Yep, That'll Fix It: Berlin youths torching Porsches, BMWs over economy
French youth like to burn cars on New Year's - and they don't mind lighting a few the rest of the year, either. German youths apparently really get their "arson on" when the economy takes a dip, as it happens to be doing right now. According to Bloomberg, at least 29 luxury vehicles have gone up in flames in Berlin so far this year, instigated by "'youths across Europe who 'perceive their future as rather precarious'."
The torchings in Berlin have been centered on the nicer, gentrified areas of town like Prenzlauer Berg, where some residents feel they are being squeezed out to make room for the moneyed. There is even a group called BMW that is claiming responsibility for some of the fires, but this time the acronym stands for the Movement for Militant Resistance (auf Deutsch, naturlich).
If cars are going up in smoke so quickly right now, perhaps the real question is: What will the disgruntled turn to next when things get worse? The police have created a special unit to investigate the arson, since it's considered a political act, but the advice from a Berlin police commissioner is: "I wouldn't advise someone to park their Porsche on the street." Thanks for the tip, Eric!
[Source: Bloomberg | Image: Tigerhawk]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Stealth E34 8:08PM (2/27/2009)
James, in principle I agree with your sentiments about the influx of certain peoples and their extremist beliefs, particularly those from the Middle East.
The problem is that by casting them as "subhumans" and by suggesting we "warm up the ovens" you only serve to further ignite their hatred of our cultures and societies.
I agree completely that we must be vigilant to such a threat, and be prepared to confront our enemies wherever they come from (not just on the battlefields in Iraq and Afghanistan), however we cannot stoop to their level of, as you suggest "medieval" thought-processing. If they are indeed the "subhumans", then we must be the "humans" and stand above their ignorance.
I could digress and realize that your reply was most likely written somewhat in jest to prove a point, and in that case, I understand your argument. We just have to be careful not to appear as willing to resort to outright violence as they already are.
Instead we must occupy the center, push extremist ideologies to the outside and make them look stupid by taking the moral high ground. If this means laws to stamp out and make illegal such extremist Islamic beliefs, then so be it. It does not mean legalizing death squads to round up renegade elements and shoving them in ovens.
I recognize we are in the greatest ideological battle in decades, however we have learned from very recent history and must apply its lessons, less we end up in another World War: this time with nuclear weapons. We can win this fight by resolutely maintaining an iron fist of justice and by winning over our enemies with our determined willingness to stand above the forces that would rather drag us down to their unconscionable level.
/tangent over
Stealth E34 7:08PM (2/27/2009)
Why won't the media call the "youths" what they actually are?
Oh that's right, because the media is afraid those same "youths" will target them next. Especially with a name like "Movement for Militant Resistance". Resistance from what, domestic German automobiles? Or Western Imperialism?...
Anyone with even a passing knowledge of demographics in Europe will know to whom the term "youths" refers to. And to whom America and Canada should be prepared to confront next.
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Noidor 7:24PM (2/27/2009)
I'm about 50% with you...other part could be blamed on Eastern Germany where many are thinking that they'd be better off under Communism because then there would be jobs. Of course they don't understand that job in itself doesn't guarantee basic standard of living, but they're young, stupid, and ignorant of overall history of Communism.
In larger degree I think what will happen is that Germany being a surplus country will refuse to bailout debtor countries such as Spain for example. This in turn will create a run on the Euro currency and will lead to Germany going back to Deutsch Marks, and longer-term Euro will disappear.
In even larger scope, Europe will be so focused in helping out their own states through their remaining savings that they will stop lending money to world largest debtor that of course being the US. China will be too busy spending all its dollars on infrastructure, Middle East will be doing the same. Again this means decrease in flow of foreign investment into US. This means weaker dollar and higher interest rates. Our consumption will be dead, there will be no production base, nor will there be any demand for our exports. This in turn will put remaining nail into the coffin. Even the military-industrial-complex won't help.
So when Republicans and Democrats think that credit will somehow revive the country they forget the simple fact that consumption is a function of production, and creation of credit is a function of savings. US has none, and rest of the world is bleeding their savings into reviving their economies which got hurt because of US exporting its toxic debt.
In essence this means I won't be buying a stupid iPutz (iPhone or iPod) anytime soon!
the vegas style guy 7:25PM (2/27/2009)
You SO did not just try to sneak a racist diatribe past us did you? Why don't you take that crap somewhere else? Your type makes me burn! If you've got something to say, say it. You would love riots to break out here. And you'ld love it even more if dark skinned youth were the one's on the news.
You make me sick!
Sad part is, I bet you consider yourself a "Patriot" and a "Christian".
YOU ARE NEITHER!
Yeah my fellow Aiutobloggers, this really P*&$#D me off! I can't stand this blatant racism that won't even stand up and own the stupid statement! And don't give me the "you don't know what he meant, you're overreacting," crap! WE ALL KNOW WHAT HE MEANT!
What a freakin' coward!
You are no better than that mayor who sent out E-Cards with watermeloms instead of Easter Eggs on the White House lawn and then claimed, "I didn't know it was racist". What a load! Your comment makes no sense without the context of race baiting.
Stick to cars Bro! Or would you only be able to do that by usung the terms Frogs, guidos, Japs, etc.?
MajorGeek 7:27PM (2/27/2009)
@Vegas Style. Your in Vegas, get some drinks. Go to a brothel. Seriously.
the vegas style guy 7:37PM (2/27/2009)
MajorGeek 7:27PM (2/27/2009)
@Vegas Style. Your in Vegas, get some drinks. Go to a brothel. Seriously.
Dude, I said I was REALLY p%^$#d off by this. LOL!
As far as that brothel thing goes...have you ever seen a Nevada Brothel worker? No thanks! Hmm, the beer does sound good though!
RSR 12:17AM (2/28/2009)
Vegas,
I was about to agree with you until you started "Sad part is, I bet you consider yourself a "Patriot" and a "Christian"."
The very statement isn't any better than racism because you just inserted prejudice of your own there.
G-Meister 8:37AM (2/28/2009)
Vegas- Are you losing it over Noidors Putz reference, or do you think Stealth34 is pointing at an ethnic population of some kind?
tekd 11:05AM (2/28/2009)
So the United States should be wary of leftist anti-fascist groups? Because those are the people who torched the cars as symbols of capitalist excess.
Seriously, enough with the ridiculous bias.
Noz 12:06PM (2/28/2009)
People in the US are scared to death about socialist and social concepts. There is so much self-righteous and self-centered-ness here that God forbid anyone extend a helping hand anywhere. But of course, these same losers now want the government to step in and give them bailout money and handouts.
Razor 3:52PM (3/02/2009)
Right-on Stealth. I want to know why this is considered a protest and not a hate crime? Where I come from, you don't "protest" by destroying someone's private property.
MikeW 7:09PM (2/27/2009)
Dumbasses
Didn't Shakespeare said 'lets kill all the bankers!'
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lu1de 3:50AM (2/28/2009)
they are terrorists, aren't they?
Noz 12:07PM (2/28/2009)
LOL....yeah...everyone is a terrorist.
13enS 7:09PM (2/27/2009)
Nothing like roasting a brotworst over the open cab of a beemer!
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RedBull 1:03PM (2/28/2009)
Sorry to be an ass, but it's bimmer, not beemer or beamer.
http://www.bimmer5.com/bimmer-beamer-beemer-bmw.htm
13enS 8:59PM (2/28/2009)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linguistics
In my corner of the world, "bee em double ewes" have always been called just that, or "beemers" regardless of number of wheels. Even Leno and Clarkson have referred to them as such on their shows. (Although Jay seems to favor their full name.)
...have anything more official than some fanboy site, Red?
irocthief 7:20PM (2/27/2009)
crazy sand people
Reply
Jake B 7:23PM (2/27/2009)
It is hard to have a nice desert cruise these days for fear of attack by the sand people. Their war cries echo in my ears.
Jake B 7:25PM (2/27/2009)
LUKE: It looks like the sandpeople did it, all right. Look, there's gaffii sticks, bantha tracks, it's just, I never heard of them hitting anyhting this big before! BEN: They didn't, but we are meant to THINK they did. These tracks are side by side. Sandpeople always ride single file to hide their strength and numbers. LUKE: These are the same jawas who sold us Artoo and Threepio! BEN: And these blastpoints, too accurate for sandpeople. Only Imperial stormtroopers are this precise. LUKE: But, why would Imperial troops wanna slaughter jawas? (something dawns on him) If they traced the robots here, they'd know who they sold them to and that'd lead them back...HOME! BEN: (as LUKE charges to the landspeeder) Wait, Luke! It's too dangerous! (LUKE hauls outa there and speeds home to find a smoking wreck where the farm used to be. Panicked, he jumps out of the speeder) LUKE: UNCLE OWEN! AUNT BERU! UNCLE OWEN! (Then he finds their charred skeletons lying in the rubble)