samoth wrote:It´s simply a Country-problem. Michael Schumacher is a german.
Good thing you've mentioned that, because no one who criticizes him, ever criticized another German driver, aaaaand, that is because they never behaved the way he did, including any other driver ever.
People tend to make make personality parallels between him and certain very bad people of German origin. I emphasize the word "certain", not all Germans, not the majority, but only and specifically certain group of Germans from the first half of the 20th century, who just like MSC thought that they have the God given right to get rid by any mean of anyone who stood in their way. He conducted in his career with scrupulousness, and the price for that is pointing out the obvious matching of his profile with the profile of formerly mentioned group of Germans from first half of the 20th century.
If he was for instance Russian, people would compare with him certain group of Russians from the first half of the 20th century. There is a compatible tyrant or at lest a villain in the history of every nation.
No one has, at least to my knowledge made any similar suggestion towards any other German driver or sportsman. He simply reaped what he sew. To narrow it down to his generation, Frentzen was a decent sportsman, Wendlinger too. Make a list of all German drivers ever, from those when only nobility used to race, to Vettel, and you won't find a single word that describes them, such are words used to describe him.
I really tend to point out the bad guys, and it is not because of them, no, it is exactly for the sake of the good guys who are unwillingly belonging to same nation, ethnic or any other group as the bad ones. To prevent generalization and collective blame, it is of utmost importance to point the finger to those who have sinned, in order not to insult or create any feeling of guilt to people who have nothing to do with it just because they share some unwilling commonness.
Remember, he was doing what he did, sometimes got punished, most of the times not, and each time he was there on the podium, and each time his name was shown on the TV, there was a German flag and most of the times the anthem playing. To me, that was a disgrace for German nation brought by no one else but himself and FIA heads who allowed such unsporting behavior of his on circuit, while letting the ceremonies with flag and anthem to go on just as if he was the most righteous representative of German motorsport, and Germany as the nation.
