Footie and Patriotism

[herzverstreut_bu]

Short commentary on the games so far: Yay Ecuador! Meh England. I'm expecting more from you, please start delivering soon. Terry saving that goal? Niiice move! Otherwise? Disappointing. ETA: Now, that's what I wanted to see! Though, really, I'd like for T-T to get into the next round as well.

Anyway. I... bought a German flag today. Now, I don't know how unusual owning national flags is for you non-Germans, but to me it seems pretty damn weird. I'm not usually much of a patriot - not because of Germany, but patriotism (as in: being "proud" to be of a certain nationality) is a concept that just doesn't work for me. It seems so exclusive, feeding a "we're better than everybody else" attitude based on a completely random criterium (i.e. being born at a certain place in the world) and lumping people together. Just because we both happened to be born roughly in the same area and speak the same language doesn't mean I have anything more in common with some German than I have with any other random person in the world. In other words: I do not have to feel guilty for the crimes of the NS regime, but I can't be proud of Goethe's works, either.

Now, don't get me wrong: I like living in Germany. We do have our share of problems and crappy politics, but overall I'd even go so far as to say it's one of the best countries to live in, these days. And sure it's nice to be "cool by association" when Germany does well somewhere (though that also goes hand in hand with the problems mentioned above). I'm glad, but I'm not "proud." It's nothing that I have achieved, it was given to me by birth - sure, I vote in the elections, and just by living here I help shape what happens, to a very small extent, but again: it's not enough reason to identify with the flag (or the national anthem, or anything else).

So, why do I go along with the wave of flag-flying and colours-showing that's sweeping Germany? Because these World Cup days it it doesn't seem to be about blind patriotism anymore. Walking around Berlin, there's thousands of people clad in flags, but they're not excluding each other, they're including. There's Germans wearing Brasilian shirts, Turkish youth waving German flags, Swedish cheering along with Croatians - whereever you see someone with football gear, no matter which flag, you know it's someone who has something in commong with you. It's about partying together, no matter what nationality, no matter the rivalry in the Cup - and I realize I'm sounding like the last hippie, and it's certainly not all sunshine and rainbows, but if you're in the middle of what's happening in Germany these days, you might have an idea of why I feel that way.

So I'm going to wear the flag of my team, that is not my team because they're German, but because they're likeable and exciting players, and let everyone see that I'm a fellow football enthusiast. :) Hey, maybe I'll get a Czech flag, too, when I see one. (After all I predict that they're going to win the Cup.) Or an English one. Maybe I'll paint the Swedish flag on my cheek when I go to the Fanmeile tonight - because while we might cheer for different teams, for different reasons, in the end we're all fans.

*steps off soapbox* What I meant to say with this entry? Nothing in particular. Just feeling the love and been wondering about the sudden amount of German flags fying about, when usually you barely see them outside of government buildings.

P.S. Made more football icons, mostly from last night's match, here.

Comments

[nebulein.livejournal.com]

i think the world cup is really good for germany and our damaged self-conciousness. i love to see the german flags everywhere, on cars, hanging out of windows, being flagged on flagpoles. we have two german flags, one borrowed from the friends we watched the match at yesterday, and one of those 'bitburger' ones you get when buying a box of beer. i might hang up the bitburger in my room (where i already got a pace one) because i like the footie players on it :D
i feel proud of our football squad, and all the flag showing is for me, in the first place, a sign of cheering on our squad, showing who your team is. it can also be a sign that you identify with germany, feel like a german, whether you technically are or not. and i think it does display a sense of pride, the Germans are not afraid/ashamed of being German anymore, because we do have things in our country we can be proud of (like our football squad *g*), and i love that as well. for me i'd never go around being all like "we're German, we're better than you," and I think the wave of patriotism will fade after the world cup (mine certainly will), but some of it might stay and i think Germany can use it. i live in Germany for a reason, and the other Germans do as well, and I think there's nothing wrong with showing that you like to live here. and i think i kinda lost my train of thought somewhere along the lines, and it's actually funny for me to be ranting about living in Germany when I'm pretty sure I'll leave after finishing university the latest, but hey, it will always be my Heimat, which shaped me a lot, and i'm starting to feel like that's something i can finally be happy about. :)
(and in case you don't agree with any of this - i certainly don't want to argue. i'm not even sure what i'm saying, just felt the need to comment and say how great i think all the flag showing is)

[scatterheart.livejournal.com]

i think the world cup is really good for germany and our damaged self-conciousness.
Definitely!!

all the flag showing is for me, in the first place, a sign of cheering on our squad
Yes, exactly. I certainly wouldn't have gotten a flag if I didn't love the team, footie enthusiasm or not.

you identify with germany, feel like a german
See, that's the thing I don't get: How can you identify with a country? How do you "feel German"? That's the sort of lumping-people-together-patriotism that I don't understand.

I think the wave of patriotism will fade after the world cup
Most likely, yes.

and I think there's nothing wrong with showing that you like to live here
I agree, but I don't think that has anything to do with "public displays of patriotism." In fact, outside of the World Cup, many of those that are most "patriotic" are the ones that do least for the country. The sort of people that were born here, never had the chance (or ambition) to go anywhere else, get their politics news from the Bild and vote whoever their Stammtischbrüder tell them to. Maybe I'm stereotyping there, but that's not the sort of thing I want. The best way to show that you love a country is not to wave flags and sing anthems, but to actually do something - volunteer, vote on an informed basis, be a good example when in a different country.

say how great i think all the flag showing is
Not disagreeing with that at all. :)

[nebulein.livejournal.com]

well, there are some things all the people living in one country have in common. despite speaking (most of the time) the same language, we're subject to the same laws and also behave in certain ways. y'know, we're part of the German culture, and that's something you can identify with, I think.

i agree that it'd be more patriotic to do something for my country instead of waving a flag (and for me, waving the flag and singing the anthem are still two quite different thing. i'll gladly wave the flag, but won't sing the anthem just because i'm cheering after a match, y'know?), but that's my point. i'm only patriotic in the sense of 'whoo, my team won!' being a good example when in a different country is something i always try to do, though, and for me is just a matter of politeness.

completely unrelated:
i finished making the banners for 10variations, but i told myself i'd go to bed at 1 a.m., so there's not really time to update the completed list (and split it up - ucks, work *sighs*). are you going to be online sometime tomorrow? because then we could either chat or i'll try to make a long rambling comment in 10varimods, but since i'll be gone saturday morning i'd like you to have a change to direct any last questions to me before i'm leaving. (if in doubt you can always ask sas or just leave it for me to deal with when i'm back again :))

[scatterheart.livejournal.com]

we're subject to the same laws
Well, sure - I'm not denying that. But it doesn't have anything to do with our personalities, and I don't believe that we are that influenced by German "culture" (whatever that is supposed to be), either. By general "western" culture, sure. And of course there are things that are specific to Germany, like knowing certain TV shows, musicians, things like that. But that doesn't mean we have to identify with them.

i'll gladly wave the flag, but won't sing the anthem just because i'm cheering after a match, y'know?
*nods* Me neither. But those seem the two biggest symbols of a nation - the flag and the anthem.

i'm only patriotic in the sense of 'whoo, my team won!'
*nods again* Yes, me too - that was one of the things I was trying to say. Though I don't support the team because they're *German*, but because they play well and are likeable. And that's why I tried to differentiate, not sure if that came across in the entry - cheering for your countries team doesn't really fall under "patriotism" for me. In the end it's probably all just a matter of semantics.

are you going to be online sometime tomorrow?
Yeah, I'm probably going to be home from 18:00 or so on. Will chat you up as soon as I'm on, ok?

[nebulein.livejournal.com]

LJ keeps eating my comment. *kicks it*

And of course there are things that are specific to Germany, like knowing certain TV shows, musicians, things like that. But that doesn't mean we have to identify with them.
While I find it very difficult to answer the question "what defines a German" I still think there's a distinctive difference between a German person and a British person, for example. I can't pinpoint any specifics, but although they're both western europeans, I'd say they differ. So there is something 'German' that you can identify with, imho - although you certainly don't have to. :)

I somehow think the anthem is more "spotted" than the flag...

See, here's where I'm patriotic: I'm cheering for our team because they're German and are a bunch of young, hot, very slashable guys the fact that they play good football is more fortunate coincidence ;)

okay, great. :D i'll see, maybe i'll manage to write up some explanations beforehand, but it's not really difficult and you're smart, so it should be good :) *crawls into bed*

[bitter-crimson.livejournal.com]

:) I really liked reading this entry.

I agree with your take on patriotism in general - too often it reeks of exclusion, rather than inclusion as it's supposedly "intended" (at least in the United States). Here in the US, too, we've got a whole cult of patriotism - what with children being indoctrinated into pledging their allegiance to the nation in freaking grade school. Please, I CAN'T be the only one totally freaked out by that. I'm sorry, kids aren't old enough to understand the concept of "allegiance" or what they're supposedly pledging it to. In my mind, it's brainwashing, and it fucking creeps me out. Oh, and then also, anyone in the US who doesn't completely support all actions of the current administration is accused by the vocal conservative right majority (for they are surely the majority in terms of vocalization, all other considerations aside) of being "unpatriotic" or "traitorous." Um. CULT. The sheer quantity/concentration of American flags seen flying in cities on its own is frightening. This kind of rabid patriotism, folks, has NEVER led to anything good in the past, and history repeats itself. Ugh.

So. There you go. My thoughts on that as it relates to my nation. (And sadly, we're also probably one of the least interested nations in the world when it comes to the World Cup, bah. Not that I'd care anyway no matter where I live, 'cause I have absolutely no attention span when it comes to sports. Heh. But, well, okay, maybe I'd care a little bit if more people around me were getting excited.)

Oh, and yeah, I think your thing about being proud of your nationality? Also a very good point. Just because I happen to have been born in a certain nation doesn't mean I should personally get credit OR blame for things my nation/citizens in my nation has/have done. If I am an elected official in the government, then maybe (since the government is an entity that survives its individual make-up). Otherwise, no.

[scatterheart.livejournal.com]

This kind of rabid patriotism, folks, has NEVER led to anything good in the past, and history repeats itself.
WORD! That's what scares me - the fine line between "patriotism" and nationalism. (And personally I think the US are on their best way to the latter. Which is creepy.)

we're also probably one of the least interested nations in the world when it comes to the World Cup
Well, you have your own sports. ;) And if I wasn't right in the middle of it I'd probably be less excited as well, even though I love football. It's just the whole atmosphere.

If I am an elected official in the government, then maybe
Exactly!

[bitter-crimson.livejournal.com]

And personally I think the US are on their best way to the latter. Which is creepy.

Very much agree with you there, and can attest to it through my experience living here. Far, far too many US citizens have this sense of the USA being somehow inherently superior to all other nations, and they feel like this justifies imposing our form of government on other nations, or pretty much anything else we want to do. It absolutely terrifies me. A lot of this, obviously, can be seen now in the war in Iraq. *shudders* Man, it reminds me of this conversation I had with my cousin this one time... She's fairly liberal, I think (I don't know her that well), and she's opposed to the war in Iraq and George W. in general. So. It was summer, and a bunch of us were sitting around talking politics... I think there was me, my mom, my cousin, a couple of my aunts, and possibly a few others. And oh. Migod. (It went something like this:)

Me: Blah blah blah blah, we have no right to invade another country and dictate the method by which they should govern themselves.
All the other people: We agree, blah blah blah.
Me: Blah blah something about how it's a violation of human rights blah blah blah cultural relativism blah blah blah.
My cousin: [in referring to people living in the Middle East] Well, I wouldn't really consider them human.
Me: *stares*

Excuse me, WHAT?? I. WHAT??? I mean, yeah, her father is extremely racist and all, but I thought she was SMARTER THAN THAT. And. Man. And even if she were a little racist, I just... O_o Yeah. So.

I think the thing is, people, on average, are stupid. They'll do and believe what they're told, and they'll follow the crowd. I don't think Americans are any stupider than people elsewhere - I do, however, think our current administration is MUCH MUCH MUCH more dangerous/dishonest/incapable. And the current trend is to FOLLOW THAT ADMINISTRATION BLINDLY. W. T. F.

Oh man. I can't wait until we all just die out. (Though sadly, I'll probably be dead by then. *snort* Heehee, I made a funny.)

[scatterheart.livejournal.com]

have this sense of the USA being somehow inherently superior to all other nations, and they feel like this justifies imposing our form of government on other nations
Yes, exactly! And I don't understand how so many people (and not just US citizens!) can't see that a) no, they're not superior and the whole "home of the brave, land of the free" thing is no more (if it was ever real in the first place) and b) trying to force "democracy" does not work, has never worked and will never do so. Country leaders should take a mandatory class in "Weimar Republic 101" to see what happens when you try to impose democracy on a people that neither has a concept of it nor is ready to participate.

Well, I wouldn't really consider them human.
WHAT THE HELL??!? I seriously don't get people sometimes.

They'll do and believe what they're told, and they'll follow the crowd
Yesyes, exactly! And I know it's lame to compare things to the Nazi regime, but that's exactly how they seized power, and the parallels to today's USA are *scary*.

[scatterheart.livejournal.com]

*shrugs* Fine with me! I can imagine that people who are not into football are ready to shoot themselves by now. :-/

[spiritcrow.livejournal.com]

*nods* Same here - and I do feel a tad bit bad about seeing everyone on my flist squee and whatnot about "footie" and here I am just going "whatever, let it end soon"...

[mojokid.livejournal.com]

I feel pretty similar about patriotism a lot of the time, but the World Cup definitely brings it out in me. *g* I think at times like this it can be a really positive thing. I love seeing all the different countries getting really into it and waving their flags and just being happy for their team. It's v. cool. Even if England do make it so painful for me to watch sometime. ;)

[scatterheart.livejournal.com]

I love seeing all the different countries getting really into it and waving their flags and just being happy for their team.
Yes, that is seriously awesome! (I just came back from the big public viewing area/party at Brandenburger Tor, and the Swedish fans were incredible. They were so happy that everybody else - Germans, lots of English people, Brasilians, ... - partied right along. It's incredible.

Even if England do make it so painful for me to watch sometime. ;)
Seriously! England is one of my favourite teams, but what they've been doing those two matches was beyond frustrating.

[spiritcrow.livejournal.com]

DEFINITELY an interesting read, even if I don't share your view completely (and utterly hate anything soccer related *lol*)

I agree with one thing 100% - not getting the notion of nationalism/patriotism of being "proud" to be a nationality since "proud" to me means having DONE something. And being born in a place that just happened to be Germany isn't a conscious effort (if that makes sense). I'm not ashamed to be German either, I am German because I live here - that's all there is to it for me. I relate to people who share my views or interests and support them, no matter where they are from. I admire peope/countries/movements because of what they achieve - not because of their nationality.

It is nice though to see Germany waving the flags without having people point and yell "Nazi!" because that constant "remember your history that you can't be proud of" crap is just as awful as overly paraded patriotism.

What irks me though (not about your post, but about the media) is that an event like the worldcup should be the one thing that just *poof* turns Germany into a world of puppies and butterflies with no racism and problems. It's a special situation with special reactions and events - it's not every day life. I'd be mighty surprised if this new found patriotism carries on after the worldcup is over.

[scatterheart.livejournal.com]

since "proud" to me means having DONE something
Yes, that's exactly what I meant!

because that constant "remember your history that you can't be proud of" crap is just as awful as overly paraded patriotism.
Exactly! Like I said - we certainly mustn't forget what happened, but come on. I'm not responsible for what people did more than half a century ago.

is that an event like the worldcup should be the one thing that just *poof* turns Germany into a world of puppies and butterflies with no racism and problems
Yes, I agree. With the current atmosphere of euphoria it's easy to forget, but once the WC is over people are going to pack their flags, get back to their lives and nothing will have changed. Still, I like the mood that is all over the country right now, and I have fun just going with the flow - exactly because it's such a one-time thing and life will be back to normal in the blink of an eye.