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Originally Posted by Abattoir
Damn..I've been hoping they would relax the rules barring dual citizenship. (I know, very unlikely given today's opinion of immigrants in Austria) My wife would love to take Canadian citizenship, but she can't, because she'll lose her Austrian citizenship. It seems they only let you keep it if you are a famous movie star, or run for governor. I won't ever be able to get Austrian citizenship for the same reason.
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You've got it. If you are famours, or even better, a famous artist, you get the double citizenship faster than you could say, "Austria". (look at Ms. Netrebko for example)
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I've always disliked this about the Austrian education system. I think the best clue that the system isn't working is the extremely low number of students who transfer up to the Gymnasium. It's impossible that they are nearly 100% correct in determining whether someone is capable of going to University by grade 5 or 9. Therefore, the system is simply too inflexible to allow for the varying rates of development of children.
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The system is supposed to change now. How much is the question but the hardes defender of it, the educatin minister Gehrer, the most hated politician among pupils, students, teachers, professors etc (and that allready for over a decade) has for sure to resign now. (at least when a large coalition comes).
But to understand the system and its defenders, you have to know that the conservatives are still very class conscious. They get nightmire at the idea that the talented people have to go to the same school as the stubborns. Its somehow like they would still consider that to be a non-working communist idea. They couldnt be wronger. And the Hauptschule proves it allready day by day. There such a differenitiated system is allready existing, and it works fine (it exists just for the main subjects though). the The first (=best) level of Hauptschule often even surpasses Gymnasien in the quality of education.
Going to a Hauptschule btw is no reason why not aiming at studying. Take me as example. I was never in the Gymnasium but in the Hauptschule. In this respect, the system is at least very flexible.
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Well, that's surprising to me. I didn't know that Austrians would support this type of 'equality'. Perhaps it's just the attitudes of the few Austrians I've talked to about it (more rural, older, more conservative).
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I do think that the majority supports a special legal structure for gay couples to have some legal protection. Like the possibility to heir from each other, or stuff like this. Opposition to giving them the right to raise childrens might be considerable especially in the conservative spheres, though.
When have you been here? There might be still many people with very conservative views about the gay issue. For example a well known Austrian actor outed himself years ago. At that time people were still shocked, but it had no consequences for him, he still moderates the Vienna Opera Ball at the TV broadcast. One of the most prestigious society event in Austria.
And if you look at the "Life Ball" that takes place every year in Vienna, (the largest Aids benefice event in Europe) where the whole gay and bi community gathers together, you might be surprised how many heteros are joining the event. Because its fun.
There still could be a significant number that is very intolerant versus gays. But I could not quantify them. In my family there are for sure also some that are not the largest fans of the concept. But if they would be confronted personally in the family with that, I think they would overcome it.
In political terms. If a politician should hide his gayness and the political competition uncovers it and makes him bad due to it, I am pretty sure that it would no one else hurt than that political competition.
Perhaps though many people that think bad about gayness, dont say that publically, because they would look too intollerant. But even they have to live with that house in Vienna that can be seen even from the metro:
