Expatica Germany's readers sound off about sue-happy Germans, spirituality and naked blonds in Ferraris.

Re: Fears of German power fuel Polish opposition to EU treaty

Dear Editor,

Poland no doubt remembers another Eastern European country pressured

by Germany to surrender "just a little" for the good of the rest of Europe.

Polish people do not want to play the role the Czechs played at Munich in 1938.

JL Ronish

Re: Editor's Diary: So sue me…

Dear Editor,

I agree with your article about sue-happy wackos - and know first hand how bad it is.

My wife and I moved to Frankfurt with our two dogs into a ground floor apartment in the city.

Under the "Hausordnung" we were within our rights to freely use the garden area and allow our dogs to play, as long as they did not make a "mess."

Well, they did not, but our neighbours were so disgusted that their kids had to play in the same area as the dogs, they sued us to stop our use of the garden, and we lost!

We had to pay all of the legal fees and lost our rights to the garden.

Needless to say, after a lot of wasted time and money, we have since moved to a new flat with our own private garden. We, and our dogs, are much happier now!

It's amazing what a waste of government resources this was - numerous legal documents as well as three court hearings.

Peter

Re: Blond rides Ferrari, shops in the nude

Dear Editor,

Can't you guys get any pictures of that blonde in the ferrari?

The world is waiting to see what she looks like...

Don Forum

Re: German spirituality, or lack thereof

Dear Editor,

It seems there should be some news about the Evangelist or Lutheran church in Germany.

How has it come about that so few attend worship services? Where is the church getting stronger? What are the main complaints against the state tax system? What are the main complaints against the parish priests?

Nearly everyone in the USA affirms a belief in God. How has it come to be that so few in Germany believe in anything?

What is the condition of spirituality in the country as a whole? Why isn't following Christ considered a worthy goal in Germany? Will this just lead to another huge mistake in the area of politics and ethics? Who is responsible for teaching the youth about right and wrong? Are there any groups working to strengthen the religious beliefs of the nation?

Being the home of both Luther and Bach, it is astounding to me that your beautiful churches with their fantastic pipe organs are being ignored by so many?

Gary J. Pinter (a recent visitor from the USA and a concerned person).

Re: Increase in German troops in Afghanistan possible

Dear Editor,

I hope she means sending soldiers to the south where the fighting is and not to the north to pound more nails.

JL Ronish

Re: Können Sie Deutsch?

Dear Editor,

Your article about German grammar was a bit hopeless.

First of all, Mark Twain just isn’t funny, no matter how he tried. If he'd put more effort into learning the language than he did bitching about it, he would have been fluent in no time.

Secondly, the word television means "far-seeing" as well, but it’s Greek and Latin.

Thirdly, apart from the glaring Yankee accent, there is nothing really wrong with "Ich bin ein…

And also, English used to have cases as well, but gradually lost them, German didn’t.

Lastly, "Zwei Bier, bitte"? Two beers, please? Think about what you would say in English, and say that. Zwei Pils, Zwei Heineken ...usw.

Oh, and English is a lot more messed up, grammar wise, than German. It may be difficult, but at least it's consistent

Phil

Re: Editor's Diary: Thou shall not run red lights

Dear Editor,

About the rules for driving issued by the Vatican:

A number of U S newspapers commented on a significant omission: the use of seat belts!

Cheers from Manlius, a small community in Central

New York State (near Syracuse, NY)

Joseph Feitler

January 2008

[Copyright Expatica 2008]