Kultur 9

The certificates article reminds me of a drama in Spring Festival gala evening several years ago. The story is pretty simple. One day, the main character went shopping for the festival and forgot his key. So he asked the locksmith to break the lock for him but he got a "sorry". The locksmith asked for his identity proof but he left all the documentaries at home and could not get them without the key. So he asked the officer of the property to prove his identity. Then he received another "sorry" because he also needed the character's documentaries. Eventually, the character broke the door on his own regardless of their resistance, and showed them a pile of documentaries that can prove his identity. One word that impressed me is "I have been alive for 40 years but now I am not an identified living people without those stupid documentaries?"

The certificates  obsession does have its advantage, especially in the world where almost everything relies on computer and Internet. Once the computer system falls down, we would lose all the data, including our identities. Paper documentaries can avoid this situation efficiently, as long as we file and store them organically and properly. However, as mentioned in the article, the inconvenience arises from the obsession can be problematic, too. From my perspective, certificates are important, but should be used flexibly. Otherwise, people would be too scared to move into Germany since they might consider themselves as "uncertified or unidentified". And they might not be able to check out the "idiot's guide to resume writing" simply because they forget their certificate for reading ability, if this certificate exists.

Also, the flag article interests me. I know that many german people are still afraid of Nazi and cannot let it go. They try to prevent it from coming back. But I did not expect the severeness. As for me, every country has its own dark past. We should not forget it, and we must learn from it. But it does not mean that we cannot love it any more. Our country is always our country, regardless how awful it used to be. Love it and make it better.