Cheering against everyone

Something that is new to me, here in the middle of the World Cup, is triumphant driving. When a team wins, its fans hop in their cars, drape their national flags out the windows, and drive around Berlin honking. (Actually, the Brasilian fans start the driving before the first half of the game is even over--I saw this.)

When Germany wins, as you can imagine, the triumphant driving reaches its apex (see picture--this kid was in a car with what seemed to be his entire family, driving a circut around Kreuzberg). Groups of flag-drapped teenagers stand on the street corners and cheer for the passing cars. This lasts for at least 3 hours after a game. It's legal to drink in public here, something that generally improves the quality of life, I think, but I'm also seeing lately why legal public boozing isn't always such a bonus.

I've become annoyed by this nationalistic driving and am now openly cheering against Germany. Apparently everyone's quite surprised at the extent of the flag-waving in Germany (where since mid Century a lot of people have been very critical of nationalism); it's called the "new patriotism" and the new Bundeskanzlerin said it was OK. But I just read a lot of books about nationalism and now I a) am sick of nationalism and b) think it's almost never a good thing, no matter the country (and of course, c) know it was mostly made up in the 19th Century.)

Anyway, a lot of people in Berlin are critical of the nationalism, the triumphant patriotic driving, and other associated things (like capitalism). Hence the poster pictured, which calls for Germany to lose in pool play (sadly too late) to stop the honking, drinking, and love for the "Fatherland." Note that it's the FIFA logo, except the faces are frowning. Frowning on capitalism!