Anyone out there?

After posting my last Comment, I was surprised that over 90 people have visited the site, but I have recieved no feedback (other than all the great comments at the stamtisch last Thursday) I must say agian, please send me your E-Mails or comments and happenings. I will post them here, so that everyone who checks this site out will be informed that we are active in Ulm (um Ulm, und um Ulm herum)

ALH

An interesting commentary from Mr. David Gordan Smith.

On the Expatica.com news there was an interesting commentary from Mr. David Gordan Smith, see the link below for the article: http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=26&story_id=19802&name=Why+it%27s+not+just+the+far%2Dright+that+is+racist "Germany is lagging behind other developed countries such as the UK and USA in its progress towards being a properly multi-cultural society." This was one of the comments that caught my eye, as Mr. Smith also states: “No. Racism is a huge problem in Germany, being endemic in German public discourse and ways of thinking. Germany is lagging behind other developed countries such as the UK and USA (themselves no paragon of racial harmony) in its progress towards being a properly multi-cultural society. For a society to really embrace diversity, it is not enough to control the lunatic fringes — mainstream society has to question its ideas and values and change them if necessary.” I personally feel that in many or rather most respects Mr. Smith is right in his article, I am also a strong believer of “sweeping my own doorstep” this includes realizing that in America (and from what I have heard, but cannot personally confirm) racism is still a major problem for most ethnic groups. And from what I have heard, it is not necessarily getting better, for example the young man Sasan Mohammadgholizadeh, born in Iran, has lived almost his whole life in Germany and has a German passport, was denied entry into the USA. Based pretty much on his place of birth and his name. He was arrested, interrogated, and sent back to Germany with a stamp in his passport that could eventually make it hard for him to travel freely at will. Although this is supposedly not the norm, it is still a matter that should not be played down so lightly. After 9/11 I realise and respect the necessity of tighter controls, and better warnings, but this isn’t the first case I have heard that American officials are harder than need be. One aspect that should also be remembered is that for the most parts, most foreigners in Germany (or as far as I know even in Europe) are not organized in the same manner of some American ethnic groups for example the NAACP. While this in some respects is a shame, on the other side, it is even more of a shame that we even need such an organization that has to remind us to “be nice to each other”. I cannot and will not say that all of what Mr. Smith writes is right or wrong, but I wonder that such an article is written and published in a forum for people who may not yet have had the time to make their own experiences. I feel that after reading this, some may feel; “The Germans ARE racist, even if not right wing, so why should I try to get along with them, or get to know them“ and that is counterproductive and exactly what will not help to solve any problems. ALH

Greetings and Farewell

I attended the stammtisch on the 19th, and I was really impressed! I met a bunch of really nice people, some of whom (Nick and his wife Lauren) came for the first and unfortunately last time. I wish them all the best in the states, and succesful studies.

I met Lilian, and cool young french guy, and from the signs, it could develop into a good freindship, and that is what it is all about. Lilian and I had a conversation concerning the perception of the Germans and the French, as well as the French and..... well, the rest of the world. I thought it was really refreshing to be able to talk openly with a French person about his "Mother" country, so far I have been able to do this for the most part only with Germans and other Americans. The culture and ways of thinking are in some aspects so different between the different contries such as Germany and France, but they are still a lot closer than the Europeans and the Americans. It is this "European Connection" that I find so fascinating. In America, you have to go to Canada or Mexico (or some islands on the east coast) to see a different country. In Germany especialy in Ulm you can travel a couple of hours in almost any direction, and you have a totally different view of things. It is something to be proud of and to be preserved. The “europeanization”, or the melting of the individual countries should only go so far, Europe should stay a land of countries, and not become a land of states with different languages. I still love America, but this diveristy of Europe is much more exicting, I am glad that I live in the time and place now, not for 60 years during the war, and in another 60 years it will probably be the United States of Europe. And that will be a shame.

I hope to meet some more people next month, see you soon.

ALH

Nick said...

Attached below are two links that might be of interest to you or the others that were at the Stammtisch. American German Business Club - Stuttgart chapterhttp://www.agbc.de/html/chapters/chapter.php?place=stuttgart#address Expaticahttp://www.expatica.com/source/site_content_subchannel.asp?subchannel_id=26 I hope we can be in touch. Regards, Nick Thanks Nick, you know where to find us, hope to meet again on the road of life!

ALH

Latest Star Wars film in English original

Lichtburg cinema is going to show it in June - more details nearer the time www.donauflimmern.de

May the force be with you!

Heather

.. ALH

Next Stammtisch meeting

Hi everyone We had a great turnout last time with quite a few new faces, which really keeps things interesting.The room was OK at Nudeloper but the food was far from spectacular, so let's meet at Herrenkeller this month.

Hope to see you on 19 May starting at 7 p.m. at Herrenkeller Gaststätte - Herrenkellergasse 4 in Ulm. The phone number there is 0731 - 61 03 63 , - just in case!

As always - if you have any books to exchange, please bring them along - and if you have any information about films in English or people looking for an English class, or whatever, this is a great place to get the word out to a lot of people.

See you there. Dawn and Heather

.. ALH

Last stammtisch was great!

My Thanks to Dawn, The stammtisch was great, it was my first, and I was glad to meet quite a few people. Now the trick comes down to remembering the names when I see them again. The next stammtisch will apparently take place a week in advance, as the last Thursday is a holiday, and Dawn and Dietmar will be busy. As soon as I have information, I will post it.

Please send an E-Mail if you need anything posted, I will try to do this quickly.

Thanks and best wishes,

ALH