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Singing sensation helps Germans shed 'dull' image</title> <meta name="title" content="World Blog - Singing sensation helps Germans shed 'dull' image"/> <meta name="description" content=" By Andy Eckardt, NBC News MAINZ, Germany -- For a moment, I thought Germany had won the World Cup and I had missed it."/> <meta name="server" content="web5"/> <meta name="cip" content="174.129.237.157"/> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100603030105im_/http://msnbc.msn.com/favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon"/> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="RSS" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100603030105/http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/_feeds/rss2/author"/> <link class="cpk_remote" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100603030105cs_/http://yui.yahooapis.com/combo?2.8.0r4/build/button/assets/skins/sam/button.css&2.8.0r4/build/container/assets/skins/sam/container.css"/> <script class="cpk_remote" language="javascript" 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The 19-year-old singer is the first German to win the Eurovision Song Contest since 1982. </p></div><div class="postText"><div class="vine-p p-content_ArticleText"><div class="articleText"><p> <strong>By Andy Eckardt, NBC News</strong></p> <p> MAINZ, Germany -- For a moment, I thought Germany had won the World Cup and I had missed it.</p> <p> There were convoys of cars loudly beeping, fireworks and screaming people waving German flags in the streets. But the soccer tournament does not start for another 10 days.</p> <p> The cause? <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100603030105/http://www.eurovision.tv/page/multimedia/videos?id=17913">Lena, a 19-year old high school student from Hannover</a>, had just triumphed in <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100603030105/http://www.eurovision.tv/page/home">the Eurovision Song Contest</a>. It was <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100603030105/http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/37413224/ns/today-entertainment/">Germany's first win in the competition for nearly three decades</a>.</p> <p> For my native Germany -- whose citizens are often portrayed as dull and without any sense of spontaneity -- Lena's victory was reason enough to go crazy!</p> <p> Under the headline "Lena enchants Germany", public television ARD and private broadcaster PRO7 interrupted their regular Sunday afternoon programming <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100603030105/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRgJsS_FKvY">to show live coverage of Lena's arrival at Hannover airport</a>.</p> <p> The red-carpet ceremony was attended by thousands of cheering fans. And even the state’s governor showed up to present a bouquet of flowers -- along with best wishes from Chancellor Angela Merkel.</p> <p> <strong>'You are crazy'</strong><br/>Wearing jeans and a striped T-shirt, Lena was visibly touched by the welcome.</p> <p> "You are crazy, go inside, it is raining," the teenager told well-wishers who had been waiting for hours.</p> <p> With her laid-back and self-effacing style, the young singer has attained huge popularity in Germany. Her winning song debuted at Number One in the German charts and became the country’s fastest-selling digital release.</p> <p> A well-designed marketing campaign by popular German TV host Stefan Raab ended with many young people tuning into the competition, which in recent years has described as kitschy and antiquated.</p> <p> As a result, thousands of Germans gathered to watch the event broadcast on video screens in town squares or at special Lena parties across the country.</p> <p> "I had never been very interested in the Eurovision Song Contest, but with lovely Lena, things have changed," said 18-year-old Simon Zeler, who started an Internet-based Lena fan club earlier this year.</p> <p> More than 2,000 fans have <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100603030105/http://www.lenameyerlandrut-fanclub.de/">joined Zeler's internet chat forum </a>since it was launched in February, with nearly 30,000 comments posted about the singer.</p> <p> "I was surprised by the interest in Lena and totally overwhelmed by <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100603030105/http://www.eurovision.tv/page/multimedia/photos?gal=18293">her win on Saturday in Oslo</a>," Zeler added.</p> <p> <strong>100 million viewers</strong><br/>Founded in 1956, the contest helped Swedish pop group ABBA and Celine Dion (who represented Switzerland in 1988) to achieve international fame. While the annual event is one of Europe's most-watched TV programs, the majority of artists have vanished into relative obscurity.</p> <p> But perhaps not Lena, who beat 24 other contestants on Saturday night. Despite often being criticized for her mangled English and a quirky British accent, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100603030105/http://www.eurovision.tv/event/artistdetail?song=24883&event=1493">catchy pop song "Satellite"</a> received 246 points and boasted the second-biggest winning margin in Eurovision history. Her performance was watched by more than 100 million viewers across 39 European countries.</p> <p> "Best Wishes Lena, Europe Loves You" <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100603030105/http://www.bt.dk/melodi-grand-prix-2010/viele-gruesse-lena-europa-liebt-dich">read the headline in Danish tabloid newspaper BT</a> on Sunday. But Sunday's public display of "Lenamania", which included more than 40,000 people cheering the young star in her hometown, was more than mere applause for a new heroine. For many Germans, it was an opportunity to celebrate a modern form of national pride.</p> <p> "National identity has lost its ... threatening component, it can now be articulated in a more stressless manner," said Tilman Allert, a professor at the University of Frankfurt. "For a long time, the display of a national identity was accompanied by shame in Germany. Maybe other countries will now say: You don't have to fear Germany any longer."</p></div></div></div></div><footer><div class="drawer"><span class="share_post"><div class="printerData hide" data-printer="%7B%22article%22%3A%7B%22id%22%3A%224442515%22%2C%22url%22%3A%22http%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fworldblog.msnbc.msn.com%5C%2F_news%5C%2F2010%5C%2F05%5C%2F31%5C%2F4442515-singing-sensation-helps-germans-shed-dull-image%22%2C%22headline%22%3A%22Singing+sensation+helps+Germans+shed+%27dull%27+image%22%2C%22leadin%22%3A%22+By+Andy+Eckardt%2C+NBC+News%5Cn%5Cn+MAINZ%2C+Germany+--+For+a+moment%2C+I+thought+Germany+had+won+the+World+Cup+and+I+had+missed+it.%22%2C%22img%22%3A%7B%22url%22%3A%22http%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fwww.polls.newsvine.com%5C%2F_vine%5C%2Fimages%5C%2Fusers%5C%2Ftn%5C%2Fjasoncumming%5C%2F4442890.jpg%22%2C%22width%22%3A75%2C%22height%22%3A55%7D%7D%7D"></div><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100603030105/http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/05/31/4442515-singing-sensation-helps-germans-shed-dull-image" class="article_footer share hide">Share</a></span><div class="vine-p p-content_TagList"><span class="tag_leadin">Browse: </span><a href="/web/20100603030105/http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/world-news" rel="tag">world-news</a>, <a href="/web/20100603030105/http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/germany" rel="tag">germany</a>, <a href="/web/20100603030105/http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/eurovision-song-contest" rel="tag">eurovision-song-contest</a>, <a href="/web/20100603030105/http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/lena" rel="tag">lena</a></div></div></footer></article> <div class="discuss_page_break"><h1>Discuss this article</h1></div><article class="commentArea"><div class="postComments"> <div id="vine-m--588171914" class="vine-m m-content_Discussion box clearfix"><div class="viewPanel"><a name="comments"></a><div class="discussionContainer"> <div class="vine-p p-comment_CommentThread"> <div class="vine-p p-comment_Comment commentbody " id="c14509390"><div class="printerData hide" data-printer="%7B%22commentId%22%3A14509390%2C%22authorDomain%22%3A%22heidiandray%22%7D"></div><div class="c_author"><div class="normal"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100603030105/http://heidiandray.newsvine.com/">adelheid</a></div></div><div id="commentText_14509390" class="c_text"><div class="normal"><div class="commentSource"><p> We, the Germans need more Talents like Lena. Come out where ever you are, and sing for us.</p></div><div class="clearfix"> <div class="vine-p p-comment_MiniToolbox"><div class="printerData hide" data-printer="%7B%22commentId%22%3A14509390%2C%22threadId%22%3A%22969255%22%2C%22contentId%22%3A%224442515%22%2C%22authorDomain%22%3A%22heidiandray%22%7D"></div><ul class="list"><li class="box votes"><div class="label">1 vote</div></li></ul></div><img class="replybutton" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20100603030105im_/http://www.polls.newsvine.com/_vine/images/_/b_reply_mini.gif" width="35" height="12" alt="Reply"/><span class="commentdate"><a href="#c14509390" title="Link to this comment">#1</a> - Mon May 31, 2010 2:02 PM EDT</span></div><div class="clearfix"></div><div class="commentcontainer"><span></span></div></div></div></div><div class="vine-p p-comment_Comment commentbody " id="c14510234"><div class="printerData hide" data-printer="%7B%22commentId%22%3A14510234%2C%22authorDomain%22%3A%22caesar-munene%22%7D"></div><div class="c_author"><div class="normal"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100603030105/http://caesar-munene.newsvine.com/">Kaizaro</a></div></div><div id="commentText_14510234" class="c_text"><div class="normal"><div class="commentSource"><p> Mercedes...BMW...Audi...Porsche...</p> <p> Who said the Germans are <em>dull?</em></p></div><div class="clearfix"><div class="vine-p p-comment_MiniToolbox"><div class="printerData hide" data-printer="%7B%22commentId%22%3A14510234%2C%22threadId%22%3A%22969255%22%2C%22contentId%22%3A%224442515%22%2C%22authorDomain%22%3A%22caesar-munene%22%7D"></div><ul class="list"><li class="box votes"><div class="label">1 vote</div></li></ul></div><img class="replybutton" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20100603030105im_/http://www.polls.newsvine.com/_vine/images/_/b_reply_mini.gif" width="35" height="12" alt="Reply"/><span class="commentdate"><a href="#c14510234" title="Link to this comment">#2</a> - Mon May 31, 2010 2:39 PM EDT</span></div><div class="vine-p p-comment_Comment commentbody child " id="c14533086"><div class="printerData hide" data-printer="%7B%22commentId%22%3A14533086%2C%22authorDomain%22%3A%22htokatlian%22%7D"></div><div class="c_author"><div class="normal"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100603030105/http://htokatlian.newsvine.com/">Canadian-412215</a></div></div><div id="commentText_14533086" class="c_text"><div class="normal"><div class="commentSource"><p> Agreed! Exactly what I wished to say also.</p></div><div class="clearfix"><div class="vine-p p-comment_MiniToolbox"><div class="printerData hide" data-printer="%7B%22commentId%22%3A14533086%2C%22threadId%22%3A%22969255%22%2C%22contentId%22%3A%224442515%22%2C%22authorDomain%22%3A%22htokatlian%22%7D"></div><ul class="list"></ul></div><span class="commentdate"><a href="#c14533086" title="Link to this comment">#2.1</a> - Tue Jun 1, 2010 3:05 PM EDT</span></div></div></div></div><div class="clearfix"><img class="replybutton" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20100603030105im_/http://www.polls.newsvine.com/_vine/images/_/b_reply_mini.gif" width="35" height="12" alt="Reply"/></div><div class="commentcontainer"><span></span></div></div></div></div><div class="vine-p p-comment_Comment commentbody " id="c14510770"><div class="printerData hide" data-printer="%7B%22commentId%22%3A14510770%2C%22authorDomain%22%3A%22itsc%22%7D"></div><div class="c_author"><div class="normal"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100603030105/http://itsc.newsvine.com/">Daniel123</a></div></div><div id="commentText_14510770" class="c_text"><div class="normal"><div class="commentSource"><p>Many German talents are leaving Germany because of incompetent politicians. Life is too short, but there are better places in the world!</p></div><div class="clearfix"><div class="vine-p p-comment_MiniToolbox"><div class="printerData hide" data-printer="%7B%22commentId%22%3A14510770%2C%22threadId%22%3A%22969255%22%2C%22contentId%22%3A%224442515%22%2C%22authorDomain%22%3A%22itsc%22%7D"></div><ul class="list"><li class="box votes"><div class="label">1 vote</div></li></ul></div><img class="replybutton" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20100603030105im_/http://www.polls.newsvine.com/_vine/images/_/b_reply_mini.gif" width="35" height="12" alt="Reply"/><span class="commentdate"><a href="#c14510770" title="Link to this comment">#3</a> - Mon May 31, 2010 3:02 PM EDT</span></div><div class="clearfix"></div><div class="commentcontainer"><span></span></div></div></div></div><div class="vine-p p-comment_Comment commentbody " id="c14512720"><div class="printerData hide" data-printer="%7B%22commentId%22%3A14512720%2C%22authorDomain%22%3A%22charles-antonchazman1050%22%7D"></div><div class="c_author"><div class="normal"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100603030105/http://charles-antonchazman1050.newsvine.com/">Charles Anton</a></div></div><div id="commentText_14512720" class="c_text"><div class="normal"><div class="commentSource"><p> I'm German, so I wanted to see what all the hype was about. I watched the YouTube video. She's stiff as a board and you have to struggle to understand her. Hey, I'm happy Lena won - but her PR is better than her music. </p></div><div class="clearfix"><div class="vine-p p-comment_MiniToolbox"><div class="printerData hide" data-printer="%7B%22commentId%22%3A14512720%2C%22threadId%22%3A%22969255%22%2C%22contentId%22%3A%224442515%22%2C%22authorDomain%22%3A%22charles-antonchazman1050%22%7D"></div><ul class="list"></ul></div><img class="replybutton" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20100603030105im_/http://www.polls.newsvine.com/_vine/images/_/b_reply_mini.gif" width="35" height="12" alt="Reply"/><span class="commentdate"><a href="#c14512720" title="Link to this comment">#4</a> - Mon May 31, 2010 4:43 PM EDT</span></div><div class="vine-p p-comment_Comment commentbody child " id="c14543397"><div class="printerData hide" data-printer="%7B%22commentId%22%3A14543397%2C%22authorDomain%22%3A%22coombyia%22%7D"></div><div class="c_author"><div class="normal"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100603030105/http://coombyia.newsvine.com/">Kuhm Bei Ja</a></div></div><div id="commentText_14543397" class="c_text"><div class="normal"><div class="commentSource"><p> better than american idol any day.</p></div><div class="clearfix"><div class="vine-p p-comment_MiniToolbox"><div class="printerData hide" data-printer="%7B%22commentId%22%3A14543397%2C%22threadId%22%3A%22969255%22%2C%22contentId%22%3A%224442515%22%2C%22authorDomain%22%3A%22coombyia%22%7D"></div><ul class="list"></ul></div><span class="commentdate"><a href="#c14543397" title="Link to this comment">#4.1</a> - Tue Jun 1, 2010 10:27 PM EDT</span></div></div></div></div><div class="clearfix"><img class="replybutton" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20100603030105im_/http://www.polls.newsvine.com/_vine/images/_/b_reply_mini.gif" width="35" height="12" alt="Reply"/></div><div class="commentcontainer"><span></span></div></div></div></div><div class="vine-p p-comment_Comment commentbody " id="c14512951"><div class="printerData hide" data-printer="%7B%22commentId%22%3A14512951%2C%22authorDomain%22%3A%22josh-rosenroth%22%7D"></div><div class="c_author"><div class="normal"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100603030105/http://josh-rosenroth.newsvine.com/">Josh Rosenroth</a></div></div><div id="commentText_14512951" class="c_text"><div class="normal"><div class="commentSource"><p>Finally, a beautiful face with a nice pushy English-sung song, having been added with a certain publicity hype won the contest. This time is was a German gal, named Lena. Wow, we are proud of you. It was about time, too.</p> <p> When Finland won the contest some years ago with their black-dressed ugly-looking outer-space alien group - who knows the name now? - (by the way, Klingons of Star Trek are beauties compared to the Finnish 'aliens') whose song was more grunting than singing - I thought - OMG - the world is gonna get crazy, who the heck want those nut shells on stage?</p> <p> Thanks heaven, some years later Lena arrived - young, fresh, 'poppy' - who really deserved to win.</p></div><div class="clearfix"><div class="vine-p p-comment_MiniToolbox"><div class="printerData hide" data-printer="%7B%22commentId%22%3A14512951%2C%22threadId%22%3A%22969255%22%2C%22contentId%22%3A%224442515%22%2C%22authorDomain%22%3A%22josh-rosenroth%22%7D"></div><ul class="list"></ul></div><img class="replybutton" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20100603030105im_/http://www.polls.newsvine.com/_vine/images/_/b_reply_mini.gif" width="35" height="12" alt="Reply"/><span class="commentdate"><a href="#c14512951" title="Link to this comment">#5</a> - Mon May 31, 2010 4:55 PM EDT</span></div><div class="clearfix"><img class="replybutton" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20100603030105im_/http://www.polls.newsvine.com/_vine/images/_/b_reply_mini.gif" width="35" height="12" alt="Reply"/></div><div class="commentcontainer"><span></span></div></div></div></div><div class="vine-p p-comment_Comment commentbody " id="c14514883"><div class="printerData hide" data-printer="%7B%22commentId%22%3A14514883%2C%22authorDomain%22%3A%22aluceo%22%7D"></div><div class="c_author"><div class="normal"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100603030105/http://aluceo.newsvine.com/">Aluceo</a></div></div><div id="commentText_14514883" class="c_text"><div class="normal"><div class="commentSource"><p> I don't think Lena was that stiff. She is a German girl and was singing with her natural ascent and composure. That is exactly why she came out genuine! I think if she sounded like a Brit or an American, it would have been uninteresting. That's my fair take.</p> <p> By the way I do think qualifying Germans as "dull" is stupid given that each country and people have their natural moods. Maybe, since the Anglosaxon music culture (and to a lesser extent latin music culture) is predominant we tend to relativize everything to it but that tendency ends up killing the variety of human culture!</p> <p> By the way, there are talents in all countries and cultures waiting only to be developed and appreciated under the prism of cultural relativism.</p> <p> Talking about German music talents, what about "Scorpion" ...one of my favorite music bands!</p></div><div class="clearfix"><div class="vine-p p-comment_MiniToolbox"><div class="printerData hide" data-printer="%7B%22commentId%22%3A14514883%2C%22threadId%22%3A%22969255%22%2C%22contentId%22%3A%224442515%22%2C%22authorDomain%22%3A%22aluceo%22%7D"></div><ul class="list"></ul></div><img class="replybutton" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20100603030105im_/http://www.polls.newsvine.com/_vine/images/_/b_reply_mini.gif" width="35" height="12" alt="Reply"/><span class="commentdate"><a href="#c14514883" title="Link to this comment">#6</a> - Mon May 31, 2010 7:06 PM EDT</span></div><div class="clearfix"></div><div class="commentcontainer"><span></span></div></div></div></div><div class="vine-p p-comment_Comment commentbody " id="c14516236"><div class="printerData hide" data-printer="%7B%22commentId%22%3A14516236%2C%22authorDomain%22%3A%22askinozcan%22%7D"></div><div class="c_author"><div class="normal"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100603030105/http://askinozcan.newsvine.com/">askin ozcan</a></div></div><div id="commentText_14516236" class="c_text"><div class="normal"><div class="commentSource"><p> Eurovision Song Contest Inspires A New Idea</p> <p> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100603030105/http://www.prlog.org/10706216.html">http://www.prlog.org/10706216.html</a></p></div><div class="clearfix"><div class="vine-p p-comment_MiniToolbox"><div class="printerData hide" data-printer="%7B%22commentId%22%3A14516236%2C%22threadId%22%3A%22969255%22%2C%22contentId%22%3A%224442515%22%2C%22authorDomain%22%3A%22askinozcan%22%7D"></div><ul class="list"></ul></div><img class="replybutton" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20100603030105im_/http://www.polls.newsvine.com/_vine/images/_/b_reply_mini.gif" width="35" height="12" alt="Reply"/><span class="commentdate"><a href="#c14516236" title="Link to this comment">#7</a> - Mon May 31, 2010 8:37 PM EDT</span></div><div class="clearfix"></div><div class="commentcontainer"><span></span></div></div></div></div><div class="vine-p p-comment_Comment commentbody " id="c14523820"><div class="printerData hide" data-printer="%7B%22commentId%22%3A14523820%2C%22authorDomain%22%3A%22Samblaster%22%7D"></div><div class="c_author"><div class="normal"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100603030105/http://samblaster.newsvine.com/">radar015</a></div></div><div id="commentText_14523820" class="c_text"><div class="normal"><div class="commentSource"><p> Germans are anything but dull. I lived there for a year when I worked for the army. If I come back in my next life, I hope it is as a German. It's not only a lot of fun there, but its beaufiful and the food, wine and beer is great. </p></div><div class="clearfix"><div class="vine-p p-comment_MiniToolbox"><div class="printerData hide" data-printer="%7B%22commentId%22%3A14523820%2C%22threadId%22%3A%22969255%22%2C%22contentId%22%3A%224442515%22%2C%22authorDomain%22%3A%22Samblaster%22%7D"></div><ul class="list"></ul></div><img class="replybutton" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20100603030105im_/http://www.polls.newsvine.com/_vine/images/_/b_reply_mini.gif" width="35" height="12" alt="Reply"/><span class="commentdate"><a href="#c14523820" title="Link to this comment">#8</a> - Tue Jun 1, 2010 9:41 AM EDT</span></div><div class="clearfix"><img class="replybutton" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20100603030105im_/http://www.polls.newsvine.com/_vine/images/_/b_reply_mini.gif" width="35" height="12" alt="Reply"/></div><div class="commentcontainer"><span></span></div></div></div></div><div class="vine-p p-comment_Comment commentbody " id="c14525706"><div class="printerData hide" data-printer="%7B%22commentId%22%3A14525706%2C%22authorDomain%22%3A%22jigomez0441%22%7D"></div><div class="c_author"><div class="normal"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100603030105/http://jigomez0441.newsvine.com/">Hell no-568603</a></div></div><div id="commentText_14525706" class="c_text"><div class="normal"><div class="commentSource"><p>When I read the headline, I thought the article will be talking about the nazi legacy and I was going to protest by pulling a Bill Clinton here: "Define dull." Germany has the most outstanding people in the world and in intellect, no other race can come even close. Look what we and Russia did with their scientists. We excused their war crimes, brought them here to work in the same weapons and continue with the same experiments as before. Ditto the Russians. The Russians and the U.S. owe all they are to the Germans. The Germans are a privileged race and no one can take that away from them. BTW, I'm not nazi nor German.</p></div><div class="clearfix"><div class="vine-p p-comment_MiniToolbox"><div class="printerData hide" data-printer="%7B%22commentId%22%3A14525706%2C%22threadId%22%3A%22969255%22%2C%22contentId%22%3A%224442515%22%2C%22authorDomain%22%3A%22jigomez0441%22%7D"></div><ul class="list"></ul></div><img class="replybutton" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20100603030105im_/http://www.polls.newsvine.com/_vine/images/_/b_reply_mini.gif" width="35" height="12" alt="Reply"/><span class="commentdate"><a href="#c14525706" title="Link to this comment">#9</a> - Tue Jun 1, 2010 11:08 AM EDT</span></div><div class="vine-p p-comment_Comment commentbody child " id="c14527187"><div class="printerData hide" data-printer="%7B%22commentId%22%3A14527187%2C%22authorDomain%22%3A%22mdhall-vegas%22%7D"></div><div class="c_author"><div class="normal"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100603030105/http://mdhall-vegas.newsvine.com/">MDHALL From Vegas</a></div></div><div id="commentText_14527187" class="c_text"><div class="normal"><div class="commentSource"><p> When the US, Russia, and the allies defeated the Germans in WW2, we didn't have their scientists building our weapons so you are wrong on that point. If we owe all that we are to the Germans for their contribution to the development of the atomic bomb then I would say "That figures!". Speaking as an American, I do not have to be convinced at all that the Germans are brilliant and, of that, they deserve to be very proud. I have never thought of the Germans as boring. Proud, brilliant, and fun certainly come to mind as well as great partyers and great cooks. People who speak badly about the Germans are looking too far back and need to acknowledge that lessons have been learned and great progress made. And now they have Lena! Congratulations to Lena and to her home country!</p></div><div class="clearfix"><div class="vine-p p-comment_MiniToolbox"><div class="printerData hide" data-printer="%7B%22commentId%22%3A14527187%2C%22threadId%22%3A%22969255%22%2C%22contentId%22%3A%224442515%22%2C%22authorDomain%22%3A%22mdhall-vegas%22%7D"></div><ul class="list"></ul></div><span class="commentdate"><a href="#c14527187" title="Link to this comment">#9.1</a> - Tue Jun 1, 2010 12:04 PM EDT</span></div></div></div></div><div class="vine-p p-comment_Comment commentbody child " id="c14542859"><div class="printerData hide" data-printer="%7B%22commentId%22%3A14542859%2C%22authorDomain%22%3A%22jigomez0441%22%7D"></div><div class="c_author"><div class="normal"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100603030105/http://jigomez0441.newsvine.com/">Hell no-568603</a></div></div><div id="commentText_14542859" class="c_text"><div class="normal"><div class="commentSource"><p>I got news for you. The U.S. didn't have that major role in defeating the nazis. In the history channel, two, supposedly, PHD army officers agreed that Russia defeated the nazis, because Hitler did not allow his Army to break loose from an encircle that the Russian generals established to kill the nazi army and the rest is history. Hitler pulled troops from the Europe to defend from the Russians. History can be misstated but that sounds as pure propaganda and that doesn't buy a loaf of bread. Also, I'm sure that the British disagree with you. They might agree with the Russians, but not with the idea of how the U.S. defeated the Nazis. According to media reports, IKE was to field marsahll Montgomery, as dumb as the world knows Bush, the dumbest of all presidents here and worldwide. Also, they came in last. I'll leave you with the battle of the Bulge. Omar Bradley was almost over run by the nazis and they only had 200 tanks and 3,000 soldiers. That many tanks used in defending and contra-attacking in the defense of Stalingrade were just the first line of attack. Reading about hsitory might help understand the truth. Propaganda is all made up and everybody does it.</p></div><div class="clearfix"><div class="vine-p p-comment_MiniToolbox"><div class="printerData hide" data-printer="%7B%22commentId%22%3A14542859%2C%22threadId%22%3A%22969255%22%2C%22contentId%22%3A%224442515%22%2C%22authorDomain%22%3A%22jigomez0441%22%7D"></div><ul class="list"></ul></div><span class="commentdate"><a href="#c14542859" title="Link to this comment">#9.2</a> - Tue Jun 1, 2010 9:56 PM EDT</span></div></div></div></div><div class="vine-p p-comment_Comment commentbody child " id="c14543446"><div class="printerData hide" data-printer="%7B%22commentId%22%3A14543446%2C%22authorDomain%22%3A%22coombyia%22%7D"></div><div class="c_author"><div class="normal"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100603030105/http://coombyia.newsvine.com/">Kuhm Bei Ja</a></div></div><div id="commentText_14543446" class="c_text"><div class="normal"><div class="commentSource"><p> but getting back to 2010, its nice to see something fresh coming out of germany.</p></div><div class="clearfix"><div class="vine-p p-comment_MiniToolbox"><div class="printerData hide" data-printer="%7B%22commentId%22%3A14543446%2C%22threadId%22%3A%22969255%22%2C%22contentId%22%3A%224442515%22%2C%22authorDomain%22%3A%22coombyia%22%7D"></div><ul class="list"></ul></div><span class="commentdate"><a href="#c14543446" title="Link to this comment">#9.3</a> - Tue Jun 1, 2010 10:30 PM EDT</span></div></div></div></div><div class="vine-p p-comment_Comment commentbody child " id="c14558971"><div class="printerData hide" data-printer="%7B%22commentId%22%3A14558971%2C%22authorDomain%22%3A%22hansmeier%22%7D"></div><div class="c_author"><div class="normal"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100603030105/http://hansmeier.newsvine.com/">Hans Meier</a></div></div><div id="commentText_14558971" class="c_text"><div class="normal"><div class="commentSource"><p> Since when are Germans a race? We're all the same, just born in different countries.</p> <p> I, as a German, think it's very annoying to hear that @!$%#ed up @!$%# about Hitler every time. My parents and me are both born after WW2, so please let history be history. The generation of today is opend-minded and has nothing in common with the people who lived 70 years ago. By the way, almost every country has skeletons in the closet...</p></div><div class="clearfix"><div class="vine-p p-comment_MiniToolbox"><div class="printerData hide" data-printer="%7B%22commentId%22%3A14558971%2C%22threadId%22%3A%22969255%22%2C%22contentId%22%3A%224442515%22%2C%22authorDomain%22%3A%22hansmeier%22%7D"></div><ul class="list"></ul></div><span class="commentdate"><a href="#c14558971" title="Link to this comment">#9.4</a> - Wed Jun 2, 2010 3:34 PM EDT</span></div></div></div></div><div class="clearfix"><img class="replybutton" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20100603030105im_/http://www.polls.newsvine.com/_vine/images/_/b_reply_mini.gif" width="35" height="12" alt="Reply"/></div><div class="commentcontainer"><span></span></div></div></div></div></div><div class="commentcontainer"><div class="vine-p p-comment_CommentForm commentfields"><div class="printerData hide" data-printer="%7B%22canLink%22%3Afalse%2C%22threadId%22%3A%22969255%22%2C%22isPrivate%22%3Afalse%7D"></div><a name="entercomment"></a><div class="commentbody"><div class="c_author"><div class="user">Leave a Comment:</div></div><div class="c_text"><div class="user"><div class="commentsForm-errors hide"></div><table class="commentform"><tr><td><div class="commentRegFormDiv"><form class="commentRegForm" method="POST" action="/web/20100603030105/http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/_nv/api/accounts/register"><input type="hidden" name="responseType" value="json"><input type="hidden" name="postCommentGroupJoin" value=""><input type="hidden" name="postCommentGroupAccept" value=""><input type="hidden" name="affiliate" value="msnbc.msn.com"><input type="hidden" name="mailTemplate" value=""><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"><tr><td><label for="commentName">Name: </label></td><td><input type="text" id="commentName" name="displayName" class="half flat" value=""/></td></tr><tr><td><label for="commentEmailAddress">Email Address <span>(will be verified, but never shown)</span>: </label></td><td><input type="text" id="commentEmailAddress" name="email" class="half flat" value=""/></td></tr></table></form></div></td></tr><tr><td><div class="htmlModeOff">You're in Easy Mode. 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