One of the things that I struggled to tell people about my trip when I got back was about the amount of history, of important events, and significant places where I had stood. While the United States also has a sometimes bleak history, I feel the main difference between the two countries is how they deal with the history through their culture and political system.
The German people must confront and deal with their past in every political decision that they face. One from the reading that particularly interested me, and has stuck in my head is the issue of immigration. This has been a heated topic, and as demographics in Germany continue to change, it will continue to be an issue from their past that they have to deal with. Germany has almost always approached the issue of immigration with extreme sensitivity due to their past. While one can also argue that the United States is a nation of immigrants and also has a troubled past when dealing with this issue, the matter of immigration is seldom approached with sensitivity or compassion in the United States.
Another matter that I found completely different in Germany than I did in the United States was the constant memorials and remembrance of the harder times. It seemed like everyday I explored the city I would bump into another memorial,either as small as a plaque or as large as an entire block. One thing that amazed me was the amount of memorials so close to the Reichstag. The Reichstag itself is filled with artwork speaking about the past and the future. It struck me as something that the United States government would never be able to achieve after partisan bickering and red tape.
Which leads me to the major difference that I with the German government and the United States government, representation. As someone who constantly engages people to discuss politics, one of the main complaints that I hear is the two-party system that the United States has. When first learning about the political party system that Germany and many other European countries have, I was excited and a little jealous to learn that not only are there multiple parties, but that with their split ballot these other parties even have the likely chance to make it into office. However, in the German system the executive branch drafts the legislation and sets the agenda in the country. Although the German system is set up with roadblocks and compromises, much like the British system, the parties in power achieve most of their goals. Although the gridlock and the fighting in the United States is often frustrating, I would much rather experience the joys of filibusters, then to deal with an executive branch of any party that nearly always gets there way.
The German people must confront and deal with their past in every political decision that they face. One from the reading that particularly interested me, and has stuck in my head is the issue of immigration. This has been a heated topic, and as demographics in Germany continue to change, it will continue to be an issue from their past that they have to deal with. Germany has almost always approached the issue of immigration with extreme sensitivity due to their past. While one can also argue that the United States is a nation of immigrants and also has a troubled past when dealing with this issue, the matter of immigration is seldom approached with sensitivity or compassion in the United States.
Another matter that I found completely different in Germany than I did in the United States was the constant memorials and remembrance of the harder times. It seemed like everyday I explored the city I would bump into another memorial,either as small as a plaque or as large as an entire block. One thing that amazed me was the amount of memorials so close to the Reichstag. The Reichstag itself is filled with artwork speaking about the past and the future. It struck me as something that the United States government would never be able to achieve after partisan bickering and red tape.
Which leads me to the major difference that I with the German government and the United States government, representation. As someone who constantly engages people to discuss politics, one of the main complaints that I hear is the two-party system that the United States has. When first learning about the political party system that Germany and many other European countries have, I was excited and a little jealous to learn that not only are there multiple parties, but that with their split ballot these other parties even have the likely chance to make it into office. However, in the German system the executive branch drafts the legislation and sets the agenda in the country. Although the German system is set up with roadblocks and compromises, much like the British system, the parties in power achieve most of their goals. Although the gridlock and the fighting in the United States is often frustrating, I would much rather experience the joys of filibusters, then to deal with an executive branch of any party that nearly always gets there way.
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