About once a year, I'll have someone 'find' my essays/blog and want to let me know that they are disappointed that an American would go and criticize anything in Germany, German people, and that I am the 'bad' American. It's split 50-50....Americans and Germans who fall into this tolerance-lesson that will be used against me.
The problem these people usually have....is that they absolutely refuse to view the landscape and grasp that Germans (NOT all Germans, but a fair number of journalists, politicians, and intellectuals) have picked up their license to critique Brits, Poles, Greeks, Russians, Americans, Dutch, etc). So you sit there on a daily basis...observing the criticisms, and eventually you reach the point of realizing the tolerance/intolerance situation (or lack of it).
The 'bad' American act? It's used to usually push people back a step or two and make them feel guilty. The quickest way to rectify the situation....is to ask them how tolerant they really are? Their mere act of intolerance....puts them into a difficult situation. They will stand and defend intolerance, which makes them look even worse.
So I have that license to critique and criticize. To be honest, it's not much of a license. About ninety percent of Germans you come across....particularly working-class Germans....aren't all hyped up or falling over themselves to be openly critical of other cultures or countries. They've got more important things to worry about.
Criticizing roads or bridges? Most Germans will lay out a dozen harsh criticisms over the handling of road repairs or the construction of bridges.
Criticizing government bureaucracy? Most Germans will have thirty-odd stories to tell over their local or state government.
Criticizing laws? Everyone has a favorite list of laws or procedures which are designed for failure or to frustrate the general public.
Criticizing the daily news? Folks will pull out their Bild or local paper, and go into a chat-session over how this story got told out of context or that scandal is bigger than what the news talks about.
So pardon me, if I've angered you by making some wit or criticism over your German associates or some wonderful fairy-tale story. But as you get into your 'flame' session....ask yourself....are you tolerant or intolerant? Think about it for minute.
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