Kultur 9 - Anna Kemeny

It's always fascinating to read about the quirks of the German culture. It's good to keep in mind while reading that many of our customs in America may seem strange to an outsider too. Every nation has their own distinctive culture, and it is important to respect that when traveling.

While the lack of German patriotism may seem odd, Germany has a very dark past in that area so it is understandable that they have not yet been able to put the incident behind them. I seems strange that the German flag is not commonly waved, or that an expression of love for Germany is met with silence, but most Europeans are startled by the great amount of American patriotism. When I lived in England, I never observed any patriotism on the scale that it is present in America. The British are proud of their nation, but they do not sing the national anthem in such abundance or make as great a use of their national colors. Our American patriotism is unparalleled in Europe, and this knowledge makes Germany's lack of flag waving less surprising.

Another difference in national philosophies relates to what can be ruled by law an what is left to the discretion of an individual. America places a great emphasis on freedom and for this reason, there are few regulations on how home owners wish to spend their Sunday afternoons. this is not the case across the globe, however. Germany is not alone in placing more restrictive laws on neighborhood activities. Perhaps the German laws also ensure greater harmony between neighbors. The feuding that occurs in American suburbs might be put to rest sooner if judges were to make rulings on specific issues such as barbeques and the barking of dogs.