Kultur 11 Ben Lemisch

I was astounded when I read on to find that there is a small group in the city who would have rather never been unified with western Germany in the first place. The fall of the Berlin Wall is depicted in America as one of the final blows against Communism and the triumph of America against the Russians. Still though in Berlin there are stereotypes associated with East and West Berliners. "East Germans think of westerners as "Besser-Wessies," or arrogant know-it-alls. West Germans, in turn, roll their eyes about the "Jammer Ossies," or whining easterners" I had learned that after the fall of the Berlin Wall Germany was reunited and the east benefited from the prosperity of the west. This is evidently not the case and resentment is still harbored by both sides. The resentment is tied to money and each side is envious of how much the other is receiving. The west is viewed as the haven of the rich and the east is viewed as receiving a disproportionate amount of financial aid. The more I read the more it reminded me of the division in ideologies of the American south and north. The stereotypes which were present during the Civil War are still prevalent in American society today. The division between east and west Berliners became more relatible as I continued to compare it with the north and south in the U.S. As always when I read these kultur articles I find more similarities between American and German culture than differences.