Is it my imagination, or is Austria the only country in the world in which

[Joe Chi Minh]

Obama's election victory was not greeted with enthusiasm? I've just looked on Google and all I found were a group of people on a small bridge in the country.

[Clio the Leo]

1. I dont recall seeing a victory parade in Afghanistan. NT

[Joe Chi Minh]

4. Well, I think it more likely to occur in due course, than under a Republican presidency.

[rockymountaindem]

2. Considering their love for Haider, it might be

Although I don't want to tar the whole people with a broad brush.

[Joe Chi Minh]

3. I think you're right on both points, but it doesn't reflect well on the country, generally, it.

seems to me.

[JVS]

8. Well I'm going to have to come to Austria's defense for a moment.

The reason that Austrian politicians who are world famous are RWers is that nobody pays enough attention to Austria to notice their run of the mill politicians who are just fine. It's like how nobody knows much about Singapore except for them caning people. The fact that the only way an Austrian politician can even enter the world stage is by saying something ridiculously wingnutty has the inevitable effect of giving Austria a bad rap.

[Alexander]

5. I've noticed Austria still has some Nazi problems.

It was never really "de-Nazified" after World War II.

The most notable politicians out of Austria recently were Kurt Waldheim, Arnie and Jorg Haider - all three of whom spoke fondly of Hitler at one point.

I had an Austrian film teacher once. She said that Nazi sympathy is such a problem there, that they take all schoolchildren on field trips to visit the old concentration camps.

[Joe Chi Minh]

9. I've read that it was still a problem there, but not the interesting details

you provided.

[nsd]

6. Here's one indication of Obama love in Austria.

link

Suddenly, it may be cool to be an American again

By WILLIAM J. KOLE
Wed Nov 5, 2:58 pm ET

VIENNA, Austria – She was a stranger, and she kissed me. Just for being an American.

It happened on the bus on my way to work Wednesday morning, a few hours after compatriots clamoring for change swept Barack Obama to his historic victory. I was on the phone, and the 20-something Austrian woman seated in front of me overheard me speaking English.

Without a word, she turned, pecked me on the cheek and stepped off at the next stop.

Nothing was said, but the message was clear: Today, we are all Americans.

(more)

[Joe Chi Minh]

11. I remember reading that, and think I may even have mentioned it on DU.

If I noticed it was in Austria, I'd obviously forgotten. Sometimes negative generalisations are bound to be unfair to many who are exceptions.

[JVS]

7. You know how people say that Bavaria is Germany's Texas. Well, Austria (outside of Vienna) would...

be kind of like if Texas had had a twin who wasn't in the country and took advantage of that fact to do its own thing.

[dbmk]

10. So..

..because you can't find pictures or stories on the internet about celebrations in Austria, something must be wrong with the country?

[Joe Chi Minh]

13. With its political complexion. Yes. I was particularly sickened tor read the dismissive

comments of one or two cynical, local villagers about a man who, to me, was probably the greatest hero of Christianity since the Apostles: Fanz Jaegerstetter, a farm laburer and local church sexton, after a fairly dissolute youth.

He vocally denounced Hitler and persisted to the end, knowing he was to be guillotined. His bishop, evidently more than compliant with the regime, of all kites and crows, accused him of being proud! Also, he left behind a young wife and two small daughters to continue living under the Hitler regime. To me, that consititutes a level of courage and faith and I can barely bring myself to contemplate.

I would like to see a great shrine built in Austria in his honour, and every pope make a personal pilgrimage to it. Maybe each year. Austria produced Hitler, but it also produced Jaegerstetter, of whom few people know anything.

[NoPasaran]

12. They're taking a look and see attitude

Waiting to see if, unlike W, Obama knows that Austria and Australia are different countries.