A letter to the BBC
1 Sep 2001 09:03 pmI'm usually not one to complain, but this one bugged me, so I wrote this little letter. Let's see what their answer will be. I'll post it here when it arrives.
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Dear Sirs,
I am very surprised to find a programme title like "They think it's Uber Alles" on BBC 1, a channel I have always associated with high quality programmes, well researched and of educational value.
I assume "uber alles" is supposed to be a translation for "all over". But, as I am positive you are aware, it does mean "over everything else". In such it's a bad enough pun as it is.
However, my main complaint lies in the fact that this als refers to the first - now illegal - verse of the German anthem (Deutschland, Deutschland, über alles) and is, as such, in bad taste.
I myself see where you're coming from and find it mildly amusing but I'm certain other Germans wouldn't.
I would have expected more tact from the nation's most important TV channel.
Sincerely,
Andreas Beck
Cambridge
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Dear Sirs,
I am very surprised to find a programme title like "They think it's Uber Alles" on BBC 1, a channel I have always associated with high quality programmes, well researched and of educational value.
I assume "uber alles" is supposed to be a translation for "all over". But, as I am positive you are aware, it does mean "over everything else". In such it's a bad enough pun as it is.
However, my main complaint lies in the fact that this als refers to the first - now illegal - verse of the German anthem (Deutschland, Deutschland, über alles) and is, as such, in bad taste.
I myself see where you're coming from and find it mildly amusing but I'm certain other Germans wouldn't.
I would have expected more tact from the nation's most important TV channel.
Sincerely,
Andreas Beck
Cambridge