Amazing upset at European Parliament

[brian]

On his first day in his 6 month presidency of Europe, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi makes an unprecedented insult:

Schroeder demands Berlusconi apology

Astonishing, really. Though perhaps what is more astonishing is the fact that someone like Berlusconi can even reach such a position of influence in Europe.

[brian]

Certainly a heated little debate.

Berlusconi denies apologising for Nazi jibe

Certainly an issue that not only damages the Italian premier, but also the European parliament itself. I'm sure some of the British tabloids will be smearing their own brand of Euro-phobia all over this issue.

[Elizabeth May]

Did you see what happened? The Italian tourism minister started mouthing off against Germans so Schroeder cancelled a holiday there. Would you believe it???? This is supposed to be the 21st century!

[brian]

Yes, sorry - I've been slow on the news front recently.

Anyway, here's the closing story on that sorry chapter:

Italy minister quits over remarks

and with Italy begging for an end to the row with Germany:

Italy calls halt to war of words

[petertdavis]

Tell me, though, why was there no outrage in the European governments when a German politician called Bush, and the US government a bunch of Nazis? I don't see how they can justify their outrage against Berlusconi, yet on the other hand think it's okay to insult Americans in the same way.

[I, Brian]

I don't believe that even that's regarded well either in Europe - there was an incident where a German minister was claimed to have connected the two men in a speech - which therefore caused a diplomatic furore. However, she insists she was misquoted. Still not a good situation either.

Here's an extract on the report on the incident involving the German minister:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/2271137.stm

Schroeder apologises for Hitler row


German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has written to the US president to apologise after reports that one of his ministers had compared George W Bush with Adolf Hitler.

But Mr Schroeder said he believed Justice Minister Herta Daeubler-Gmelin's denial of newspaper reports of her comments.

She said she had been misquoted and had made no link between Mr Bush and the Nazi leader.

The reported comments had already caused a diplomatic stir.

White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said the president was "very angered", while Mr Bush's National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice spoke of a "poisoned atmosphere" in relations between the two countries.

"I would say that just now is not a happy time for our relations with Germany... The comments by the justice minister, even if she only said half of what is alleged, are unacceptable," she said.

Mr Schroeder's apology came as he entered the final days of campaigning before Germany's nail biting general election.

[kiwimac]

Frankly,

I do think that Bush and Hitler are much on a par. The difference being that with a dictator you KNOW where you stand.

Kiwimac

[Iacchus]

Of course if the United States hadn't won the war with Germany (World War II), we'd all be speaking German right now.

So it seems we all have to settle for the "Americanization" of things instead.

Whereas I for one, being an American, am not sure how much I like that either - the fact is I don't - but, I think we're far better off now than we would be if Hitler had won the war.

[brucegdc]

Originally Posted by Iacchus

Of course if the United States hadn't won the war with Germany (World War II), we'd all be speaking German right now.

Umm.. the US wasn't the only one there... The Brits and Canucks, Aussies, Russians, and much of the rest of the world (including the French) had a great deal to do with it. There's a reason it was called the World War....

Besides, if you know your history, it's only by a margin of a couple of votes that German wasn't the common language of the US. Shortly after the revolutionary war, the question came up - and it was a close call.

[Iacchus]

Originally Posted by brucegdc

Umm.. the US wasn't the only one there... The Brits and Canucks, Aussies, Russians, and much of the rest of the world (including the French) had a great deal to do with it. There's a reason it was called the World War....

If I'm not mistaken, most of the war on the Allied side was funded by the United States, and wouldn't have ended with Hitler's defeat if the United States hadn't finally stepped in and began sending troops over.

Besides, if you know your history, it's only by a margin of a couple of votes that German wasn't the common language of the US. Shortly after the revolutionary war, the question came up - and it was a close call.

No, I wasn't aware of that, but what does that have to do with comparing George Bush with Adolf Hitler?

[I, Brian]

I didn't know that either - it sounds like a mighty interesting piece of history.