Did World War 2 Humble Germany?

[Nubclear]

Long Live Deutschland!!!

[TCO]

I don't think that they need to wallow in guilt. But I think different Euro nationalism has a strong ethnic component to it. It is not such a great thing.

[Odin]

Germans have witnessed the horrors nationalism can cause firsthand. The US and UK have not, and France still has her WWI-style arrogant nationalism.

[Immortal Wombat]

Yeah, Brits are still nationalist flag-waving zealots.

[The Viceroy]

I think to a lesser degree, the same situation has happened in the UK. Nationalism and being proud of your country is rarely considered a good thing. Britain may not have a facist history, but it does have an imperial one, which we all must run out and apply 21st century morals to, and feel such shame about.

[BeBMan]

Originally posted by Trip
All of the Germans I know except one view being proud of their country as something to be ashamed of.

I don´t see a problem with being proud of my country. However, the exact line "I´m proud to be a German" is quasi hijacked by Neonazi groups here, who imply a lot more with such statement. Therefore this line is hardly used by many Germans. OTOH some Germans are so "proffesionally" ashamed of the Nazi time that appears rather grotesque.

I think for many young people it is a natural reaction when they first learn more about the Nazi era to "be against it", and they often extend this view over Germany in general. AFAIK it has to do with a kind of fear (that someone could think you´re a Nazi if you don´t always go around and say that you´re not - even when nobody asked )
But most develop a more rational view about it sooner or later....

[Odin]

Originally posted by Immortal Wombat
Yeah, Brits are still nationalist flag-waving zealots.

They are, that is the main reason they will not adopt the Euro.

[The Viceroy]

Odin,

You completely wrong, most brits live in fear of being seen waving a flag(metaphorically) .. Nationalism is equated wrongly to racism, and zenaphobia.

[Spiffor]

It is true the Brits seem to still really love all the decorum about their country.

BTW Odin, the French nationalism is more "3rd Republic" nationalism than "WW1 nationalism". The 3rd Republic was the one agressively spreading the specific French nationsalism that is still existing today, albeit in a much toned-down form.

[Odin]

Originally posted by Spiffor
It is true the Brits seem to still really love all the decorum about their country.

BTW Odin, the French nationalism is more "3rd Republic" nationalism than "WW1 nationalism". The 3rd Republic was the one agressively spreading the specific French nationsalism that is still existing today, albeit in a much toned-down form.

Thanks, Spiff, It was just that the crap the French wanted done to Germany after WW1 was what poped into my head.