Fiddling & Giggling While The Eu Burns?

[Khandro]

Its Carnival time in Germany, and throughout the land there are processions and floats with "hilarious" giant depictions of the Donald. But perhaps Douglas Murray (whom God preserve) has a point here, what say you?

Europe: Laughing at the Messenger
by Douglas Murray • February 28, 2017 at 6:00 am

Once again, an American has pointed to a failing in European society, and instead of focusing on the problem identified or even admitting that there is a problem, the European response has been to point at the American and blame him for creating the problem he has in fact merely identified.
We are being given an accurate representation of a serious problem.
If the response to every problem is denial, and the response to anyone pointing to the problem is opprobrium, legal threats or hilarity, it suggests that Europe is not going to make the softer-landing it could yet give itself in addressing these issues.

It might make us feel better, but every time we attack or laugh at the messenger, rather than addressing the message, we ensure that our own future will be less funny.

[kvalidir]

I think that depends on whether you find the message valid. nothing is perfect, very few things are even close, but Europe is a pretty good place to live by and large compared to the US, so I think we can point and laugh at Trump because what else would you do with the idiot?

[RandyMarsh]

Has Douglas come up with some better suggestions for German floats?

[ichkeria]

So the "people" are mocking Trump then.
And not Merkel
So much for "populism" :-)

[zebo]

I'm not sure what's being complained about here but as for the Rosenmontag parades and the mocking of Trump, these parades are notorious for the astute anti-establishment caricatures, Trump isn't being treated any differently Why is he referred to as the Donald? Is it his affectation or is there another reason?

[Togo]

The Germans are renowned for their sense of humour, are they not?

[Khandro]

zebo; //I'm not sure what's being complained about here//
I'm not complaining about anything, but tending to agree with Murray that when someone points to the failings and disastrous policies leading Europe into a downward path, instead of taking stock, it seems the easiest way is to mock the person who is pointing out the problem.
It's a bit like ridiculing the postman because you don't like the letter.

Klavlidir; //Europe is a pretty good place to live by and large //

I believe that was once the case, but I think that depends now on which bit, would you want to live in Sweden, now "the rape capital of Europe" for example, or one of the former idyllic Greek Islands maybe?

[jourdain2]

When I went to Germany on an exchange (aged 15 - mid '60's)I could not understand my exchange's brothers howling with laughter over a cartoon called something like 'Klaus und Karl'. The cartoons were totally unfunny to me - and very cruel. They were horrible little boys, by the way and I am still sure that 'Vater' was an ex-Nazi.

[ToraToraTora]

"Fiddling & Giggling While The Eu Burns?" - lets hope so, the EU has been a disgusting failed experiment. Lets hope the whole sorry shower collapses ASAP and frees the oppressed masses of Europe from this Tyranny.

[cassa333]

It is always easier to blame the messenger than look to the content of the message.

We all do it to one degree or another. Some people dislike (with a vengeance) anything uttered, or in this case written, by Katie Hopkins. I on the other hand have the same feeling about Diane Abbott and cringe and shudder whenever I hear her voice.

The establishment in any country does not like their failings pointed out to them by people, county's or organisations they perceive as beneath them. Therefore because Donald Trump is not a liberal elite willing to allow anything and everything they belittle and dismiss what he says. To do otherwise would shine a light on their own failings.

[youngmafbog]

"Fiddling & Giggling While The Eu Burns?" Now that would be great, however it is more like Fiddling & Giggling While Europe Burns and that is not such a good thing.

It's the usual scoffing and snorting we always see from the Liberal left and the political elite. The Liberal elite thing they can do no wrong and we the swivel-eyed racist xenophobe uneducated deplorables (including The Donald) have no clue.

[Peter Pedant]

// When I went to Germany on an exchange (aged 15 - mid '60's)I could not understand my exchange's brothers howling with laughter over a cartoon called something like 'Klaus und Karl'.//

oh I went to Italy 1965
and the comics there starred Il Diavolo
a priddy young leddy whispered
'mi dio - il diavolo!" as he chucked her over the side of the ship and she drownded ..... nothing to laugh there at all ( sorry abit of Albert and the Lion slipped in there)

[ichkeria]

I liked the float with the giant Theresa May, with a "Brexit" gun down her throat.
If only ...

[-Talbot-]

If only?

[Khandro]

ichkeria; // liked the float with the giant Theresa May, with a "Brexit" gun down her throat.
If only ... //

The British Prime Prime Minister (who has done nothing wrong at all, and follows the wishes of the people) with a gun down her throat - I see you share the infantile German sense of humour