Protest against Clarkson's Nazi comments

[oliB]

First of all, I'm not offended by Jeremy's comments and nobody I know would be.

The problem is though, that the German public is oversensitive towards everything that has to do with the holocaust. Jeremy could've made jokes about anything else, nobody would complain, but this is a very touchy subject.

Originally Posted by BerserkerCatSplat

Yeah, I can understand how it'd be a touchy subject! The thing is, the fact that Jeremy can make jokes about the Nazis and the fact that viewers can laugh at it really tells me that the rest of the world understands that Germany is long past the whole National Socialist thing. That we can poke fun at it means that we consider it a bygone thing.

Unfortunately many people here in Germany don't. Personally, I think the German public overreacts everytime something controversial is said about our past. It's been 60 years since the war ended and we're still trying to make up for it.

Of course what happened back then was atrocious, but I wasn't involved and neither were my parents. I'd like to live my life freely, not burdened with guilt.

[Tjitse]

It is a very touchy subject, yes,... but i think this was just funny and not "over the edge" at all. You just see by the way he makes that joke that he is kidding and doesn't want to harm people,...

I think they should shut up and follow some lessons "how to get a sense of humour",...


On the other hand, there are "jokes" who do cross the line, in Warschau there were some kids last week (read on internet somewhere) who thought it would be fun to stand next to the entrance of the concentration kamp and sing some hitler songs and giving everyone a nazi salute, THATS wrong, ...

[fluke667]

Originally Posted by bone

as pathetic as those people who are offended if they see some boobs on TV

exactly

Originally Posted by BlaRo

Geez, Germany, take a chill pill or something.

is that ok ?

[JoeBlo1]

I don't see what the fuss is all about. That segment was probably the funniest this whole season! It's not like Jeremy said outright that Germans are Nazis, he just joked about Germany of the past. See my sig? He makes fun of Nazis all the time!

Jeremy got in trouble in the past for saying that BMW executives were Nazis and that Koreans couldn't make decent cars because they were too busy eating dogs. Now that is what you call "pushing it"!

[mautzel]

Originally Posted by BerserkerCatSplat

The thing is, the fact that Jeremy can make jokes about the Nazis and the fact that viewers can laugh at it really tells me that the rest of the world understands that Germany is long past the whole National Socialist thing. That we can poke fun at it means that we consider it a bygone thing.

You're definitely a step ahead with that, hope we'll catch up at least a little bit soon

[Z Draci]

I've lived in German and know for a fact that most Germans wouldn't even be offended by Clarkson's joke. I found that Germans are far more open to discussing Nazism and WWII than ever before. But of course, some comments might strike a nerve in particular individuals. They need to understand that this was 60 years ago and has little pertinence to the present. Nobody in the world seriously thinks Germans are still Nazis.

Putting tea cups and biscuits on a Mini and calling it "British" is a bit strange too. Oh well, people are hypersensitive these days . . .

[ryosuke]

the article is utter rubbish...germany up in arms? sorry, but germany hasn't even taken notice. its just one idiot who is after his minutes of fame...

Originally Posted by transtek

There you go! Clarkson is right! The German's do NOT have a sense of humour!! (no offense meant)

i am german, and i found it hilarious.

Originally Posted by mautzel

It still is an absolute Don't in Germany to make fun of anything that has to do with the Nazi regime at all - that's why people are pissed on every occasion that they hear of anybody doing so. General public attitude is to better be übercareful in that context, and yes, when you add that to the general lack of humor in Germany (we are quite humorous, you only don't recognise ), you permanently get stupid reactions to such issues.

i think thats mostly a problem within older generations. the less we are drectly affected by it, the more free we are in our humour. most younger people do not have a problem with such jokes at all...

Originally Posted by bone

same for religious correctness

!

Originally Posted by fluke667

is that ok ?

hm, i knew jezza had a pretty weird hairdo in the past, but is your ava for real?

[fluke667]

Originally Posted by ryosuke

hm, i knew jezza had a pretty weird hairdo in the past, but is your ava for real?

jup
1991 episode 14

[Lusitano]

Originally Posted by hajj

Those people clearly havent!! The people who are offended most are regulary those who benefited from the Nazi regime (or their families).

Indeed! Take the jews, for example.

[///M]

Originally Posted by fluke667

exactly

is that ok ?

If that's your pic, great roll.

European joints >>>>>>> American, sloppy, roachless joints.

[bone]

Originally Posted by fluke667

THAT's the art of rolling

i'm glad to see germany gets the hang of it

dutch joints are crap! (the way their are rolled at least, contect is great )

[ryosuke]

Originally Posted by fluke667

jup
1991 episode 14

omfg! you gotta post that pic in a bigger resolution.

Originally Posted by Lusitano

Indeed! Take the jews, for example.

millions of them died, and you call that a benefit?? i don't support everything the israelis do do these days, but saying that the jews benefitted from the holocaust is nothing but anti-semitism...

[un-dee]

I think the problem is somewhat a bit deeper than Jeremys Nazi impersonations, which are indeed damn funny.
The problem is that many brits seem to keep sticking to the old nazi stereotypes over and over again, making the relation german = nazi relatively easy. Its a bit annoying if you are in britain and people keep calling you a nazi and stuff.
A recent study showed that british pupils learn more about the history of WW2 and the third reich at school than about their own history. That seems kind of weird to me.

[BigJ]

Who the fuck cares. I'm glad I don't live over there, germans scare me.

As for his remarks towards the germans and Nazism, I don't blame him, they ARE responsible for two world wars and the killing of bajillions of people, second only to those who were killed in the name of Christianity.

Also, he was fairly accurate in relating a BMW product to the Nazis, without the nazi concentration camp labor, BMW wouldn't be here today. Same with Porsche... VW....

Who cares, get over it.

[RichW]

Originally Posted by Un-Dee

A recent study showed that british pupils learn more about the history of WW2 and the third reich at school than about their own history. That seems kind of weird to me.

We do follow WW2 a lot, But I'd like to think its part of our History too.

However, Im not sure there are ANY 1st world countries that don't have a skeleton or 2 in the cupboard. Whilst the British Empire, may have given various countries structure for example. It wasn't a one way street by any means.

I also think, that one of the main issues is the interaction between yourselves and others. German is quite an abrupt language, kind of "more facts, less emotion". And sometimes that gets interpretted as Arrogance, which can lead to mis-understanding. Ive worked with German engineers and the difficulty is the difference between our cultures. Neither is wrong, but its easy for both groups to retreat back to their lines, and not compromise simply because of the differing nationalities.

[fluke667]

Originally Posted by ryosuke

omfg! you gotta post that pic in a bigger resolution.

here you go

Originally Posted by Bone

THAT's the art of rolling

thx ...not as big as jeremy's sunday joint but still enjoyable

[ryosuke]

Originally Posted by BigJ

Who the fuck cares. I'm glad I don't live over there, germans scare me.

As for his remarks towards the germans and Nazism, I don't blame him, they ARE responsible for two world wars and the killing of bajillions of people, second only to those who were killed in the name of Christianity.

Also, he was fairly accurate in relating a BMW product to the Nazis, without the nazi concentration camp labor, BMW wouldn't be here today. Same with Porsche... VW....

Who cares, get over it.

why do we scare you? and why should i be responsible for the killing of millions of people?

without the nazis and their slavery, BMW, VW, merc and porsche could be much farther...there might have been cheap labour for some years, but afterwards everything was destroyed...you could also argue that if it wasn't for the aftermath of WW2 the german industry would be even better of...

[hajj]

Originally Posted by Lusitano

Indeed! Take the jews, for example.

Yes true they did not get any benefits at all, but I think there is no jewsish group backing this up.
I know a family who has a personally signed copy of "Mein Kampf" on their bookshelf, but they would be screaming against such comments.

[osabros]

Originally Posted by Lusitano

Indeed! Take the jews, for example.

please explain. i don't understand how i benefit from the holocaust

[transtek]

[quote="ryosuke"]the article is utter rubbish...germany up in arms? sorry, but germany hasn't even taken notice. its just one idiot who is after his minutes of fame...

Originally Posted by transtek

There you go! Clarkson is right! The German's do NOT have a sense of humour!! (no offense meant)

i am german, and i found it hilarious.

I was just taking the piss BTW! But that BMW technician on the last 5th gear.. god, was he UNfunny or what!