Shame on me. Traitor to my country. But, dear soccer fans, you should first read this article to the end before hiring a contract killer or even do the job yourself. What does it mean anyway, “my country”, in the age of so called globalization? So, ok, the German team is not that bad. But there is no reason for any hype so far. And, actually, there is not yet such a thing as “hype”. Though some Germans have hoisted their flags again as they did in the 2010 World Cup in Germany. But, fortunately, the match against Ghana yesterday already brought them to half-mast, at least mentally. Fortunately, though?
Yes, fortunately. Fortunately, because the last thing the world needs – the last thing Europe needs, in particular – is another German victory diverting attention from people’s needs and making politicians and other German elites even more arrogant and ignorant than they already are. You may think it is wrong to mix soccer with politics. No, it is not. The game itself, of course, is not political. However, as soon as you look over the rim of the green and peaceful looking soccer field, it is.
Even if you assume that most of the soccer fans are not interested in politics, their lives, however, are shaped by politics. And the same people who possibly admired German chancellor Merkel´s visit to the first game of the German team in Brasil have probably been negatively affected by her policy for years now. This may be because of her support of an economic policy which forces them to tighten their belts or the same policy that she, other politicians and German lobbiysts recommend now for the rest of Europe. Unemployment has risen to historically high levels and its consequences for the political system as a whole have been largely ignored even after the recent election results and the success of extreme parties, supported mainly by ordinary but desperate people. Winning the World Cup certainly would make people in Germany even more unaware about political causes and consequences in their daily lives when they become one with their national soccer team. I had that feeling already yesterday while watching the Germany vs. Ghana game at a public viewing site. And at the same time it would make our European neighbours even more pessimistic as our elites become even more arrogant.
Though the latter is possible, is hard to believe. Take for example the view of Anton Boerner, head of “the leading organization for the wholesale, foreign trade and service sector in the Federal Republic of Germany”, as the organization introduces itself, in an interview with “Die Welt”, a well-known conservative German newspaper.
“Us Germans have to intervene”, said Anton Boerner.
“It may sound arrogant”, Boerner said, “but France has to work off the whole Agenda 2010.” He correctly describes the so-called Agenda 2010 as follows: “The country has to ease its rigid social security system and make its labour market more flexible. The French have to retire later, and they have to resolve their incredibly tight relationship between the government and enterprises and reduce bureaucracy. That is not easy, it will ultimately lead to make them work longer for the same money. But I think, the French will accept that, when they better understand globalization.”
Is there any need to comment on that? It speaks for itself. And don´t believe that this opinion is an exception. It is the rule. Though some politicians are clever enough to express the same view not as frankly as Boerner did. And, excuse me again, that´s why it is healthy for Germany and Europe, if the German soccer team does not win the World Cup.
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