Stripes letter, written by a German: US often speaks with double tongue

[lebkuchen]

Differences not anti-American

I was just reading the Stars and Stripes article “Complaints follow commencement flap” (June 14, European edition), and I was not surprised by the reaction of the audience after professor Detlef Junker’s speech.

To be honest, as a German national, I often have realized that many (not all) Americans often tell other people abroad how proud they are about free speech and about freedom and democracy, and as long as you say what Americans wants to hear, they are very friendly with you. But when you (as a foreigner) dare to criticize the United States, then you are getting bashed and condemned or damned immediately by over-proud Americans. Then these Americans think that you are automatically anti-American because you think differently.

Many Germans feel that the Iraq war and the current U.S. foreign and military policy is very wrong. But does this mean that we are automatically anti-American? I don’t think so. In the past, I, and many other Europeans, frequently criticized the policy of the former East bloc and the USSR as well, but that did not make me anti-Russian.

For many Europeans, America often speaks with a double tongue — supporting cruel regimes and dictatorships in other parts of the world when it’s good for the United States (including Iraq for more than 30 years). But if one of these countries makes troubles, then the U.S. starts a “little war” in the “name of freedom and democracy.” Everybody must follow — if not, you are against America.

Maybe the speech by Junker started the trouble (I was not there), but the reaction of the American audience is further proof that they don’t stand for free speech. They only support it when the speaker speaks what American ears want to hear.

Torsten Behrens
Stade, Germany

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=125&article=29949

[getmeouttahere]

1. Perfect, lebchuchen....

this is of course exactly what Americans who don't agree with BushCo are feeling. But we are VERY American for dissenting and you are certainly not anti-american for doing same, although I wouldn't blame you if you felt that way.

For 40 years or more, there has been a tremendous amount of hypocricy in our foreign policy, but it has reached seemingly unimaginable levels with BushCo. One of the best examples is the democratically-elected govt of Hugo Chavez in Venezuela.

www.handsoffvenezuela.org

[lebkuchen]

3. Here is the speech, which some in attendance were upset about

commencement from a German professor to the graduates of the University of Maryland, Heidelberg. It's a terrific walk into recent history.

http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=28966&archive=true

[Oversea Visitor]

2. oops he met a freepers

Me rant here whole day
sad no freeper attack me here yet
Must be different air here
Too clean and healthy
With lots of oxygen for good brain development

[lebkuchen]

4. Maybe, but this SPC is no freeper, and he lives in Germany

His letter was printed the same day as the above post:

Europeans free to disagree

I know that it must have been hard for the University of Maryland University College graduates to sit through a disgruntling speech, such as the one professor Detlef Junker delivered at their graduation ceremony (“Complaints follow commencement flap,” article, June 14). Here is what I have to say: Grow up!

Yes, it is true that much of Europe has anti-American sentiment. They have good reason. Their thoughts, although conflicting with ours, are generally rational. When we scold them for not helping us in Iraq, they obviously get upset.

When the European Union helped us in Afghanistan as a result of Sept. 11, we gave them little praise. When we told the United Nations to kiss our behinds as we trotted into Iraq, both the U.N. and the EU had every right to question our intentions. It was our pre-emptive war and, since we did not find weapons of mass destruction, obviously we were wrong (and the others were right) about their existence.

Was war necessary? Yes, Saddam Hussein was a vicious dictator, and begged to be ousted. That being said, I think that the general thought in Europe is, when there are dozens more men in power like Saddam Hussein around the world, why are you going to go there, and practically ignore the others (i.e. Rwanda in the ’90s)? I think they know our game better than we do, and they have every right to be suspicious of our intentions after we told off the United Nations for Iraq, and are threatening to do so over Iran.

I would dare to say that Junker is right, and he has a very good point. I know a lot of Americans place the blame on the president but, for the most part, as far as Europeans are concerned, the blame is put on America as a whole, not just the current president. Although I am proud to be an American, I think too much pride can result in dangerous ignorance. We Americans need to let other countries have their opinions about us, as we have about them. How many French jokes have you heard? Exactly.

Junker, although I did not witness your speech, you were right on point. I would just say that maybe you need to have a little bit better timing in the future.

Spc. Eric Woodard
Friedberg, Germany

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=125&article=29949

[Oversea Visitor]

5. Sigh

US main problems is that US think they always right
They make decision which a lot of times are not pratical
Look good on paper but turn into shit on execution

I think US should stop thinking that the world begin and end at the US border.