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Is the media making Merkel a villain? Is she one?

[Deleted User]

The twice-married 'evangelical' chancellor yesterday spoke out against gay marriage, saying Germany would not be following Ireland's lead in holding a same-sex marriage referendum.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/angela-merkel-gay-marriage-vote-germany-10389762.html

“For me, personally, marriage is a man and a woman living together. That is my concept, but I support civil partnerships."

...Explaining further, the German leader said: "I don’t want discrimination and [I want] equality, but I make a difference at some point."

And today, the media have criticised Merkel for her response to a crying refugee girl

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-33555619

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is facing criticism over her treatment of a young refugee who had been threatened with deportation.
At a forum for young people, Mrs Merkel tells the Palestinian girl, Reem, that not all migrants can stay in Germany and "some will have to go home".
Mrs Merkel then strokes Reem, who is now crying, on the back.

Mrs Merkel replied that "politics can be tough", adding: "You are an extremely nice person but you also know that there are thousands and thousands of people in Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon."

Opinions?

I don't find Merkel's opinions on gay marriage at all defensible, and I think her attitiude to the crying refugee was well-intended, she was a bit too blunt and forthright.

What say ye? Is Merkel a villain, or is this a backlash following the dogged German approach to the Greek crisis?

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Comments

darkpagandeath

Christian Democratic Union of Germany ... What a shock.

efb

darkpagandeath wrote: »

Christian Democratic Union of Germany ... What a shock.

That was my first thought

Birneybau

I've never heard of an evil German.

Die Reem, die.

pauliebdub

She's very German, much more of a thinker rather than a feeler and comes across as being a bit cold and lacking empathy. She's very popular in Germany though and knows how to appeal to her electorate. I would never vote for someone as conservative as her but I don't think she's a monster either.

Fudge You

I hate the way some Irish people blame her, for what happened in Ireland in the last 7 years.

Merkel ya bleedin' scumbag!!!

Fudge You

pauliebdub wrote: »

She's very German, much more of a thinker rather than a feeler and comes across as being a bit cold and lacking empathy.

Youre very Irish.

Gatling

No repect for the woman she deserves the tags

Harry Palmr

You can tell she is an "Ost", watches every penny she does.

Buona Fortuna

pauliebdub wrote: »

She's very German, much more of a thinker rather than a feeler and comes across as being a bit cold and lacking empathy. She's very popular in Germany though and knows how to appeal to her electorate. I would never vote for someone as conservative as her but I don't think she's a monster either.

Her nudey pics were great

[Deleted User]

While I fully supported what happened in Ireland, I don't think she's a villain yet. I'd be interested in seeing how their civil partnerships compare.

Birneybau

Angela Merkel arrives in Athens
airport.
"Nationality?" asks the
immigration officer.
"German," she replies.
"Occupation?"
"No, just here for a few days."

JacquesDeLad

Strong female leaders are always resented by weak insecure men.

I wish it weren't true but it is.

darkpagandeath

JacquesDeLad wrote: »

Strong female leaders are always resented by weak insecure men.

I wish it weren't true but it is.

What's that got to do with Gay Marriage ? We cant criticise as she is female ?

sheesh

I think she is great!

Fudge You

JacquesDeLad wrote: »

Strong female leaders are always resented by weak insecure men.

I wish it weren't true but it is.

Are you talking through your big hoop???
I have no idea what are you on about...

Is it ok for other females to resent her???

Are females insecure, if they resent strong male leaders??? See how silly this question sounds?

Gatling

JacquesDeLad wrote: »

Strong female leaders are always resented by weak insecure men.

I wish it weren't true but it is.

Wonder how the population of Ukraine see her

steddyeddy

My supervisor met her as foreign secretary of a scientific society and said she's actually a very warm lady. I admire her because she's a strong leader and a very clever scientist.

Where she falls down is her tendency to exhibit the German malady of blaming every country for their own misfortune without applying the same rules to Germany.

mikom

JacquesDeLad wrote: »

Strong female leaders are always resented by weak insecure men.

I'd like to hear you say that out loud in a Derbyshire pub.

Taxburden carrier

I,for one ,welcome our new insect overlords.

The_Valeyard

She isnt the worst German leader ever and she likes beer.

darkpagandeath

:pac:

steddyeddy

mikom wrote: »

I'd like to hear you say that out loud in a Derbyshire pub.

Or Sheffield or Durham

Jon Stark

JacquesDeLad wrote: »

Strong female leaders are always resented by weak insecure men.

I wish it weren't true but it is.

Yeah that's it, you've got it spot on.

mikom

steddyeddy wrote: »

Or Sheffield or Durham

He wouldn't make it out of the first one.....

JacquesDeLad

steddyeddy wrote: »

Where she falls down is her tendency to exhibit the German malady of blaming every country for their own misfortune without applying the same rules to Germany.

In that respect she is correct and everyone knows that uncomfortable truth behind the political smiles.

Her opinion on same sex marriage scares people because of the power she is perceived to wield.

Frau Merkel is no threat to SSM. Don't be so scared of the Isern Kanzlerin.

[Deleted User]

JacquesDeLad wrote: »

Strong female leaders are always resented by weak insecure men.

I presume, because of the reference to SSM, you're talking about gay men?

Well Margaret Thatcher, who is probably the epitome of a strong female leader, was probably the closest thing the conservative party has had to a gay icon... more because of her image than her politics, of course. Not that gay men can't be macho, but I think that's what you're getting at.

Gay or straight, I find leaders like that are more beloved among socially-awkward, mid-ranking bespectacled civil servants than, say, coal miners ...

JacquesDeLad

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

I presume, because of the reference to SSM, you're talking about gay men?

You don't have to be gay to think SSM is a good thing but perhaps I was being sexist in suggesting that only men feared her influence.

Apologies.

Tony EH

Merkel is just a common or garden European Conservative.

TallGlass

Was only looking at Germany yesterday and the funking size of the country its huge.

ben.schlomo

Shes been an astonishingly successful Chancellor in Germany, admirable.