A little comment on the "racist remarks on Italians in German newspapers": To me it seems that it was a media hype in Italy only. Italian media seemingly picked up the Spiegel online apostille (or was there something else?) and soon the hole thing got blown out of proportions. In Germany, from what I noticed, there was no Italian bashing going on, just the usual teasing you have during international football tournaments. Italy was not a special target of the media, there were some jokes ok, but no more jokes than on the English or Dutch or else. I did not read about anti-Italian rants after the match Italy-Australia nor after the match Germany-Italy or Italy-France in the German media. MY impression is, that it really was a one-sided baggy affair. I was surprised when I heard of the complaints about the German media from the Italian side for the first time and even Italian players mentioning it. Again, this was no issue in Germany.
As I have said before, because of the many Italian-Germans here it was derby time with a lot of rivalry involved but there was nothing that got over the top.
The article on Spiegel online which obviously was the bone of contention was a satire indeed. It contained all the stereotypes that exist on Italians in a very exaggerated and silly way, so that you can say, the joke is actually on the Germans who think that way. I did not understand why Aaken posted the article here. What did he expect? That people feel responsible for every nonsense written by any newspaper ? Who cares. I did not write that thing, not my problem. Who says that I share the authors point of view or that the author expresses the prevailing opinion in Germany?
It would have been better to sent a complaint to Spiegel online instead, if you feel insulted. Others did that by the way. When I read the article after Aaken had drawn my attention to it, there was an editorial note in Italian that due to the many protests the phrase "a parasite lifeform" had been taken out.
To my experience, it is very difficult to get the irony or satirical aspects when you read a text in a language other than your own, even if you speak the language very well, because you have to read between the lines and to see phrases in the context of the whole text to get the authors intention. "Parasite" was obviously not meant as a true statement to be taken literally but as a satirical statement "stays at Hotel Mama until he gets married". The choice of words was probably not the best. Sometimes there are apparently serious statements that are funny or intended to be funny because of the context they are made in, here Totti after he scored the penalty against Australia imitating a child sucking its thumb. I like Totti's humour. I heard people in Italy made a lot of jokes about him not being the smartest guy which made him release a book with Totti jokes which was a smart move.
Personally I think, the article was no good satire. I have read better stuff. Mind you, the guy who wrote it, artist name "Achim Archilles" is a guest writer who writes from the philosophical point of view of an "Iron man" (marathon runner-swimmer-cyclist), if that is possible, so I guess he has that kind of humour of that Sergeant Hartmann in "Full metal jacket".
What I did not like, was the chorus of whistles when the Italian anthem was played.
This was probably a reaction towards the lamenting from Italy about German verbal foulplay for which people had little understanding because here it appeared to be over-dramatised like a Wagner opera and there was no reason at all to turn it into a affair of state. But again, this does not excuse the whistles. I understand that.
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