Im Rahmen einer landeskundlichen Unterrichtsreihe zum Thema USA haben Schülerinnen und Schüler der Klasse 1eL2 (Englischlehrer: H. Pfefferle) ihre Gedanken und Assoziationen in Form von Gedichten festgehalten. Zuvor wurden unterschiedliche Reaktionen auf die USA thematisiert: einerseits die idealisierte Sicht der Vereinigten Staaten als gelobtes Land (Katherine Lee Bates‘ Hymne „America the Beautiful“) und Zufluchtsort für Verfolgte (Emma Lazarus‘ Gedicht „The New Colossus“), andererseits aggressive Kritik an Armut und Chancenlosigkeit (Lou Reed: „Dirty Blvd.“) sowie Desillusion in der amerikanischen Gesellschaft (Bad Religions Punksong „American Dream“).
America (by Sharareh Sharifat)
We eat and eat
and never stop
We pray and pray
until we drop
We fight we fight
till noone stands
We smile ande smile
and lend a hand
We are what we are
Some good
Some bad
‚cause after all
We are America
America (by Anna Schu)
America loves melody,
Apple and its variety
Sounds it exports all over the world
America loves music
America loves delicious taste
McDonald’s and its endless waste
The chain known all over the world
America loves food
America loves good acting parts
Every actor masters his arts
Clinton shocked people all over the world
America loves drama
America loves the financial sound
Dollars rolling round and round
In history its chaos goes world
America loves money
Music, food, drama, and money
All good things to reach, dear honey
All the world under its power
Who loves America?
Ammy patty (by Romain Becker)
„We are independent“ they claimed,
a lonely England than remained.
They had a huge party with tea
and abolished slavery.
But their biggest achievement yet
will make your mouth go wet.
A bun, the meat and the tomato,
plus a kind of french potato,
salad and sauce make the taste wealthy
doesn’t matter if it’s healthy.
Now add some „made in China“ toys
with cars and action for the boys.
USA sure won at fortune’s wheel,
with the invention of Happy Meal.
The only bad point is the clown,
freaky, spooky, he wears no brown.
Germany, France, Liechtenstein,
everywhere it can be seen.
The golden „M“, it rules the world,
Damn! Nothing rhymes with world!
So let’s end this quickly
‚cause I’m hungry.
Now let’s support the USA,
by eating burgers everyday.
Contested values (by Marc Brunder)
America, you’re celebrating happiness
though your image is self-delusion
so you should confess
you’re creating an illusion
America, your dream cannot last
your fault is to ignore
that pollution and contrast
make no peace but war
America, stand up for your success
your crisis is ours, too
don’t refuse further progress
your promise you have to renew
Controversy (by Estella Eckert)
Teen pregnancy and Christianism
Plastic surgery and symbolism
Death penalty and patriotism
Movie star
Death and war
King size car
That’s low fat America!
Untitled (by Ulrike Thiry)
You are the owner of the Statue of Liberty
which holds her fire with dignity
You are the symbol of endless wilderness
A look at your mountains and we forget the stress
You symbolize the fast food chain
The attempt of diet is in vain
We like to become like „little America“
Like You – Our shining star!
Untitled (by Valentin Jahnel)
We pray to you – America,
Please, control us with your media!
When we turn the radio on,
There comes Madonna, Britney, Kings of Leon.
America, we hear your voice,
And we don’t have another choice.
Even the books we read, are yours,
It’s like we had no other source.
Our movies also come from overseas,
Walt Disney Pictures, Warner Bros.
From Mickey Mouse till Avatar,
Oh, we love you, America!