Flag as sign of reconciliation?
One of the most interesting phenomena we’ve observed recently in Berlin was the World Cup soccer championship, which was hosted this summer by Germany. It was interesting not because I’m such a big fan of soccer, which I’m not (I know little about sports at all, as one can tell by my waistline), but because of the surprising shock waves spread throughout the city by the flags.
Steve & Lisa Smith – Germany
One of the most interesting phenomena we’ve observed recently in Berlin was the World Cup soccer championship, which was hosted this summer by Germany. It was interesting not because I’m such a big fan of soccer, which I’m not (I know little about sports at all, as one can tell by my waistline), but because of the surprising shock waves spread throughout the city by the flags.
As Americans we may not find such stirring significance in flying our flag – especially during international sports competitions. For Germans it’s a different matter. Flying the national flag has been a bit of a sore spot; it reminds them all too much of their Nazi past. But now as flags of all kinds of nations were suddenly being flown throughout Germany, many German sports fans wanted to demonstrate their love of their team as well. So quickly German flags appeared everywhere, magnetized to cars, hanging out windows, plastered on all kinds of commercial products – people were drawing the colors on their faces!
All at once the topic of conversation around each table was the flag. What does it mean that they are being flown again? Are we becoming more nationalistic again? Isn’t it interesting that these fears are coming to the surface? What will happen after the World Cup finals and everyone goes home? Germans were naval gazing like crazy! Radio, TV, magazines, Internet – not only busy with trying to determine which really is the best soccer team – but what does the flying of the flag mean?
After the World Cup ended, I heard time and time again that people felt this had been a very positive experience for Germany. Unexpectedly it set in motion a process of recovering and healing — reconciliation with the past has begun to be seen. This is a greatly needed quality for the society. Germans will never forget what happened in the 1930s and 1940s here and throughout the world, but there comes a time when one needs to commit to a healing process and relax and let life recover a joyful character. Forgiveness is important for experiencing joy.
The flags are gone now. You see them only in the same places you saw them before the World Cup – but people still talk about how wonderful it was to have the event here, about the people they met and the fun they had. Even though the German team lost in soccer, they won something far greater than can be measured – they won a piece of heaven in steps toward reconciliation between their past and present!
Do you think God plays soccer?
Lisa Smith
From DisciplesWorld: Germany’s top Jewish leader urges more patriotism
Steve and Lisa Smith serve with the Evangelical Church of the Union (EKU), in the Berlin-Brandenburg region, Germany. Steve serves on the Ecumenical Council of Churches on behalf of the region. Lisa serves as assistant to the commissioner for migrant issues. They also provide lay training in the church region.