Newspapers and other media are so thankful about President elected Mr. Trump that they nearly forget other world’s big players in politics (and economics). So, have you read something lately about China? Or Saudi-Arabia and States related? South America is in the papers now because of the economic crisis they are facing, Africa seems to be a forgotten continent still. And have you ever heard about Australia? Or do you know ‘el Tigre’?
Russia is popping up sometimes, still not clear whether they might have influenced the US elections or not, Putin met Erdoğan before and after the elections in Turkey (but did not look him into the eye when talking…), Mr. Seehofer also visited him. Perhaps he wanted his most beloved ‘Obergrenze’ to become true in Russia? Hm. At the moment, Putin holds court in Сочи .
And China? Oversized Giveaways for Germany, for Trier, or example. This huge Karl-Marx statue – they really wanted that? Cannot believe it. As Trump would have put it: “What’s the deal?” Pre-celebrating the 200th birthday of Karl Marx in 2018 with a wooden Trojan dummy. Or distracting from other engagements, like their interest in Deutsche Bank? Anyway, there is a Karl-Marx-Museum in Trier – Marx’s birthplace. Not enough for them.
Mrs. Merkel visited Mr. Trump, the results of the Netherland’s elections she carried as a European asset and important SIEMENS, BMW and Schaeffler managers accompanied her.
Full power. But Mr. Trump has not been willing to give Mrs. Merkel a second handshake in front
of the press. Left Mrs. Merkel bewildered… maybe she asked about why his daughter is now in politics without mandate? Or Mr. de Maizière told Mr. Trump in advance that Germans accept only one handshake. Others, like CEO Mr. Zetsche decided to travel earlier, to Austin, Texas,
to be part of the digi crowd there at the SXSW Conference, looking for business as soon
as possible and the opportunities to transfer the conference concept to Germany.
In the EU, Polish Donald Tusk has been reelected as President of the Council, although the national-conservative Polish government tried to prevent it until the very end – 27 out of the
28 states voted pro Tusk.
Great Britain, now officially is a Brexit case (including the YES from the Queen), and Scotland is preparing another referendum whether to stay in the UK or not.
Greece? Still in and they started the Documenta 14, Kassel follows 2nd. Saw the online promo for both places, and: nearly not inviting at all. Only colors when you move your mouse over (if you have one, ha), too bad… Bulgarians and Serbians are struggling against corruption at the moment, like people started in Russia too.
In Germany, Mr. Schulz seems to be not so much into travelling around the world, he is more into the German campaign at the moment, sending out Mr. Gabriel for the Foreign Affairs. Mr. Schulz set a new SPD record as he has been voted for party leader at 100%. At the moment, SPD 2nd place (28%), Union still ahead with 36%, DIE LINKE, AfD and GRÜNE 8% each, FDP 7% (source: Forsa 5/3/2017; percentages other institutes vary slightly). So, FDP seems to make it over the 5% hurdle; but: Where is Mr. Lindner? At the tailor’s? Saw him in a short TV take in the heute show lately on ZDF, he made a funny joke about the age of his main competitors, kind of “hey, they are over 60” thing… This is really true, this is a given fact. As well that we had another quiet May 1st.
Another Referendum showed its results, I would better put it, first results, as there are about 2 million votes questioned – the Turkish Referendum APR 16 (the about 1.4 Million Turkish electorate in Germany had two weeks to vote from MAR 27 to APR 9). Not only in the Netherlands Turkish ministers were not allowed to make promos for Erdoğan, also here in Germany, starting with an initiative of several ‘Bundesländer’, the Turkish ministers have been confronted with a ‘No, thank you.’ And ‘No, thank you’ especially the Turkish people here in Germany said to Democracy at home – why do you want a hard liner at home while enjoying democracy here?
France will be the next European country with decisive elections, started their 1st round APR 23, le Pen and Macron still in the race. DIE ZEIT titled “Leider rechts / Sorry, right wing” with a profile photo of Mrs. Le Pen. Telling me what? She is right wing, OK, but she looks great? Hardliner profile, like a man? First official police photo before arrest?
US: Genetic tests for employees became totally legal – in their all about Trump Bohei, people just missed what this could lead to. And regarding the wall, first ideas are on the table to be discussed. Even here in Germany, newspapers are handling the wall as a given fact. But, thank you, some architects, that some of your proposals aim to tear it down before having even built it – by proposing a high speed train to combine Méjico and the US; high speed trains, hm, the Chinese are so good at building up those, using German technology as well. Here we are again… “And what about China?” A friend told me, that China never did start a war like the US in history, demolishing countries and leaving them in ruins after bombing. Well, that is true, the Chinese just use other techniques, but they are at least like that, using other methods –
they manipulate and kill free souls and minds. US? You too? Who else?
Reminds me of a sentence I wrote years ago: “Wollt ihr denn ein Seelenloser Haufen sein?” / “Will you really be a soulless bunch of people?” “Ah, “soul”, come on – we do not have an algorithm for that, we do not need it. We just need money.” Well, you will only know what you miss once you’re having it, or thanks to “jenes höhere Wesen, das wir verehren.”
(Heinrich Böll, Doktor Murkes gesammeltes Schweigen, first published in 1955).
WE know that there is something about it. YOU do not have. Scientists are
continuously working on decoding our DNA to prevent severe diseases etc.
And to do what else? Ah, by the way, why does Scientology still exist?
Always annoys me when passing them with the car;
by foot, too dangerous, they might draw you in.
Well, back to the wall: Other designs are just too awful, like Zoo fencings (but who will be the animal then, who human, ha, ha). Or high security walls you might know from the high security prisons… good that California is protesting by ignoring companies who are bidding. Mr. Trump should have been visiting Berlin at the times the Wall still has been a fact in Berlin. And he should know what the effects are. To bring people together again afterwards is an enormous effort (WE KNOW), and building up fences sooner or later leads to revolts.
Big parades in North Korea showed again the power they have meanwhile. Like it seems to be an old ritual in the Eastern countries they rolled their penises, ups, sorry, rockets, I mean, in front of the audience. Uh, this is too rude, in front of women and children, and the whole world. This is illegal!
And the Baltics? They try to make us more familiar with their Eastern Melancholia, now with actor’s support. In the end, the press is obviously on its way to be stripped down to another form of common sense. TAGESSPIEGEL’s design in black, white and red more and more reminds me of old, old designs like in the former GDR or other times-we-do-not-want to-have-again.
No Schnörkels, keep it clear! ‘ You really want this back? Or is it a color play to make us yet comfortable living under another Great Coalition again? “Because, hey, where are the other colors?” Is it a newspaper only or is it manipulation already?