Thread: Judge Files Complaint against Merkel over Bin Laden Comments

Is tacky and undignified a crime in Germany?

Imho, there are 2 perspectives on that issue:

1. Tone/taste: The tone of Angelas remark was a tiny bit too euphoric for the average germans taste. Postwar, we kinda developed a strong dislike towards military solutions of all kinds and would have prefered to see him in the prisoner's box. While this pacifistic approach slightly changed during the decades (Yugoslavia, then Afghanistan) people still don't feel it's appropriate to cheer the death of a human being, not even in OBL case.

2. Legal implication: Legally the unauthorized use of military force within another country is a total tabu for germany. So applauding the US action too euphorically can also be miss-understood the way that germany "believes" this action was legal according to international laws. But to be honest, there is no legal basis for such a move. It's basically the law of the jungle: the US can do whatever it wants as long as there's nobody "stronger" stepping in. Most germans (and all other europeans) were happy to hear that he's is dead, but we also feel that this cannot be a precedent for every other country. Like others pointed out in this forum, doing so would end in a lot of messy conflicts.

So the bottom line is, that Angela should have chosen her words more carefully to prevent unwanted discussions and judges going for headlines.

Originally Posted by ThorHammer

And now for your daily dose of the absurd. Are you German? Are you 'glad' Osama is dead? Well, you better keep your mouth shut. According to this douche, you are committing a crime. I am glad Merkel is holding firm here.

The really sad thing? He isn't alone. Not in Germany, not in America, and not in many other western countries. Weakness is spreading.

'Tacky and Undignified': Judge Files Complaint against Merkel over Bin Laden Comments - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News - International

Actually, many Americans also realize that, although finding and killing Ben Laden was something that needed to be done, they do not "rejoice" in the death either.

I certainly don't. I am proud of President Obama and our courageous SEALs, but I find no joy in the killing of anyone. I think it is sad that a man's life can go so wrong that the only future left is to be tracked like a beast and killed.

I also was disturbed by the signs of rejoicing. I didn't like it when our ennemies rejoiced on 9/11, I thought it was inhuman and totally wrong. Why would I think it is okay for us to do it now?

I think the judge went to far in the other direction, but rejoicing is not the right thing to do when someone dies.

The only thing that pisses me off about Merkels comment is, that it is typical for her spineless, ass kissing behavior.
She seems to have no own opinion of anything whatsoever and will always say what gives her the biggest advantage.
First she kissed Bushs ass, now she is kissing Obamas ass. First she was for Nuclear power and all of a sudden she is agaisnt it, after the majority of germans turned out to be against it.

It would appear that Germany is continuing to overcompensate for its dark past.

Originally Posted by Sadanie

I also was disturbed by the signs of rejoicing. I didn't like it when our ennemies rejoiced on 9/11, I thought it was inhuman and totally wrong. Why would I think it is okay for us to do it now?

I think the judge went to far in the other direction, but rejoicing is not the right thing to do when someone dies.

I understand where you're coming from, but I think certain deaths should be cause for rejoice.

For example, I cheered Timothy McVeigh's death.

Originally Posted by Occam's Razor

I understand where you're coming from, but I think certain deaths should be cause for rejoice.

For example, I cheered Timothy McVeigh's death.

I really don't cheer any death, although I feel a sense of relieve and some righteousness when a true ennemy of humanity disappears from this world.

But I rather cheer something beautiful and hopeful, like the birth of a WANTED child, then the death of an ennemy.
I don't judge people who do, though. But that kind of rejoicing is usually really short lived.

Originally Posted by Sadanie

...but I find no joy in the killing of anyone.

Then you are doing it wrong...

Originally Posted by Tuco

The only thing that pisses me off about Merkels comment is, that it is typical for her spineless, ass kissing behavior.
She seems to have no own opinion of anything whatsoever and will always say what gives her the biggest advantage.
First she kissed Bushs ass, now she is kissing Obamas ass. First she was for Nuclear power and all of a sudden she is agaisnt it, after the majority of germans turned out to be against it.

I'm not sure if that means she doesn't have a mind of her own. She is a politician, she couldn't do much to change the fact that Bush was elected (twice!) by America, whether she liked it or not.

It seems that every leaders in Europe, and most European Citizens have great admiration and liking for Obama (contrary to the Fox News and republican propaganda that says Obama makes us a laughing stock in Europe!). Just today I got a message from my brother in Belgium stating that everyone is talking about what a great leader Obama is, and how much better than Bush he handled this crisis.

And re: the nuclear energy issue, let's face it: it is perfectly normal and healthy to at least slow down, reassess the situation, review the security/safety issue, before proceeding! I would have been disappointed if what happened in Japan didn't entice EVERY leader to give Nuclear option a second thought!

Originally Posted by Tuco

The only thing that pisses me off about Merkels comment is, that it is typical for her spineless, ass kissing behavior.
She seems to have no own opinion of anything whatsoever and will always say what gives her the biggest advantage.
First she kissed Bushs ass, now she is kissing Obamas ass. First she was for Nuclear power and all of a sudden she is agaisnt it, after the majority of germans turned out to be against it.

You finally understand, that there is no right, no left, no middle, no liberal and no green party, but just the SED in Germany?

To utter gladness in europe about Bin Laden´s dead is a dangerous thing. We should not forget, that 9/11 was also planned in Germany and that europa has millions of muslims, each of them could be a sleeper.

Originally Posted by Sadanie

Actually, many Americans also realize that, although finding and killing Ben Laden was something that needed to be done, they do not "rejoice" in the death either.

I certainly don't. I am proud of President Obama and our courageous SEALs, but I find no joy in the killing of anyone. I think it is sad that a man's life can go so wrong that the only future left is to be tracked like a beast and killed.

I also was disturbed by the signs of rejoicing. I didn't like it when our ennemies rejoiced on 9/11, I thought it was inhuman and totally wrong. Why would I think it is okay for us to do it now?

I think the judge went to far in the other direction, but rejoicing is not the right thing to do when someone dies.

Right, and I find your outlook here sad and weak.

Our enemies rejoiced on 9/11 because they are exactly that; our enemies. Would you really expect them to do anything else but rejoice and take pleasure in our misfortune? Like you, I didn't like it when they rejoiced, but I wasn't condeming them for doing it. I expected nothing less, afterall.

It would be like me getting mad at an opposing rugby team for cheering after they scored a try. Am I really angry at them cheering or angry that they scored?

On the flip side, we hit back, and I rejoice in that. I rejoice in the fact that we got the man behind the 9/11 attacks. I rejoice that he ended his days a hunted beast, scared of being discovered.

At least the reports indicate that he went out resisting to the end. That I can respect.

For the record, I can sympathize with the Christian sensibilities that abhor violence and death.

But lets not forget the duty to support and celebrate the triumph of good over evil.

Osama had a choice. He made his bed, and it is cold, and it is wet.

Originally Posted by Bleipriester

You finally understand, that there is no right, no left, no middle, no liberal and no green party, but just the SED in Germany?

To utter gladness in europe about Bin Laden´s dead is a dangerous thing. We should not forget, that 9/11 was also planned in Germany and that europa has millions of muslims, each of them could be a sleeper.

You are trying to make this about immigrants again.

And no, there is no SED in Germany, just too many stupid incompetent politicians.