talking english

It was this podcast (see below) ... As of today, I decided to switch to english in my further facebook postings. I'm not the first in doing so, I don't claim any originality.
For me, this is quite something. I never lived abroad - for one simple reason: I live in my language.

... You know, these days I don't know much for sure. What ever it is I might think that I know it ... when someone asked me: are you sure? I shrug. But: I do know my mother tounge! I think and talk and write in German and I'm able to be distinct, elegant, precise, colorful and even poetical - in my native language. So switching to english will be paid with some linguistical rudeness, foolishness at times and a childish simplicity at least. And with time, because I have to search for the right words.
But
Being a European has to start here.

I've been thinking on this subject for quite some time with some mixed arguments. I hate meetings (in Germany) where one e.g. american guest at the table naturally expects all the other participants to communicate in his or her language, forcing them to hum and haw and argue miles below the cruising altitude of a given problem. This would not happen anywhere else! On the other hand, I' m the first to sacrifice my language in order to be able to just about communicate. So this has to do with reciprocity. When I smell the attitude of a foreign redneck that acts as if the world is to serve his or her requirements, I'll be reluctant.

On a political layer, this is something totally different. It is impossible to know ALL languages, so there is an urgent need for a lingua franca. And, like it or not, and for whatever historical reason, it is english, nowadays. So if we insist in our respective languages, the momentum of the "divide et impera" is elsewhere. Wich does not say that a common language would install any imperial attitide but it would enable - and I would say empower - the european nations to act in there own interest.

Well, as of the elegance, you know what I mean, but - you got the message, I assume. [Jun 2013]