Posted on 01/02/2016 6:40:33 AM PST by Oldeconomybuyer
Many of the city's residents already complain that the sounds are like a war zone on New Year's Eve. Imagine how that might affect asylum seekers who have just escaped from real wars.
STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:
Several European capital cities canceled or cut back their New Year's fireworks. They didn't want large crowds to attract terrorists. Germany's capital, Berlin, was not one of those places. Huge crowds gathered there, a sign of confidence, although it also had a side effect. Berlin has become home to refugees for whom the crackle and boom of fireworks triggers disturbing memories. NPR's Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson reports.
SORAYA SARHADDI NELSON, BYLINE: The sharp pops and loud booms that go on all night can send even hardiest souls into a panic. Fireworks of all kinds are flying everywhere - shot from rooftops, out of windows and on the streets. It sounds like a pitched battle, and I've seen a few. For people like Inana Alassar, who fled to Berlin to escape war, the effects can be paralyzing.
INANA ALASSAR: Like what's happening now, for instance. I get nervous, and I don't breathe so good. And I start sweating, and I open my eyes like crazy, and I don't know. And I sometimes cry.
NELSON: The young Syrian woman is working as my Arabic language translator on this night. And she isn't the only migrant gripped by fear or experiencing flashbacks.
Mental health professionals here estimate up to half of the million asylum-seekers who came to Germany last year suffer from depression or have post-traumatic stress disorder.
Psychiatrist Gis Rochow volunteers at a refugee camp in Berlin. She handed out earplugs and posted flyers explaining the noisy celebration that was coming.
(Excerpt) Read more at npr.org ...
I guess I can understand how loud explosive noises could make clowns who build explosive devices for a living pretty damn jumpy.
“The sharp pops and loud booms that go on all night can send even hardiest souls into a panic.”
That’s the stupidest thing I’ ve heard in 2016 so far. Why would i go into a panic when i see fireworks? Only retarded liberals would think this way.
Because the Berlin New Years Eve fireworks looks like a war zone, /s. A German told me the invaders wouldn't change what makes Germany Germany. Funny, two days later, the invaders was trying to get Octoberfest banned and now they're whining over a New Year's celebration. Such an angry crowd who gets upset over a little fun.
My father was in Normandy on D-Day. For the rest of his life, he avoided fireworks displays. He said he saw enough “rockets red glare” already. I think he wasn’t the only one. That said, he never asked anyone to cancel a fireworks display. He simply didn’t go there.
This problem with the Syrians who are disturbed by the fireworks is solved by earplugs if you live nearby, or not going there, if you don’t. Also, I don’t know how long fireworks displays last in Europe, but here it’s usually 30 minutes. So, the exposure time is limited, in any case.
‘ve been to the Times Square AND Manila, Philippines during new Year’s.
NOTHING tops Manila. It’s a full blown 20 minutes of sensory overload so loud you wont hear a damn thing for the next 24 hours, especially when you’re ground zero on the street.
I remember walking in a hotel hall as fireworks were ending. A man there had a cup of coffee and walked along with me. He said they reminded him of Baghdad and gave him flashbacks.
He went to the show, though.
Europe is doomed. I guess all the warriors have been killed in the past wars and they forgot to have children.
Ah..but thats the problem. Explosions WITHOUT bodies and death just stress the obsessive compulsive murderers. Then there’s the happiness aspect without blood and death. Without blood and death they can’t cope. Otherwise the idea of Muslims being terrified starts my year off with a smile!
I spent a New Year’s in Olongapo once. I thought they were going to burn the town down.
If that distresses them tell them to get their asses over to a country that does not use fireworks.
GOOD LUCK TO THAT!
Interesting. I guess the ones I’ve seen in Southern California are anemic by comparison.
LOL Quezon City, Metro Manila. Once it was 1230, my entire clothes was covered in silver dust from the firecrackers and couldn’t see 5 feet in front of me. That’s how much firecrackers went up in a 30 minute span. Unreal.
All I could see were black silhouettes of people moving in the smoke highlighted by the strobe light like flashes of the fireworks going off. What a wild night!
Oh dear, we must put aside all our traditions for these wonderful migrants.
If we show they love they will love us in return.
” black silhouettes of people moving in the smoke highlighted by the strobe light like flashes of the fireworks going off. “
You stated it perfectly, I had the same experience PLUS I was DEAF so all i said was ‘WHAT?”. I saw young kids and girls throw pizza slice-sized triangle/fireworks and light it up by hand and throw it by hand. You mis-time the throw and you wont have a hand.
piss up a rope.
Kids were selling these long strings of cigar sized firecrackers, one was probable strong enough to blow a pothole in the street. This drunk fellow bought a string, lit it and tossed it into the bar where we were. Those things started going off and flying all over the place. When the smoke cleared enough to see, everyone was on the floor under the tables. Firecracker paper covered everything. We just wiped off the table and ordered fresh drinks. I must say it was the most fun I’ve ever had on New Year’s Eve.
They change and RUIN EVERYTHING they touch!!
That's pretty much it in a nutshell.
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