On Sunday 08 May 2005 02:17, jdow wrote:
> From: "H.J.Bathoorn" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>
> > Ironicaly, my hopes are on the Germans hoping they will bring about the
> > nescessary democratic changes.
>
> I'll stick my nose into something I have no business poking it into
> as a US citizen. Am I the only person here who noticed the irony in
> the comment about the lights in the Dane's windows and the concept of
> turning their country over to the very people whose defeat led to those
> lights in the Dane's windows?
>
> In the early days of the US it was possible to move and find a place
> you could be your potty old self as you melted into the overall culture.
> I've not noticed this in the discussions of the EU by those most
> affected in Europe. They are being forced into an ever more restrictive
> Procrustean bed. I do not expect them to like it any more than I like
> the US government's ever more restrictive Procrustean bed governing
> more and more minute aspects of our lives.
>
> I find ironies amusing. That's why your phrase caught my eye.
>
> {o.o} Sorry about being a butinski USAmerican.
You saw it right:)
German democracie is very much younger than that of most countries around them
and carrys that historic burden. They built in some very strong democratic
garantees and learned to tread warily as not to lose them again.
They are vigilant about freedoms that we in the other countries take for
granted but are in danger to lose, be it by overzealous burocrats at the EU
or hysterical anti-terrorist rules from your own legislation.
As they are one of the major players in the EU my hopes are on them as well as
on strong cooperation of smaller countries like Denmark and the Netherlands
(and many more but I don't want make this a geography lesson) to take a
stance if they feel bullied by the big guys.
Germany too is getting very much aware of OSS and even partaking actively in
it. They're big enough not to be easily pushed around by the multinationals
as well as they don't just "change their opinion" because it offers more
short term oportunities. The smaller countries are very much held hostage by
these large multinational entities such as Microsoft or IBM.
As to you guys coming to bail us out.......our problem is keeping you guys
out !..... from an economical and cultural point of view, that is.
This is going very off-topic so I'll stop here. I just wanted to clarify my
view on the Germans before it takes on a life of it's own.
--
Good luck,
HarM
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