The roots and essence of the European Union project

[Tahuti]

This thread started with comparing the current leadership of the EU with Hitler. Which is clearly an insult to your cultural heritage

Therefore, I endorse comparing the EU leadership with Frederick II of Germany and the EU with Holy Roman Empire (of the German nation).

 

[Leoreth]

As old people in Germany used to say, all of that would never have happened under the Kaiser.

 

[Borachio]

How does it compare with the Hanseatic League?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanseatic_League

 

[Tahuti]

How does it compare with the Hanseatic League?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanseatic_League

Actually, Mark Rutte did advocate a deeper integration with the Northern EU states at the expense of the Southern. At least, I've read that in WSJ, so it should be taken with a grain of salt, though, knowing my country's own prime minister, it's quite believable actually.

 

[History_Buff]

As old people in Germany used to say, all of that would never have happened under the Kaiser.

The Kaiser wasn't all smiles.

Link to video.

 

[strijder20]

Also, please do me the favour of not implying that van Rompuy is German. Our reputation is bad enough as it is.

He might have the charisma of a damp rag, but he is our damp rag!

 

[Leoreth]

May he continue to be

 

[Peck of Arabia]

My apologies!

As an atonement of sorts, here's some Haiku I found that Van Rompuy supposedly tweeted,

eh, maybe it sounds better in Flemish

 

[Borachio]

The Kaiser wasn't all smiles.

Link to video.

Did that guy say Kristallnacht was a public holiday?!

 

[Leoreth]

My apologies!

As an atonement of sorts, here's some Haiku I found that Van Rompuy supposedly tweeted,

eh, maybe it sounds better in Flemish

I didn't even realize the second tweet was a translation, and nevertheless figured out what it meant. Flemish isn't that hard after all

Did that guy say Kristallnacht was a public holiday?!

By the by, Kristallnacht is a Nazi propaganda term.

 

[strijder20]

I didn't even realize the second tweet was a translation, and nevertheless figured out what it meant. Flemish isn't that hard after all

Yes, we Dutch speakers usually have no problem reading German either (understanding spoken German or speaking it is a whole different matter though). Although there are some faux amis like bellen (which is barking in German and using the telephone in Dutch).

Oh, and Peck of Arabia: it doesn't sound better in Dutch Although 'the bare branches can be seen even more lonely' is less fluent than the Dutch original.

 

[Borachio]

By the by, Kristallnacht is a Nazi propaganda term.

Well, quite. Though it does refer to an actual historic date. Just not one generally considered worth a public holiday for.

I was very surprised to find it referenced in such a video.

 

[Leoreth]

That goes without saying. It's just that "Crystal Night" romanticizes the event in a particularly cynical way (referring to the shards of glass from smashed Jewish shop windows). Therefore it's better to refer to the date as "Pogrom Night" or the November Pogroms.

 

[History_Buff]

Did that guy say Kristallnacht was a public holiday?!

 

[Borachio]

That joke's in poor taste. Or perhaps it was meant to be in poor taste? In which case, I'd say it's a poor taste "poor taste joke."

We are not amused.

 

[History_Buff]

That joke's in poor taste. Or perhaps it was meant to be in poor taste? In which case, I'd say it's a poor taste "poor taste joke."

It's clearly supposed to be in poor taste. The guy loves him some Nazism. Few things can be in poorer taste than that.