The Revival of a National Spirit

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Germany, frequently described as a sober country, has not had much to cheer about in recent years; at least if you ask the average German: the country struggles with one of the highest unemployment rates in Western Europe, the government constantly seems to be cutting social programs (granted from very generous levels), unity between east and west remains a contentious issue even 15 years after the reunification, many Germans still like to complain about the higher prices allegedly brought about by the European monetary conversion and to top things off German which was to host the 2006 World Cup was losing almost all its Pre-World-Cup matches. In others words, judging from the public mood and media coverage, Germany was all gloom and doom.

But then something magical happened. Something has happened in this country since the beginning of the World Cup that has uplifted the national spirit. Naturally, a first answer stems from the performance of the German football team. A team, which stumbled over its own feet in every public viewing in recent months all of a sudden started to play well and improve with every game. For a country like German, with its long and proud football heritage, that is hosting the biggest sports tournament in the world and it all of a sudden starting to perform amazingly well and even sniffed at the chance to make it to the final, can go a long way to lift the national spirit.

I submit that there is another, a more profound reason that hopefully will persist long after the World Cup has finished. Germans for the first time in a long while are taking great joy and pride in representing their country to the world. People from all over the world have made a pilgrimage to Germany to be greeted by an extraordinary country and hosted by extraordinary people. One evening in Frankfurt comes to mind: Walking through the streets and visiting night clubs wearing a Mexican football jersey together with Mexican friends, never have I been greeted as warmly in my own city. All night long, Germans walked up to me, welcomed me in English and wished me a pleasant time. I truly felt like all these people were genuinely excited that I had come from Mexico to visit their country.

In other words, the World Cup might have been a catalyst but not the cause of the uplifting of the national spirit. I see a Germany that has been crying out for a chance to represent itself, a chance to feel proud of itself, to wear the national colours and to wave the national flag, which by the end of the World Cup is ubiquitously displayed across the country (from every car, every window and on every shirt).

Even the international press has taken notice. The Economist magazine writes in a recent edition about Germany: “With the nation's black, red and gold banner being brandished joyfully, but innocently, by countless football fans who are delighted to be hosting the World Cup, Germany gives the impression of a country which has finally laid to rest the ghosts of its past. In fact, real optimists might say that a new, angst-free patriotism is celebrating the achievements of a united, democratic state.” (The Economist, June 24th, 2006).

Germany has shown the world and more importantly itself that it is a beautiful country. I hope that long after the World Cup trophy has been won and the fans have returned to their homes, the German national spirit will continue to sing high notes and that the people of this country will have become a little less grumpy and a bit more joyful.