Amerika

Wow! I am sensing a lot of bitterness here. Let me just say first of all that this is NOT an anti-American song. Rather, it is against what we are turning into. I am a proud American serviceman and an amateur historian. I would like to say a few things here and please remember that it is just my view. First, the Germans did NOT start WWII. There were a lot of factors leading up to it. Some of them we don't like to admit, but the fact is that many nations had a part in creating the climate that led to the Nazi party's rise and aggression. The Nazis were indeed German, but the Germans were not all Nazis. This is very important to remember. We cannot simply blame all the evil that occurred in WWII on the Germans. To do so would be as incorrect as it would be irresponsible. Every nation had it's share of atrocities in the war. And my fellow Americans, remember that we too have a very dark chapter in our past. Just ask the Cherokee or any of the other hundreds of tribes that were victims of one of histories worst genocides. Second, we as Americans need to stop taking offense every time someone else disagrees with us. Instead, stop and listen. We may just learn something. We have forgotten what America is really about. America is as much an idea as it is a nation. It is the idea that all men are created equal. The idea that we all are entitled to our own beliefs, not just Americans, but everyone. We are forgetting what America means and we cannot afford that. This song is telling us what we are turning into. Instead of accepting others for who they are and what they believe, we now think that they need to be just like us. This is not right. It destroys other cultures and is an anti-American belief. I am not saying that we can't stand up for the oppressed, just that we should not force our beliefs on others. It is all of humanities responsibility to fight for the oppressed and those who cannot fight for themselves, but that is where our responsibility ends. What they do after is there decision not ours. America used to be similar to switzerland in that we were neutral in world affairs. We would step in if there was a true atrocity being committed but that was it. Needless to say our policy has changed since those days. I love America, but I am scared of what we are slowly turning into. Please, do not forget what America really is. It is tolerance, compassion, free will, and above all it does not judge others. I have done quite a bit of traveling and what I have come to realize is that culture is one of the worlds greatest treasures. As Americans we don't really see other cultures. Most Americans never leave the country and if they do it is very limited. When you do visit another nation, try to blend in and absorb the local culture. At least make an effort to speak the local language. To visit another nation and just expect them to speak english is an insult. Imagine someone coming to your town who doesn't even make an effort to speak english. You would be insulted. We have all heard someone say "your in America now, learn english!". Well it works both ways. I see a lot of American tourists who act as if America rules the world and all other nations should respect that. That is so far from actuality. We all work together and mutual respect is essential to the worlds well-being. That is what Rammstein is getting at. I may be wrong and I am not asking you to accept what I say as truth, just that you think about it. Oh, and please pick up a copy of the constitution and the declaration of independence and read it. That is America and we cannot afford to forget it.

This song reminds me of something Jawaharlal Nehru (India's first Prime Minister) once said: "Dealing with America, you have two choices: you either accept the authority of the Pentagon and lose your freedom, or the authority of Hollywood and lose your culture". That's what this song meant to me.

The song always seemed to be more about a protest of the spread of American culture, than an outright anti-American song to me.. which makes a lot of sense, because as McDonalds and Coca Cola go across the entire globe, regional cultures and traditions are slowly being erased. In Italy for example, teh Fiesta or whatever it was called (I forget the name unfortunately), where everyone takes a break at around 4 pm to go out, is becoming less and less frequent.

Likely countless other examples could be used, and while I agree with the song ,blaming America for it isn't right since there's nothign stopping an 80 year old man in the Phillipines from buying ethnic food over McDonalds.

it`s just critic on globalisation. they are not really blaming us-people, they are blaming the usa in the same way as they are blaming the countries that adopt american culture. ... ok in fact, i realize, they blame america but not only them ...

This song talks about americas products being all over the place, here we see NONE of our own products, it's all made in china, and literally says, made in china, it gets rather annoying.

Although this song in itself is against the spread of American culture to other countries, I don't think it should be taken too personally by Americans themselves and I don't think people should assume the song is bashing Americans or their culture. Every country has it's own culture, but a lot of people within the culture are interested with foreign cultures as well. Everybody probably has a friend who is (or are themselves) very interested in Japanese, Russian, German, or any other culture to the point that they are obsessed. Every country has that. The problem this song brings up is that America is a very strong nation politically and economically, so their products and culture ends up being the most accessible foreign culture in other countries and a lot of the youth emulate the American culture to the point of rejecting their own. This in itself is bad for nationalism and social structures within the countries. It also causes gaps in societies and breaks down the group solidarity, since the national image of a country fades away. I think this song is more of a warning to the people within the countries to remember their culture and strive to keep their national image to keep their country independent and strong, rather than telling Americans how horrible they are either individually or en masse. It really is up to the individual if they will buy into American culture or not. Although, speaking on a National level when it does come to war... it would be nice if America would quit threatening economic disasters to countries who don't want to join them in their battles. Seriously, the connection with the missile defence system and Canadian cattle being banned is still very suspicious. Especially since the mad cow here was from America.

And of course: "Coca Cola, sometimes war" In my opinion Rammstein trys to say that the Americans do whatevery they want to. Good mood "hey lets drink some coke" and when they have bad mood: "hey lets attack some country" some shit like that.

Ok, I'm done now.

Comments please :)

another anti-american anthem... gotta love it.

another anti-american anthem... gotta love it ;]

i hav nothing against you american people, but against your government, which is what this song opposes to sorry for the bad english

This is an anti-American song: America is the world's cop, influences the whole world with it's products and decadency etc. Well this is at least what this song means (I think ;))

And I really like it. Not because I hate America. I just like the song, especially the chorus, starting with some words in English, then continuing in German (We're all living in Amerika). Excuse me for my bad English, it's not my language