And the (nasty) word is...

This morning I realized something with great shock as I listened to the news in German.  As with any language in this time of globalization, there is a constant influx of foreign words that become part of everyday discourse.  In German the words that come from American culture stand out starkly; clear words poking up like islands amidst a sea of strange sounds: "das T-Shirt, das computer, das hot dog".   Even if you don't know which items from home have become international,  you can learn just by keeping your ears open.  

So it was with a cold chill that I heard in the language coming from the nation that gave us Hitler and the most brutal government in our memory, the line: "Der Ausschuss befasst sich mit Waterboarding."  Along with films, pharses, technical lingo that are unmistakable gifts from America, we now have an American torture technique with our unmistakable name on it. Thanks, Mr. Bush.

How wonderful it will be to once again feel my nation giving to the world words I can be proud to call American, like: democracy,dialog, dignity, respect!