Go, Fight, but Don’t Win! {Germany, Euro 2012}

The New York Times ^ | 15 June 2012 | Clemens Wergin

[Cronos]

“Some people believe football is a matter of life and death,..I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.”

... .. I am a German married to an Italian.

Germany is a favorite to win the 2012 championship .. The painful fact is that a German victory over the rest of Europe would strengthen a notion that many Europeans harbor already: that the Continent is ruled by a new regional superpower.

At its inception, the euro was a condition the French posed to agree to German reunification. Paris believed at the time that a common currency would hold Germany down and prevent it from realizing the full potential of its newfound power. Instead, the euro now looks more like the key instrument for establishing Berlin’s dominance over central Europe.

Today Germany, which has the largest population in Europe and by far the strongest economy, is the banker of last resort for countries in need. It enjoys a record low unemployment rate, one that makes it seem strangely detached from the plight of its struggling neighbors.

Even in the best of times, a pushback would be inevitable. Now, with Germany setting the terms for resolving the euro crisis, it’s here with a fury. Greek newspapers regularly indulge in not-so-subtle digs at the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, as a Nazi. Some British columnists write that Berlin has erected a “Fourth Reich” over the Continent — this time not on the strength of its army, but with the help of the common European currency.

...After the fall of Communism and the reunification of the two Germanys, the country had to learn to act like a real sovereign state again. Now we need to learn the next lesson: to use German power wisely, and with a good portion of humility.

[Cronos]

Interesting article about the balance of power -- as the article states: ...As much as the European Union likes to believe it has banished power politics, the fact remains: If one country becomes too powerful the others will team up against it.<

[Berlin_Freeper]

Germany soccer fans celebrate a goal against Portugal during their Group B Euro 2012 soccer match in Lviv, June 9, 2012. REUTERS

[Jack Hammer]

Oh dear, the poor French keep on insisting they’re a match for the Germans - and they keep on getting their butts handed to them.

Never mind, France - you’ll always be unmatched for romance and wine and... uh... well, romance and wine.

[Berlin_Freeper]

[Farmer Dean]

“The continent is ruled by a new regional superpower.”
Just because Greece,Spain,Italy and others don’t have 2 nickels of their OWN to rub together?Too bad about those socialist bums,they’ve stumbled to the end of the road-now what?

[Gabrial]

Since the Germans work hard, save money, despise handouts, and create products the entire world wants to buy, the NYT implies they are Nazis by repeating the “Fourth Reich” comment.

As the bloated and unsustainable government sector in Greece pulls the entire country into financial ruin it must be the fault of the Nazis according to the tortured logic of these libtards.

[henkster]

When Germany reunified, the USSR had vanished, the Brits were no longer relevant on the Continent and the justification for NATO was gone. Anyone with half a brain knew that the Germans were going to spend a decade or so assimilating the East, and then would go about accomplishing economically what the Kaiser & Hitler could not do militarily.

As Helmut Kohl once said, NATO only existed to keep the Americans in, the Russians out, and the Germans down. Well, the only thing keeping the Germans down now is themselves.