about that before here. Intellectually they know today's Germans, except for those of a certain age, and dwindling in number, had nothing to do with it, but their remembered experiences prevent them from putting the past aside. Frankly, I was surprised to find that out. I hope all the European countries hold tight to their cultural differences. The dissolving of those fine differences is what I fear most about the still evolving European Union. Keep D&D Civil!!
They DID ask them about politics: When asked what caused Islamic extremism, 40 percent in Lebanon and 38 percent in Jordan blamed U.S. policies and influence; in Morocco, Pakistan and Turkey, respondents were more likely to blame poverty, unemployment or poor education. You don't even get a majortiy of Jordanians blaming politics. "Scary indeed, and as long as these mutual feelings of hatred and suspicion prevade among both sides" Do 99% of Israelis view Muslims unfavorably, even though they can't live peacefully in a Muslim country, while a Muslim can live and prospre in Israel? No, so then I wouldn't call it "mutual."
