Kultur 11

The enduring cultural divides in Germany, be they East and West or North and South should be familiar to most Americans. All it takes is a brief glimpse at the news to realize that the predominant American cultural divide, North and South, is just as prominent. Americans on different sides of the Mason-Dixon line (or perhaps the “Mason-Dumbass line,” to prove my point) are just as bitter towards one another as the Germans are, and for similar reasons. Economic, political, racial, and social differences are easy to see when one compares the Northern and Southern United States. Northerners may think of the Southerners as hicks, trailer-trash, or something along the lines. Likewise, the Southerners are likely to dismiss the “Yankees” as snobs, elitists, or something similar. A long history of cultural and economic differences, culminating in the Civil War are the primary causes for this divide; in Germany, the divide is much more focused on religion. Still, the resemblance is uncanny.
Another feature of the American South came to mind while reading the bit about “Ostalgie.” No doubt many of us have heard the common phrase, “The South will rise again!” Despite the treacherous and racist nature of the Confederate States of America, its culture is still openly celebrated in many Southern States, and by individuals all across the country. South Carolinians can look forward to parades and celebrations on the anniversary of the firing on Fort Sumter, for instance. Rick Perry, governor of Texas, has stated on more than one occasion that he’d consider seceding from the Union again. Similarly, there are people in the North that most likely wouldn't mind seeing the politically Red South excuse itself from the country once again. Seeing a similar pattern of nostalgia and downright preference for the old divides in Germany does not come as a shock to me.