German Politics: Somehow, we are missing the boat.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

"RANDOM GERMAN MUSING #1:

Gay Pride usually takes place around the globe in June of each year -- to roughly correspond with the historical Drag Queens-versus-NYPD street brawl of 1969 that is pegged as the start of the modern gay liberation movement.

Except in South Florida, where the large Pride festival takes place in February (because the organizers like the weather better in February). Then again, we're talking about Florida here -- and these people haven't even learned how to count correctly -- so why should we expect them to get ANYTHING right these days?

Anyways ... getting back to Germany. Thus, it was a major surprise to be wandering around the pedestrian shopping streets of the historic section of Frankfurt on the waning hours of a Sunday afternoon in late July -- and to accidentally come across the city's gay pride fest. There was lots to eat and drink at the various booths -- so long as what you wanted was sausages and beer. Most entertaining was the musical group performing on the main stage when we walked up: a four-piece band -- in various combinations of drag and traditional Lederhosen. A trumpet player, a trombone player, a tuba player, and a tall drag queen in a bad Marilyn Monroe platinum blond wig strumming a banjo. "Marilyn" was also the lead singer for this drag disco/jazz/oom-pah-pah combo. And what did they close their set with? A unique version of disco diva Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive" -- raspy, deep singing set to brass instruments and a pulsing, Germanic, tuba oom-pah-pah backbeat!

Trust me, you'd get it if you were German."

http://www.politics1.com/germany2002.htm

Read the page. ;-)

[sui generis]

1. I can't figure out if this is a paean of love

for us krauts or a statement of vast superiority over those bizarre bratwurst eating beer sucking lederhosen wearing genital piercing CHERMANS. It is ze chermans you know, but you voot get it if you ver cherman.

I loves me Bayern - all hail Oktoberfest in Munich! Will be there with Mr. Sui in October.

;)

[mwwittin]

2. I think this is good

I think the first one is happy with it but confused.

Yes, the gay pride events are very big. Frankfurt, Berlin, Mannheim, they are all good.

Sui generis, the Muenchen Oktoberfest is too crowded with too many tourists, like Bad Durkheim wine fest. It is great but not authentic anymore. Stuttgart has a very good Oktoberfest and it is not so bad with tourists. I like the Americans to come for this, but sometimes it is too much, nicht wahr?

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

3. Having been in Munich for Oktoberfest...

Back in '82, doing a show there with Duran Duran, I can attest to the rather unsophisticated behavior of both Americans and British.

I didn't get to drink even one beer, the whole time I was there. But I did see some swinish behavior.

[sui generis]

5. it's usually bad news that makes the news

not all Americans and Brits are unsophisticated pigs but the rest of us do bear the burden of our loutish brethren. They're usually okay once they sober back up, and to be fair I have seen my fair share of us krauts, semi-krauts, quarter krauts, and octaroon-krauts exhibiting extraordinary behavior under the influence.

[sui generis]

4. actually, I will be in Landshut nearby with my family

German beer is good wherever you have it, but I am coming late and so will wait until the fest closes to get over to the Franziskaner in downtown München for some bratwurst. I am so looking forward to it, and fewer tourists.

[Mairead]

6. Ein Weinfest im Mosel-Gebiet (*Seufzer*)

Was sich zu erinnern. (*Riesenseufzer*)