Well, one thing that is odd is that I'm under 40. I didn't mention this though. But I did grow up in the Canal Zone and have a colonial/imperial perspective on the issue of national arrogance.
Hearing that someone's grandfather was a vet is quite common, yes. And the number is 16 million. That said, most of them are dead now. So these days, for someone like myself - barely thirty - it is, in fact, quite uncommon to run across a living WWII veteran. I never have, and neither has anyone I know. I assume things are different for people in older generations. In other news, the sky is blue.
And yes, I am well aware that the father mentioned lived in Germany. Not only did I pay attention in history class, I can also read.
Is there some reason you're being condescending?
Re:Getting to Know Americans
by burgerbrain on Monday April 04, 2011 @02:19PM
(#2407789)
"Not only did I pay attention in history class, I can also read."
"Is there some reason you're being condescending?"
Are you fucking serious?
I was asking someone else a question about their story, and you respond by acting like I've grown a second head for being curious, and giving me a definition of a basic term related to the discussion.
So, yes. Yes I am being serious.
Re:Getting to Know Americans
by burgerbrain on Monday April 04, 2011 @03:06PM
(#2408019)
The worst part is I think you don't even get it.
"You certainly don't hear about the German veterans of WWII in America all that much."
"My girlfriend is German and lives in Berlin."
I am under the strong impression that her father lives in Germany....
EDIT: Furthermore: "The total number of soldiers who served in the Wehrmacht during its existence from 1935-1945 is believed to have approached 18.2 million." With numbers like that, this hardly seems like such a particularly odd occurrance.