Originally Posted by
Azor
I have spent enough time in Germany. I do enjoy the lovely chaos of Berlin and the eastern cities, as well as the calmness of Magdeburg’s promenade along the Elbe.
Yet a country is more than its objects and nature, and I found the people rather curious and emotionally repressed.
Who appointed Germany “defender of liberal democracy”? Liberalism refers to individual freedom and the responsibility of the state to protect and maximize individual freedom. Democracy refers to sovereignty residing equally among the individuals of a nation.
Yet Germany has restrictions on freedom of expression, which have increased notably under Merkel’s rule, as “hate speech” has been steadily broadened to conveniently silence reporting on and criticism of government policies. Merkel’s decision to open Germany’s borders was undemocratic, and taken without the consent of the German people. They only acquiesced out of fear of being branded xenophobic and racist, and because Merkel framed her decision in the context of atonement for World War II and the Holocaust.
U.S. federal election turnout has always varied, but has been trending upward since 1996. By comparison, German federal election turnout has been declining consistently since 1998.
A country that had liberalism and democracy imposed on it by forces of occupation cannot be considered a “defender of liberal democracy”. The United States and Great Britain were and remain its defenders, whatever their flaws and internal struggles.
German popular support for NATO is in decline and may well fall below 50% before 2020, and a majority of Germans opposing using force to defend its NATO allies.
By the way, the U.S. never began assuming the mantle of "defender of democracy" until World War II, when U.S. power was crucial to defeat Fascism and contain Communism.
RE: Russia Thread
Again, I will remain on-topic and not bite on your lure about Trump. The Berkeley riot included genuine peaceful protesters and violent rioters on both sides. The airstrike on Shayrat AB has been comprehensively discussed elsewhere.
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