2012-02-21

A sign of German mood?

If the crosswalk says don't walk, even if there are no cars in sight, Germans will wait for the light to change. I don't know how the cities are today, when I was in Berlin I jaywalked and no one yelled at me, though I've heard it happens.

In The culture that is Germany (Jaywalking Edition), we see the cover of the latest Hamburg Morgenpost:
The headline, Erwischt!, or Caught!

“How more and more Hamburgers are crossing at the red light – and how they make excuses,” it warns, in best Daily Mail style.
Germans may take their road rules seriously and this is admittedly one data point, but I would guess the probability of seeing a front page story on jaywalking during positive social is quite low. I liked the latest comment under the story:
Your name (guest) says:

This article is so petty, that it is now being made fun of on American blogs.

More important is the following: a book burning. See FLAMES IN THEIR HEADS
Zet declared that he is willing to collect Sarrazin’s book from those readers who would like to do away with it. In the course of 7th Berlin Biennale, the artist will use the collected copies to develop an installation in the KW Institute for Contemporary Art exhibition spaces. The form of the work will depend on the number of books collected; Zet will decide their future fate along with the public.
The target is Thilo Sarrazin's book, "Germany Abolishes Itself," a critique of Germany's multicultural, welfare and immigration policies.

Germany is extremely sensitive to WWII and the swastika is illegal. If a book burning takes place, it signals a big shift in the public's attitude.

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