Where there is smoke, there is fire...

Germany is finally about to join most of the rest of the western world in passing bans on smoking in public places. From an American perspective you might wonder why it has taken them so long to get there. Viewed from within the country, this long development gives you the opportunity to observe something typical of life in Germany: the laborious struggle to decide to change something.

This struggle not only permeates the public sphere; it is an essential part of private life and private relationships as well. Perhaps are trying to change something at work, with friends, or with a government office. When you first announce your desires, chances are the answer you will immediately get will be some variation of, “no that is impossible.” Or perhaps you will hear, “that will be very difficult and uncertain, so I can’t promise you anything, though I will try.” This is the beginning of a sort of opera, for here the battling begins; discussions, arguments, debates, very heated exchanges, and even accusations can all come on stage as the parties involved hash it out and at several times during the whole process declare that nothing will ever come of this. Then, suddenly, out of the blue something happens, and all parties suddenly come to an agreement and in no time consensus and harmony is everywhere, where only a few days ago all looked hopeless.

This song was sung at the beginning of attempts to introduce a smoking ban in Germany. Officials and restaurant owners announced that this is simply impossible. Period. And the debate started. For months, even for over a year, the government has been tossing and turning, discussing, debating, arguing on and on to no end, with several media announcements in the meantime suggesting that the government is powerless before the tobacco lobby. Then, about a week ago, results of a study were published stating that the air in bars, clubs, and discos is often so thick with smoke that it exceeds allowed pollution standards for cities in Europe – in other words, if those levels of micro-particles were present in Leipzig city air, Leipzig would suffer stiff federal fines and have to change things immediately. And so on Friday Berlin suddenly agreed to sweeping changes that will ban all smoking in all public places – any exceptions will require special individual approval. After over a year of debating, mud-slinging, and arguing, harmony and consensus has emerged seemingly out of nowhere.

I really enjoy this, because it is fascinating to try to wager when the consensus will appear. You see, this process also happens in your private life here, too. You may have a disagreement with someone, and while the relationship goes on, the topic comes up again and again and is debated and seems stuck in the mud. Then, suddenly, a breakthrough happens and a solution is found.
I often think this is a manifestation of a good German quality – taking things seriously. So issues, relationships, everything is thought through more (than in the USA at least) and discussed more, and it is important, if you live here, that you show by your actions that you also take the matter seriously.
But looking at it from a different perspective, in America you have probably heard that whoever takes himself too seriously makes himself the object of many jokes. Or, seen for a perspective this side of the Rhine, when the smoke is puffing in matters, you know the people are on fire for something – where there is smoke, there is fire.

Would you like some Danish with your coffee?

Election campaigns are beginning to heat up in the USA, so soon the obligatory pie fights will start – those attempts to find something in the opponent’s past (or, better yet, present) allegedly making him/her morally and ethically unfit for office. In view of this approaching media event, I thought I would cast my glance northward from me to a small country far away from international limelight – Denmark.
Skandinavia has long been known for it’s tolerance – perhaps a function of Kierkegaard’s „Fear and Trembling?“ The Danes responded carefully to the caricature fiasco last year, insisting that they cannot compromise freedom of expression. Denmark was also the first country in the world to allow pornography to be openly sold, so we see they mean business about freedom of expression.
Denmark is an interesting land with a small population and a strong protestant fundamentalist tradition on the west coast. Yet in the metropolitan areas elected politicians are open about their past or lifestyle. A representative in the Danish parliament openly cites her homosexuality positively and has always openly admitted her earlier profession – an actress in pornography. And, she represents a right-wing party and has not suffered politically or in any other way from these facts.
Denmark may be riding the crest of the wave, but other nations are not far away. In Germany at least two mayors – Hamburg and Berlin – are openly gay and suffer no negative consequences, and the leader of one of the major political parties in Germany has been openly gay for a number of years with no negative repercussions at all.
These examples help me realize that nations today cannot be a religious-based enterprise. Europe has tried to do that and failed completely. And, I certainly don’t think the Bible wants us to erect a physical political Kingdom of God here on earth – His Kingdom is not of this earth…
So what is the real question? Is a person who is homosexual or a previous actor in pornography not fit per se for a political office? Yet the Washington politician who has his sweet young thing in a nice Washington suburb is perfectly fit for office? To what extent is a person’s present or previous profession or lifestyle a litmus test for suitability for office? The homosexual mayors and party leaders in Germany are highly respected competent politicians guiding some of the more cosmopolitan cities of the world. If only religious organizations have a say in answering this question of suitability for office, then we haven’ moved that far away from the fusion of church and state, which only caused problems in medieval Europe.

Taxing Moral Imperatives in a Glass of Wine

Thank you, Aggie, for your latest comment, for you have called my attention to the moral imperative: keeping communication open. But let me add that I have been very busy (yes, haven’t we all?) lately. I have taken on two new classes, removing about 4 hours per week of free time from my schedule, and giving me more money in return. I have also been translating more for psychiatry – especially difficult was an article on rheumatoid arthritis – 18 pages of intricate text on complicated statistical formulas to ascertain the cost benefits ratios for early detection and treatment of this ailment. And I have been meeting friends a little more often, seeing them for the first time after my weeks in Texas.

And finally, I have also been bringing things up to par with my tax accountant. German tax law is probably the most complicated in the world. But I have figured out the system here –I think. You surf on the crest of tax laws, riding the waves and hopping off them onto other waves so that you get the most for your goals out of each wave (law). Is this moral – speaking of moral imperatives? I don’t think anyone here cares. And the tax laws are so complex that any singular strand of ethics or morals gets tangled into oblivion by the contortions of all the exceptions and stipulations for the law. For instance, did you know that in Germany if you have an office in your residence, using it as a tax write off, of course, you are not allowed to have a bed or any objects in that office that do not directly pertain to the running of your business? That includes books, CDs, a television, etc. But decoration and ambiance to make clients feel comfortable is allowed. So, you may have a coffee maker and a small refrigerator to offer clients refreshments, but a hot plate or small stereo system – no. You can even write off fresh cut flowers for a vase! Europeans love ambiance! But wait. If the ministry – like the IRS in the USA – comes to inspect your office, they are required by law to make an appointment. So, if it should be the case that your office perhaps might not conform in any way to the law, you have time to prepare the stage for the visit. Interesting system they have here. Whereas in the USA we often have standard deductions, in Germany the system tries to take a lot of money away from you, and it is your job (often through your tax accountant) to use the laws to get as much of the money back as possible buy reducing your taxable income hopefully down to zero. For 2005 I had to pay in a whopping 25 Euros – amazing, but there is a huge bound notebook full of journals, calculations, and spread sheets documenting all the bookkeeping proving this.

Finally, I’m so drained from all the new classes and translation that I haven’t been getting out on the town much. Tomorrow – Saturday – I hope that will change. I plan to go to the cinema in the evening. Don’t yet know which film will find my favour. Any suggestions?
Finally, you’ve certainly noticed I have no pictures. There is a reason. When I was in Prague at the end of October, my digital camera was stolen – I think I know where, but I can’t prove it. So, in Texas I bought a new one, but I am having difficulty with some of the software, and I just haven’t taken the time to iron the matter out. I ask for no sympathy, just that you humour me with my affected little “me the victim” soliloquy. So, I’ll continue drinking my glass of Dornfelder German red wine and greet the approaching weekend…