World Cup Punditry » «
Now everyone loves a bit of punditry dont they?! With the World Cup fast approaching a wonderful punditry opportunity looms before us and thank god it has little or nothing to do with football.
We will get to see , hear and experience peoples of the world as they visit Germany. In the resulting milieu many different opinions of the visitors and hosts alike will be presented and discussed by many different nations. Therein lies a great opportunity.
Through observing the stark differences we see in other people and nations we are better able to define ourselves as individuals and as nations. Its easy to see what you are when you can see what you are not.
After 6 years of “living with the enemy” the differences I observe between England and Germany no longer seem so stark. In many ways England and Germany are more closely related than many Little Englanders and Herman The Germans would like to think. The two countries are really like long lost siblings who need to kiss and make friends and get to know each other as grown ups. Perhaps a giant mixed sauna would help things along?
One ultimate truth I’ve noticed on my travels is that all the peoples of the world are cast from a very small set of moulds. One big melting pot I hear y’all say? I see the same faces from different races in different places over and over again. When it comes down to it we are all basically the same with minor differences. There is only one people on the earth and one competition – the human race. We all trying to win. “Everything is one and competition is none. ”
That said its no accident that national stereotypes and myths have come to be. Many a true word said in jest and I’ve found it really is true what they say about the English, Germans, French, Italians, Spanish, Americans etc. Our need for belonging extends far beyond a choice of football team. To fit in and to be at one with our fellow country men we (must!?) unconsciously adopt many of the same characteristics. traits, qualites and view points. Not to mention the need of speaking the same language. In Europe with ever fewer political borders one cant help but be aware of and delight in these national characteristics which become ever more apparant and help to define a country and its people
Based on my experience as an Englander living in Germany for the last 6 years, throughout the Worldcup I hope to post some poignant and piss taking observations from the media and blogosphere which highlight those international stereotypes, differences and similarities. It will also be a chance for me to think about what its like living in Germany and to attempt to define some of the stereotypes I’ve observed in the culture here.
If you see any articles or blogs that fit in here then please let me know
Vive la D[ef]ence!
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