Antimilitarism in Germany

German author Juli Zeh discusses German antimilitarism In Le Monde newspaper: "Anyone in Germany who wants to write a book or shoot a film about the army has to opt for humour. The screenplay should not be too dramatic, and the end must not be too tragic! ... The American G.I. ... represents the fantastically-equipped superpower. The German private, by contrast, is always a comedian. Why? Because satire is the only way we have of understanding the military in today's Germany. For the large majority of artists, writers and intellectuals, the army remains taboo. ... When I was at school, antimilitarism was de rigeur. ... Only dummkopfs did military service. ... Anyone who went to grammar school was an 'intellectual', and anyone considered an intellectual was a Leftist, and being a Leftist meant being against the army. ... I have now passed the age when it is enough just to be for world peace. In contrast to when I was at school, and after visiting Bosnia, I can no longer see any sense in fulminating against the army, which is ultimately a constitutional institution, and a tragic one at that. Which does not mean I think all foreign deployments are immune to criticism."

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