FOCUS 3
FOCUS 3 – Contemporary German Society
I feel neither proud nor ashamed to be German. I didn’t choose my nationality. I believe that my task as a German citizen is to learn from the past (inspiration as well as flaws) and contribute to contemporary history in a positive way according to my possibilities. —Anne I hold two passports - my children three. Swiss, German, and New Zealand. I find it interesting how people react differently when you tell them you are one or the other. I know that there are only three other passports that enable you to travel as easy and without a visa as the German passport. When I was younger I was not proud. In France and Scotland I had to explain the German deeds during the war - hopelessly lost (knowing that my father was a soldier), and on top of it in another language—I was only 13-14 years. I got my first German flag in 2000 for my son. Because of soccer, my son loved it. —Annemarie
I always thought it was a weird notion to be proud of the country you just happen to be born in. It is not an achievement to be born in a country. I could have just as easily been born in a country in the Middle East, or Asia, or the United States. It really was not up to me. So no, I am not proud to be German but I am happy to be German. I appreciate our health care system, our education system, our basic rights, and our democracy, and I believe it is our duty as German citizens to make sure we keep these privileges and hold our politicians accountable when they threaten these things. —Annika I am very aware of the privileges of being German, and I am also proud to be one but I am also aware of nationalistic tendencies which are connected to this “pride”. Being very proud of something just because you were born into it is a lousy excuse for people who did not achieve anything in life on their own. —John
I love living in Germany because it is a wonderful country. I feel very comfortable here and this is my home. I think it is difficult to say that you are proud to be of any nationality because to me I can only be proud of something that I personally achieved. But I think it is great to see what Germany has achieved, and what important role it has in the EU and worldwide.
I do not think I am privilege just because I was born here, or because I am German. I mostly don’t connect my identity to my nationality, if anything I identify more with the region from Germany where I am from. It does fill me with pride however, to commit to and stand up for the common values of Germany and the European Union.
—Melanie
—Benni
I have always been rather proud to be German. We are a leading country in various fields, with a high standard of living. I’m especially proud of how we handle our past. Germany is the only country that admits its atrocities. Countries like Turkey, the United Kindgom, and the U.S. do not talk as openly as we do about our past. —Lenz
GERMANY IN FOCUS
A Transatlantic Outreach Program Instructional text for secondary educators
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