Munich and the Upcoming Election
US Voters, there is still time...
I realize my recent posts on our European road trip have been a bit helter-skelter.1 However, today I want to share some thoughts from our visit to Munich and to once again encourage US citizens to vote!
Munich…First Impressions
We only spent two nights in Munich, but we enjoyed every minute. Located in south-eastern Germany, Munich is the third largest city in Germany with about 1.6 million people. There was a noticeable, upscale energy we felt throughout our visit. Perhaps it is the fact that it has been rated among the world’s most liveable cities, has the highest standard of living in Germany, or that nearly 30% of its population are immigrants.2 Perhaps it is that it is a global center for science, technology, business, and Oktoberfest!
As is our custom, we signed up for a free walking tour on our first morning. Our guide Philipp is an architect turned tour guide. As one might expect, the tour was “church-heavy” but along the way, he pointed out things we would have missed. For example, do you see anything different about the painting on the ceiling of the church above?
Look closer…it turns out the architects of this church were also painters and sculptors. Yes, a three-dimensional foot extends from the painted ankle on top of the decorative cornice.
We also got a glimpse into Munich’s street art scene…
But most memorable for me was our visit to the spot below.
Philipp explained that to circumvent a point in the city where homage to Hitler was required, people used to duck down this street. However, inside the arch just past the one marked Clarins were SS agents taking notes. Perhaps a night-time visit to a home may be in order followed by a trip “out of town”.
I learned a lot about the rise of Hitler, his unspeakable acts, and WWII during our summer trip.3 It turns out Hitler garnered 37% of the vote in 1932…a minority but enough for German President Paul von Hindenburg to appoint him Chancellor.
Hindenburg appointed Hitler to this position as the result of a political deal. Certain conservative politicians convinced President Hindenburg to make the appointment. They wanted to use the Nazi Party’s popularity for their own purposes. They mistakenly believed that they could control Hitler. — Holocaust Museum
Quickly, with the help of the rich businessmen, he consolidated power:
De Jong tells how the rise of the Nazis was initially met with skepticism and contempt by many business leaders but some discovered it could be very profitable.
Ferdinand Porsche convinced Hitler to put the Volkswagen Beetle into production. The company thrived under his son, Ferry Porsche, who volunteered for the SS, and became an officer … Ferry Porsche designed the first Porsche sports car and surrounded himself with former SS members in the 50s and 60s.
The steel, coal, and arms magnate Friedrich Flick was convicted at Nuremberg of using forced and slave labor, bankrolling the SS, and looting a steel factory. — The Guardian
Conservatives who thought they could control him … rich businessmen who believed they could benefit by joining his ranks. Does any of this seem familiar?
37% of the Vote
It made me think about the upcoming election in the US. Most polls suggest that Trump is now sitting around 47% … but when you factor in that only about 66% of eligible US voters take the time to vote…I figure about 35% of the population are hardcore Trump supporters.4 One-third of the US population, aided by an outdated electoral college system could elect Donald J Trump again. But Americans living abroad could make a difference.5
If you are one of my many non-American readers or not living in Portugal you can stop reading now and come back next week. But if you are an American living in Portugal, please continue! To ensure your vote is counted please check:
Are you registered? This site is all you need.
Given some state shenanigans, take the time to ensure you are still registered.
You still have time to request your ballot…but time is running out. If you used the votefromabroad.org site above you should receive your ballot on or about September 21st (federal law stipulates that you receive it 45 days before an election).
Check your state’s rules to determine how to return your ballot. Some states allow email, others fax, and others require you to return it by mail. Because there may be confusion related to how to return your ballot, Democrats Abroad Portugal is hosting in-person ballot return events in Porto, Caldas da Rainha, Lisbon, Cascais, Alcobaca, Tavira, and Portimão. Please use the link above to RSVP for any of these events.
If voting by mail, please take your ballot to the CTT no later than 8 October and ensure the correct postage amount is applied.6 Also, ask that they postmark or date stamp the envelope. Do NOT send your ballot by registered mail.
If you delay, you may need to use an express carrier such as DHL Express, FedEx, etc. Do NOT use the Diplomatic Pouch to return your ballot.
If you have questions or concerns please contact Sally DeSipio, the Chairperson for Democrats Abroad Portugal, at sally@democratsabroad.pt
And, finally, consider joining Democrats Abroad. While they welcome your donation, you can join for free! Keep in mind, that Democrats Abroad is recognized as a “territory” on par with Guam, Puerto Rico, and DC. In fact, it is the largest territory and continues to grow … Democrats Abroad Portugal nearly doubled its size during the last year. The greater its membership, the greater its voice in Washington when lobbying for policies that matter to citizens outside the United States - like taxes, healthcare, and Social Security.
Next week, we return to our summer travels … our trip to Terezin.
Até à próxima semana, é tempo de votar,
Nanc
When the series is done I will provide our detailed itinerary (city by city, distance/time traveled between each spot, hotel recommendations) and most importantly what we will do differently next time. Did I just write next time? OMG, the day we got back I was certain there wouldn’t be a next time…
If you have a hankering for Som Tam or Tom Yum soup visit one of the many excellent Thai restaurants in Munich.
Again, I want to apologize to all my history teachers in junior high and high school. I must have slept through most of your classes. I hope my snoring wasn’t too loud. In future posts, I’ll share our visit to Terezin, Brive (the home of the French resistance), and the Berlin Wall.
Sadly less than 10% of Americans living abroad take the time to vote.
It is believed that 2020’s wins in Arizona and Georgia were a result of Americans who voted from abroad.
If you don’t have a printer you may need to make arrangements with a friend to help you out. For those living in VRSA and the eastern Algarve … we have a printer and you are welcome to use it!
Thank you for this. I am the daughter of a German born Holocaust survivor. I know of the atrocities of authoritarian rule through my mother and my surviving relatives. I have a friend who lives near Munich and I have been to Munich many times. Wonderful city, but has sad and scary reminders of that horrible period in history. I live in Portugal now, and I am registered to vote from abroad. I also have German citizenship which was acquired through German law Article 116 which gives children and grandchildren of German born victims of the Holocaust the citizenship that was stripped from their parents and grandparents. You can bet I will be voting in the German election as well. It is frightening that the ultra right-wing is again attaining power in Germany. Unfortunately, people have forgotten or ignore the horrors of the past.
Thanks Nancy! Always a good reminder of the parallels between the rise of Hitler and the rise of Trump (rich self-interested biz men as potent drivers in both cases).
It’s jaw-dropping, as you point out, that about 35% of the U.S. population are hardcore Trump supporters! Without them, his mean, dangerous and insane rantings would marginalize him (much like RFK jr) and he’d defrag into oblivion.
The psychology behind why his followers stay loyal as his psychotic behavior continues to spiral will likely become a hallmark analysis for the ages.