One thing that has spawned from US/German contact is the creation of many jokes about the others. These jokes often rely on stereotypes, history, culture and language differences. Americans are portrayed as stupid, fat, and loud in many German jokes, while Germans are often portrayed as Nazis, or very cold and mechanical in American jokes. During my travels I have been collecting jokes from various cultures. Some of the most amusing come from the East/West German split. an excellent example of this is the following: A reporter is doing street interviews in occupied Berlin. First he encounters an American and asks, "What is your opinion of the meat shortage?" The American has terrible German, so he asks, "Meat? what is Meat?" The reporter gets frustrated and moves on. Next the reporter tries to interview a West German. The reporter asks,"What is your opinion of the meat shortage?" The West German says, "shortage? What's a shortage?" The reporter gets frustrated and moves on. Next he encounters an East German. He asks, "What is your opinion of the meat shortage?" The East German replies, "Opinion?"
-Erik
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