Word: gelassenheit
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...young of West Germany are pragmatic, slightly cynical, distrustful of slogans, emotions and religion; they believe in Gelassenheit (playing it cool). They never use the word Wirtschaftswunder, or economic miracle, except ironically. Compared with American youngsters, they are polite toward their elders, but they are learning to disobey and to question. German Historian Karl Kaiser, 31, a visiting lecturer at Harvard, points out that the present younger generation is the first to grow up in a genuine democracy. Toward the past, he says, they play "a strange double role": abroad, they argue that Germany must not forever be accused...
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