Cuba del Norte is far more gone than even I believed.
I recently came upon a "Warning or Guide for Travelers to Germany" that I am translating here for you to ponder. It is put up by a public service type advertisement in the largest German ethnic newspapers by Canada's oldest ethnic organization, to warn its members and the general public of repression in Germany.
"As we know, different laws and regulations apply to different countries that visitors do well to pay attention to.
In order to have a worry-free and pleasant vacation in Germany, it is imperative that the vacationer understands and pays attention to the differences between Canada and Germany regarding freedom of opinon and expression.
In Canada, for instance, it is allowed to express questions, doubts or opinions regarding events in the Third Reich, even if it "hurts somebody's feelings", according to the Supreme Court in Canada.
(Small sidebar here: ***Not*** if your name is Ernst Zundel - at least not on the Internet, which the Canadian Human Rigths Commision claim ***they*** control!)
In Germany, by contrast, there exist laws and court judgments that do not allow such public questions, doubts or opinions, even when they are expressed by someone not part of Germany. For instance, right now the Munich prosecutors are trying to achieve that the immunity of (French) politician, party leader and European parliamentarian, Jean Marie Le Pen, be declared null and void, in order that the Germans can charge him with the ***German*** crime of "diminishing the Holocaust."
That is why we have decided to warn our travelers to Germany. No matter how hard it might be for a visitor - in order to avoid worries and unpleasantries, they will have to pay attention to the (German) gag laws.
Similarly it is not wise to take along printed matter that might be legal in Canada, the USA and other countries but run counter to the laws of Germany."
It is sad this document had to be published, as we enter the third millennium - and visit the moon and Mars and explore the universe beyond - by the leaders of Trans-Canada Alliance of German Canadians. (TCA) Their address is 605-807 A Frederick Street, Kitchener, Ontario, N2B 2B5.
Have a pensive day!
Ingrid
Thought for the Day:
"We are healthy only to the extent that our ideas are humane."
(Kurt Vonnegut)