In case you've never been around Germany during a World-Cup....there's public-viewing. This mostly consists of picnic tables, chairs, and a lot of beer. Some are catered affairs offered by the regional/city cultural 'authority'....some are just local pubs/bars who have a area (usually out of doors).
Usually....the only rule existing is not to binge-drink.
This year....oddly, I noted a story this week out of Kassel (city about two hours north of Wiesbaden).
This Kassel cultural center went and banned bringing of national flags to its public viewing event for the soccer World Cup.
I paused over this....the necessity for the rule? They say that that national flags could come across as exclusionary, intimidating, or politically charged-up.
So....NO flags are the rule.
Locals from Kassel pointed out that Palestinian flags were visible at previous events. They also brought up the LGBTQ flag.
The problem here? Well.....this cultural center is publicly funded (by the state and city).
How many German cities have a no-flag rule in play? No one says much....but I would imagine if you looked....it's more than a dozen.
Can you function as a no-flag nation....if it bothers folks that you have a German national flag? I'm not that sure about that.
Here's the thing....if you bring up this NO-flag BS....if the AfD goes pro-flag....there's probably another three-to-five million extra votes for AfD....just over a stupid pro-flag position.
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