A Writer In Berlin: Find Out What Germany Thinks Of Trump
I’ve spent the past 12 days in Germany. It’s been an eye opening experience. I’ve learned about pilsners, wurst and impeccable manners. I’ve learned that Germans have plenty to say about Donald Trump. They aren’t afraid to share, either.
Before we had even boarded our flight in Boston, we struck up a conversation with a couple at the gate. “What do you think of Trump?” they asked. “He is dangerous. To the whole world, yes? You agree?”
We agreed.
Over the course of the past two weeks, I’ve spoken to a young tour guide, two waiters, and the 18 year old son of our hosts. All of these young people have had the same opinion. Trump is ridiculous, unintelligent, loud and boorish. They use words like “idiot,” “assh*le,” and “insane.” These young, working class Germans seem to brush Trump off as a joke. Their distaste for him is clear.
We have spoken at greater length to our hosts, a middle aged couple who work for a Berlin bank. They are highly educated, very intelligent, prosperous. The husband grew up on a farm in West Germany. His wife grew up in East Berlin. She lived behind the Wall until her late teens.
They have expressed a deep level of disgust for Trump. Like many German we’ve met, they are acutely aware of good manners. They are offended by Trump’s crude language. His threats of violence shock them. His immature name calling horrifies them.
He scares them.
Katja remembers what it was like to live under Soviet control. She remembers the empty promises of prosperity, and the slogans extolling the greatness of the State. One evening she said:
“To say ‘America first’ is wrong. It is like me saying I will put my husband first and the children have to wait for food. This makes no sense for the modern world.”
“Why do people trust leaders who say they are saviors? Didn’t Americans learn from what happened here with Hitler?”
“Trump is just like Putin, Erdogan, Hitler and others who only think about themselves. They want power and more power. They are not true leaders.”
“Trump’s words sound like Hitler’s speeches.”
http://www.liberalamerica.org/2016/08/11/writer-berlin-find-germany-thinks-trump-video/
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