I usually dislike politicians, but there are a few exceptions. One of them is Angela Merkel, until recently the chancellor of Germany. There's something nice ,human and honest about her, that one doesn't find in the others. Besides, I have a photo of her as a.....nudist :)
I feel uncomfortable to publish the photo here, although she looks great in it. If you're the curious type you could look it up on the internet. It is a photo with three young nudist girls - students; one of them is Angela.
The photo appeared in newspapers and magazines. She was asked about it but refused to comment. Representatives of Germany in various countries were also asked about the photo; they too refused to comment.
The general belief is that it is her in the photo. First, the physical resemblance. Secondly, the background. She grew up in communist East Germany. The photo is believed to have been taken at the nudist camp Costinesti (at the Black Sea), in communist Romania.
After the second World War, nudism was encouraged under communism, as a way of returning to embrace Nature, and as a symbol of rebellion against the old order of things. It was believed that Angela Merkel was a member of a nudist movement called "Free Body Culture" (in german - Frei Korpercultur").
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Another politician for whom I have a 'soft spot' is Boris Johnson the current P.M. of Britain.
There's a photo involved here too. It shows Boris as a young volunteer on a kibbutz (agricultural collective community) in Israel. In summer 1984, he and his sister Rachel were volunteers at kibbutz Kfar Hanassi in northern Israel.
According to his sister, he worked in the communal kitchen, scrubbing pots and pans; according to a leader of the kibbutz he also worked in the fields.
Anyway, he looks very cute with his short pants and blond hair. How could you not like him.
I agree with you about Angela Merkel. What a shame she felt she had to retire... whoever replaces her may leave Germany a less honourable nation.
ReplyDeleteShe was the right person for Germany, for Europe, for the world.
DeleteShe also makes me feel proud as a woman. She was, I believe, better than any male leader in the West.
Oh, I had no idea about Boris. I like him better now after hearing your story. And the other, getting back to nature. They do that in Kansas too. I'm not sure how things are going in that nudist colony now.
ReplyDeleteBoth of them looked nice as young people and proved to be nice as adults too. Even as politicians, they are among the more positive ones.
DeleteYou could have posted a nude photo of Angela, looked on the interest because I was intrigued and there she is in all her glory, many times :)(You probably wanted to keep your post clean for everyone)
ReplyDeleteThat is a nice photo of Boris.
So, you've managed to get a glimpse of her in the nude! I suppose the opposition used the photo against her in all sorts of ways, but she's a real lady, above all gossip and dirt.
DeleteAngela does seem a lovely lady from a distance, meaning from where I live. I'm sure some of those photos have been photoshopped. Yes, opposing sides of politics would have had a field day with Angela in the past...
DeleteI've got the photo from a reliable source, but I'm quite sure her opponents used it to create a 'festival' on the web on the subject of her nudism' days as a student.
DeleteI like her simply for the way she handled our former stooge in chief. I'd prefer seeing her nude to our former first lady wearing a statement jacket with words, I DON'T CARE, DO YOU? printed on back.
ReplyDeleteSimplicity and modesty characterize both her appearance and her way of life and action.
DeleteI think she's perhaps got these traits from her communist upbringing.(Communism wasn't all bad if one compares it to the kind of world capitalism has produced).
The statement on the jacket (I don't care, do you?) is new to me, and sounds terrible.
Think I would rather not see Angela Merkel naked! Interesting to know what she got up to though
ReplyDeleteAll I know is that she was a student at that time, living in communist East Germany. She was a bright science student, probably bright in general.
DeleteNudism was kind of an ideological issue under communism. Perhaps, she was the leader of that mentioned movement(Free body culture) - so, look where it has got her in the end - the leader of a big , important country like Germany!
I like those two as well. Didn't look at that picture. Inconsequential. She was a great leader.
ReplyDelete: ))
As for Boris, according to a title he has more children... I didn't ever bother reading the article. : )
Since the two are famous public figures, I guess there are lots of rumors and gossip on them.
DeleteI'm just guided by my feelings and judgement based on the basic information known to me from the news.
I think it will be very difficult to replace Mammy Merkel ! She was really a special person and quite unusual in politics ! At least she was honnest ! I like her very much. I am not for nudists but if people want to show their horrors it's their business ! I find it rather ugly. Boris I don't like at all ! Did you know that he lived for years here in Brussels and went to the European School. The son of a friend was with him in the same class ! I think this Brexit story was the revenge on his very European father, they didn't understand each other at all ! Meanwhile poor Britain sits in a lot of difficulties ! Which he excuses in lies !
ReplyDelete'Mammy Merkel' - I like the sound of it. In German it's 'Mutti Merkel'- a term of endearment that shows her in the image of a compassionate mother.
DeleteI suppose many in the EU are disappointed by the role played by Boris J.in the 'Brexit' affair.
The problem with Britain as I see it is not Boris J. but the fact that it is an island, and Climate Change might endanger it to the point that it will need massive help from its european neighbors.
Angela Merkel seems to have been around a very long time, it will be strange not to hear her name mentioned ...
ReplyDeleteAccording to the papers, Boris has been enjoying doing some painting these past few days in Spain.
Enjoy the rest of your week.
All the best Jan
I share your view; she's not going anywhere. She'll be there albeit in the background, not in her formal position as chancellor.
DeleteSo, Boris has painting skills too? Good for him,for family, and for the entire British nation. A hobby will make him relax and take wise decisions when required.
I also admire Merkel
ReplyDeleteIt seems she's got many admirers both inside and outside of Germany. She's regarded as a kind of a mother figure. That suits her better than the politician image.
DeleteWell, I did not know all this!
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't have known that too, but I got the two pictures from a friend, and became curious. When this happens, one thing leads to another until you get some info that explains the pictures.
DeleteMerkel is a very strong and inteligent woman
ReplyDeleteSo they say, and I believe it. People hope she'll still be active on the political front.
DeleteI too admire Merkel. Growing up in Sweden, being nude is no big thing. But here is the U.S. it really is, oh my!
ReplyDeleteIn her case, not big thing should be made out of it. After all, she was a young student then, not the chancellor of Germany.
DeleteBesides, those were the days of communism, and nudism, then, was encouraged and considered an ideological thing.
I didn't look up the photo but that's interesting about her.
ReplyDeleteWell, she's one interesting lady! She may seem ordinary to us, but she's far from that.
DeleteMe, I'm also not interested in politics and in TV programs, but things, nevertheless reach me somehow, as I don't live in a vacuum, after all.
ReplyDeleteI love how people have all these interesting lives and stories behind them we wouldn't normally hear about! I only knew she was a politician, I don't know any more about her but it sounds like she had a fun life growing up! :)
ReplyDeleteHope you are having a good weekend :) We went out to a market day this morning and the kids enjoyed the petting zoo.
Away From The Blue
Yes, they do have stories behind them. I've heard some juicy ones about Boris, but I still like him despite the rumors. I feel he's not the usual politician who after being elected spits on his voters.
DeleteThe information posted here about Angela Merkel and Boris Johnson was the first I had heard anything of their past lives. It certainly does make them both more interesting. I can't think of any politicians that I am "fond of" although I really used to enjoy hearing Bill Clinton speak.
ReplyDeleteWell, Clinton was and is a charmer- very handsome man, and had a velvety way of talking. He's now hospitalized; let's wish him a quick recovery.
DeleteThank you. I love to see Merkels famous doppelganger too.
ReplyDeleteNo doppelganger, Aritha. It's her in the nudist photo with her two girlfriends. I suppose, however, there are also some fake photos on the net.
DeleteI agree with you on Angela Merkel, not so much on Boris Johnson. However, there are a lot of Germans who did not like Merkel, but she certainly has earned her title as "Mutti". Whoever will be her successor - and it looks like it might be Olaf Scholz - will have a hard time to coming even close to her popularity. I don't mind those photos of her. What's wrong with nudism? This is how we are created. I remember vacationing in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (former East Germany) and on the beaches at the lakes or at the Baltic Sea no one bothered to wear anything but their skin. In West Germany there have always been so-called FKK-Strände (beaches for Freikörperkultur) where people were naked. If you go to a public sauna in Germany, people are naked, men and women sitting next to each other, stark naked. No one cares because it's hot and you're sweating... Oh I remember that very fondly. I wish it was like that here in the US...
ReplyDeleteThanks Carola, for your detailed and interesting comment.
DeleteNothing is wrong with nudism, if you ask me. There are, however, people out there who do not approve of it, or feel uncomfortable with it.
Interesante tu blog. Angela, me parece una buena política, en cambio Boris Johnson, no me gusta. Saludos.
ReplyDeleteThank you. Well, Angela Merkel seems to be more popular than Boris J., especially in Europe. I suppose Brexit has also something to do with it, as it plays against Boris.
Deletevery unique photo!
ReplyDeleteWell, Boris does look rather cute in it.In addition, the desert mountains in the background add an awesome dimension to the entire photo.
DeleteI think Boris maybe forgot his own background these days, but I don't know much about British politics beyond BBC World news. Angela Merkel didn't take the US orange man's BS and that makes her a standout to me
ReplyDeleteYou are part of the consensus. Angela Merkel is almost unanimously considered a prominent political figure.
DeleteI'm with you on Merkel. Her departure in government will be a great loss to Germany I think and to the world. Boris has totally messed up much in the UK, according to my many friends there but I do admire his time working on the kibbutz.
ReplyDeleteGreat loss, I agree. As for Boris, he was caught in a very difficult situation - Brexit. He followed the more populist side, and I'm afraid that bad days are ahead of him and of the British nation.
DeleteI know very little about these two politicians but I like the reasons that you like them. He is indeed very cute in the photo. I don't think I have any special affinity for any politician I know. Well, maybe our local town Mayor, Cathy Prout. She is a dear, sweet lady who loves our small town & donates her time and energy to enhancing our local parks and schools.
ReplyDeleteI don't take politicians seriously. I believe they all think about their chair and not about the country. That's why, if possible I look for the more personal, picante, funny side of their personality that will amuse me, and not depress me.
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