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Americans are from Mars...Europeans are from Venus
2. Show what position the author takes and how this becomes clear!
In his article “Americans are from Mars... Europeans are from Venus”, the author A. Taylor explains the diverging attitudes of the US and the EU towards foreign policies and power. Doing this he is not at all favoring any of these sides, but stays generally neutral while he criticizes both. In specific matters he has for sure a clear attitudinal direction, for instance when it comes to military interventions that served to “remove Saddam from power” (l.30). Therein it appears that he favors the American ability and power to operate independently in world politics, whereas he criticizes Europe's incapability concerning this (see lines 15 to 18). But he cannot identify completely with Americans foreign policy, which is seen in the line 28, where he admits that the reasons for America's war in Iraq are indeed at least partly “irrational and unproven”. But also line 29, which says that he does not think that terrorism and WMDs are the main reason for war on Iraq, indicates this opinion. Furthermore, Taylor recognizes Europe's drive to avoid war – a desire that evolved with the experiences of war made throughout the last century. That Taylor is not arguing against one and for the other comes conspicuous especially at the end of his article, when he encourages and appeals to both America and Europe to “adjust to these new realities” and to stop this unproductive conflict.
3. Analyze and comment on the headline (e.g. connotations) and its relation to the text!
The headline of Taylors article is a simple alteration of the famous idiom “Men are from Mars, women are from Venus”. This phrase is usually used to emphasize the differences between men and women – both are so different from another that they have to even stem from different planets. This idiom is particularly used to illustrate the difficulty of communication and understanding between both, for their way of thinking is often said to be totally dissimilar. With the modification of this idiom also all of its associations are now related to the new counterparts Europe and America. Hence, this headline introduces the reader quite well in the subject of the article: the differences, the different way of thinking and valuing, and the problem of understanding of both. But taking a closer look at how the roles are cast in this headline, another parallel to the text's content might be found. America is replacing men, Europe women. In public social understanding, men are the ones or at least are said to be the more aggressive, combative and regardless personalities. In contrast to that, women are often said to be more sensitive, considerate and placid, or at least less violent. This is quite well mirrored by the “male” America and the “female” Europe. In the text, America is described as the one who is attacking and fighting wars – more or less carelessly -, but also as strong and able to fight, just like men are said to be. Europe however plays the more peaceful, weak and community-oriented role in this parable, fulfilling the “typically female” attributes. In this forecasting effects of the title, it is perfectly well chosen. Of course those male-female-stereotypes are not to be declared as general truths, especially in our emancipated society, but the associations which are artfully connected to the headline serve very well in this context.
5.Unlike France, Germany or Britain, America has never lost more than 5 percent of her male population between 18 and 28 in a foreign war. This explains everything about US foreign policy.
Explain and discuss this statement of a British journalist in 2005
Europe, the old world has gone through a lot. Being the arena of both World Wars it is especially Europe that had to learn about the cruelty and the costs of war. About 17 million people had to die in the First and about 56 million in the Second World War. Also the massive destruction of whole landscapes and cities was more than just an economical damage. The misery that came with the wars plagued them with unbearable suffering, even years after they have ended. Though America was involved in both wars and made a decisive contribution to end both, them, was never involved in the same way as France, Germany and Britain. It was neither American ground on which the wars were fought (except Pearl Harbor), nor there was any destruction or great economical damage for the US. This as well as the fact that “America has never lost more than 5 percent of her male population between 18 and 28 in a foreign war” as a British journalist declares in the above given text, shows that America has never suffered severe damages through foreign wars. The said European nations had to suffer losses incomparable to those little of the US. This differences of experiences with war surely influence also the modern foreign policies of both America and Europe. That might also verify the British journalist's opinion in a high degree. US foreign policy is much more open to military action and war than Europe which is at least since WW II trying to avoid any of the like. The fact that “America has never lost more than 5 percent of her male population between 18 and 28 in a foreign war” might have be decisive for this attitudinal divergence. Besides the suffering and the grief among the civil population of the US that was caused by the losses of its men, also the economical losses that came with this loss of the most productive workers, was far smaller than the suffering and grief and economical damage through human losses in Europe. The cutting memories of the immense misery do – due to these proportions – influence the European foreign policy much more. America however is used to militarily intervene in any conflict in the world with just little own losses. Therefore it has no reason to avoid wars, or at least less reasons to do so than the rest of the world, especially Europe, which makes the US seem combative, and what obviously inspired this British journalist to his statement.
6. Translation
Die Beziehungen Frankreichs zu den USA waren nie einfach, nicht seitdem De Gaulle meinte, die Amerikaner würden versuchen Frankreich seinen berechtigten Platz unter den mächtigen Nationen der Welt zu verwehren, zum Beispiel dadurch, dass es Frankreich nicht bei seinen Bemühungen unterstützte eigene Atomstreitkräfte aufzubauen. Wie viel einfacher wäre doch das Leben für uns Europäer, wenn wir uns doch nur einmal einer kleinen, munteren Welle des Anti-Amerikanismus hingeben könnten – fröhlich darin vereint unsere eigenen Streitkräfte aufzubauen, damit wir uns verteidigen können. Wir könnten erneut unsere eigene Kultur entwickeln, unverfälscht von Ausländern. In erster Hinsicht bieten die Amerikaner uns Europäern eine Menge an Gründen für Unmut und Vorurteile. Vor allem wenn so getan wird also ob Westeuropa gar nicht wirklich auf einem anderen Kontinent liegt, sondern eine Art transatlantisches Anhängsel Amerikas darstellt, das mehr als genug Staaten bietet, die darauf warten amerikanisiert zu werden.
"What place for God in Europe?"
Group 6, Question 3
Text: What place for God in Europe?
What is the author’s position? How does this become clear?
The author Peter Ford in his article “What place for God in Europe?” is quite neutrally analyzing the differences between America and Europe concerning the role of religion. One might at most argue that he favors the European state and acknowledgment of secularism when it comes to the proportions of the parts of the text he dedicates to both sides, for the part on Europe is remarkably larger and more detailed than the one on America. But that might as well be due to target group of Americans, which might know less about Europe and its politics. One cannot declare for sure whether Ford prefers any attitudes.
Homework
Religion
Americans' views of God shape attitudes on key issues
- What different ideas of God are described in the text?
- What effects do these concepts have on Amercans' private and political views?
There are four different Ideas of god:
- The Authoritative God: engaged in history and meting out harsh punishment to those who do not follow him
- The Benevolent God: engaged in our world and loves and supports us in caring for others ("God like a doctor who has my best interest at heart, even if sometimes I don't like his diagnosis or prescriptions."
- The Critical God: keeps an eye on this world but delivers justice in the next (the poor, the suffering and the exploited in this world often believe in this such kind of God)
- The Distant God: booted up the universe, then left humanity alone
The last image of a distant God is one that gives most responsibility to the people and their actions. That is very positive because people that believe in a loving and caring God (benevolent) ignore their responsibility for their own well being, as well as those who regard God as critical, judging in the next world. Those people always console themselves with a full and rich next life, not daring to fight their suffering. Also the people who believe in a authoritative God abdicate responsibility, for they regard catastrophies and the like as Gods justified punishment. They ignore that they may be responsible for the grievances and catastrophies on their own, and hence, do not feel responsible for helping people that suffered from these. All that influences of course politics as well as private life.
- Write down 8 questions and formulate the 8 answers to be asked and answered from this article, that express the basics about religion an politics!
Religion and Politics: 1. What is the generell opinion most Americans have when it comes to the religious attitude that their leaders should have?
- About seventytwo percent of all American registred voters state that their president should have strong religious beliefs. The result is that often religious seeming politicians are voted into high ranks.
2. How comes that this trend is so strong?
- Most American voters are very religious Christians and therefore want their leader to have a close relationship to god to be able to fulfill his goodwilling plans.
3. What is the juridical argument on religious leaders?
- The US constitution claims a strict seperation of politics and religion (but also tolerates and respects any religious conviction, enabling mighty positions to be staffed by very religious people).
Conflicts of Politics and Church 4. There are often conflicts concerning the seperation or intertwining of politics and church. Which are the most argued elements?
- Besides the controvertial on seperation many public elemtents are again and again mentioned: Gay marriage as well as stem cell research, war, pacifism.
5.
pp. 210 - 211: What does Morris feel about Rummidge and university life there?
Throughout his stay in Rummidge, his attitude towards the city and university life has changed a lot. In Morris' opinion Rummidge, although he used to dislike the city for its drabness, is changing in a positive way. Being touched by the view of rising "tower blocks", he feels slightly reminded of the well known American style. Regarding himself as an American colonist in "the most unexpected place", the University is nevertheless(?) still not to be compared to any American standard. But in spite of the mess in British university-life from which he used to suffer a lot, he now is somehow keen on its "whacky, yet somehow endearing" inefficiency.
Introduce a novel as possibly read in class this semester
"Fight Club" - Chuck Palahniuk
Thanks to David Fincher the novel Fight Club has already been filmed and that's why we will first of all take a look at the trailer of this movie!
Fight Club was originally a novel by Chuck Palahniuk, published in 1996.
The story of this book is told by its main protagonist who's Product Recall Specialist suffering from insomnia and who realizes that his identity is only defined by his job and possession. Taking his doctors advice he joins a testicular cancer support group to "see what real suffering is". He recognizes that hearing problems of others and crying with them cures his insomnia, so joins even more support groups. But then he gets to know Marla Singer, a "tourist" like him ...
Click here for a detailed plot summary
And I'm really quite convinced that, though it might be irritating to some of you, we should rather read thät book, for its funny, exciting and philosophical.
Two main Characters: Personality, Family, Career
Morris Zapp
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Philipp Swallow
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University Life and Academical System
Euphoric State University
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Rummidge
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Life in the USA vs. Life in Britain
USA
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Britain
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