![[1093] Die Flut (The Flood)](/comics/2019-06-27-1093-die-flut-the-flood.png "[1093] Die Flut (The Flood)")
This is the little piece of #&@% who is responsible for the destruction of Nuremberg:
Why not take the opportunity and listen to one of the best German songs, that has the same title: Die Flut by Joachim Witt and Peter Heppner.
- Radio: Central Europe resembles a powder keg. Germany stumbles aimlessly towards the abyss. Terrorist acts by unlawful Liechtensteiner combatants have become part of daily life.
- TV: The siege of Stuttgart by the Swiss army continues. Meanwhile, the battles between royalist Bavarians and republican Swabians have spread to Austria.
- Radio: The troops of the Swedish king Carl Gustav have crossed the river Main and are carrying out massacres on the Bavarian civilian population. Hundreds of thousands are on the run.
- TV: Germany lies in ruins. France is on the verge of collapse. Millions of refugees are on their way to America.
- Sandra: Holy shit…!
- Smartphone: They’re here!
- Caption: DIE FLUT (THE FLOOD)
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@ Nsinger998:
While true – its current Swedish King and the scenario is 30 year war. The naming is obviously second in this case.
As a French, I knew that France is on the verge of collapse but I didn’t know about the whole situation in Central Europe (that explains why there is so little people & tourists in there).
X-D
@ Ignacio Raglianti:
Yuna snatched that one a long time ago.
http://www.sandraandwoo.com/2010/08/09/0189-shows-over/
Paeris Kiran is correct. The German military couldn’t stand up to the Alabama national guard. Their military was gutted by Angela Merkel. I get the satire. Europe is, once more, in turmoil, a flood of refugees could be the result. When I lived in Europe, discussing American weather, a German said he couldn’t take the tornadoes and hurricanes. I replied, we have weather. Europe has wars. I’ll take the weather.
Why would European refugees choose to come to the United States, given its recent anti-NATO and anti-immigration policies? Canada is right next door, and our government’s model for society is a multicultural mosaic. We are much more welcoming of immigrants in general and refugees in particular.
Or maybe the story arc is about to highlight the effects of recent American politics.
@ Yellow:
Kids are not kept in cells for months. The pictures of kids in cages were taken during the last administration.
@ Agarax:
Canada rejects anyone who can’t contribute to the economy and those who cost too much. In 2017, Immigration Canada set the limit for “excessive demand” at $6,655, the average annual health and social service spending per Canadian in 2016. If the costs of caring for a person’s condition are higher than this figure the applicant and all family members are denied permanent residency.
@ Mysterious Dark Lord v3.2:
Sorry, the first Pennsylvania Dutch were Hessian mercenary POW’s captured during the War for Independence. If, they signed a parole, their muskets (without bayonets) were returned to them. Then, they were sent to Pennsylvania where free land was available.
Very strange Strip. but I’ll give Novil the Benefit of the doubt that he knows where he want’s to go with this arc. I do think, that it’s possible that he just wants to piss off as many people as possible, though.
I’m just gonna say. This story arc is gonna be fun. Love how our harmless king is being painted up as an antagonist. 😛
I changed the photo of Carl Gustav and the associated description text to make the humorous intend clearer.
Did you get the right Gustove?
I’m thinking … Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden 1611-1632
@ interventor:
It’s a mixture of both. The pictures were purportedly from the last administration, as the current administration isn’t allowing photography. But we do have minors being held for months; and at least unofficial reports that the conditions aren’t amenable for minors being held over a long period of time.
Novil wrote:
yeah, this makes it clearer. Thank you^^
I detect time travel shenanigans
@ Nsinger998:
I got the 30 years war reference, but only because I am reading the 1632 book series by Eric Flint and friends.
@ Grollo:
Except that it’s not that far fetched, and America would try to keep the Germans out just like they did the first time a flood of Germans started coming over in the 1800s (1820 to 1870). More than 7.5 million Germans came in that time and almost made the US have German as a second language by 1914 (25% of the US could speak fluent German and 50% could speak broken/mildly conversational German).
Then WW1 happened and no one spoke German anymore.
They should find the closest safe country, enter legally and apply for asylum there until things settle down and they can go home. Sounds like the entire EU is collapsing without Britain after Brexit was a success, leaving it, Spain, Italy, Switzerland and Poland as the nearest locations without conflict.
As an Englishman I consider it best if the Germans just stayed in their own country and sorted out their own mess. Also they shouldn’t go to Poland, because that’d just make them into the butt of so many jokes.
Basically, if they’re on their way to America they’re not refugees, they’re immigrants.
They should go to Spain.
@ MidoriLuna:
From what I’ve heard, current administration is actually working to get the laws that allow for lockups like what’s mentioned. But good luck trying to find it, much less anything less than biased against the current admin.
Jakaze wrote:
Got a little excited typing, forgot critical wording.
@ sllimkered: “I’d love to see a mass migration of mainly causacian folk to America – and see the US roll out the red carpet welcoming them in “our wonderful NATO allies” “Special Relationship” “Unique Circumstances” etc..”
Problem is, so many people in the world are hypocrites or full of double standards. Almost as bad, a lot of people have a chronic case of log-in-the-eyes, fingers-in-the-ears, or head-in-the-sand.
There is an example of something similar to what you describe. (Or, perhaps it is the anti-thesis of it?) Namely, there seems to be a campaign of persecution, plunder, rape, torture and murder of Caucasians in South Africa. Strangely, mainstream media does not seem to want to talk about it. And the only country that is welcoming these Caucasian refugees with open arms – at least in small numbers – is Russia. At one point, Australia offered them refuge. However, some Progressives made a huge stink about it and, so, they rescinded the offer.
@ sllimkered:
There are few countries as welcoming of immigrants as the US. It is a nation founded by immigrants and known as a quote, “melting pot”. For more than 12 years now, the annual number of legal immigrants that the US accepts (persons admitted for lawful permanent residence) has been well over 1 million. Accepting more than 1 million new people each year is not insignificant for a nation with a total population of about 300 to 315 million.
However, no nation, no matter how large and no matter how robust their economy is, can accept an unlimited number of immigrants without some serious consequences. There comes a point where housing becomes scare and unaffordable, utilities becomes strained or over capacity, and public services become swamped. Also, depending on how rapidly businesses expand and how many new businesses form, there’s only so many jobs to go around.
The biggest issue for some is accepting immigrants without vetting them. Without a thorough background check, how many gang members, drug runners, (would-be) terrarists and other malcontents will slip through?
More importantly, it sounds like some immigrants flat out refuse to adapt to the language, traditions – or even the laws – of their new home. In some cases, immigrants form their own segregated areas within a city or nation, claiming it as their own turf, enforcing their own laws, speaking their own language, only associating with their own culture, flying the flag of their former country, and persecuting anyone else. (I’m thinking of the ‘No Go’ Zones in parts of Sweden, France, the U.K. and other parts of Europe. To a lesser extent, though, this applies broadly. Some people live to old age in a new country without bothering to learn the local language or even associate much with locals.)
If someone invites you into their home because you’ve fallen on hard times, you should have the courtesy to follow their house rules, speak in their language and pick up after yourself. You should be respectful. And expecting everyone around you to speak your language after moving to a country that speaks a different language is ridiculous. Generosity should only go so far. And biting the hand that feeds you is insane.
I want to have some aspect of my life that doesn’t delve into politics. S&W was something that at least mostly avoided that, so, good job… until now. We’re obviously due now for an entire storyline about a highly political thing, and from the looks of things, probably accusing people of racism. So, here’s yet another media thing that I can no longer use as refuge from constant political fighting.
@ Seaxneat:
Already happened. The Irish Potato Famine is an integral part of American history. There was no red carpet treatment, these problem take long enough to develop that a lot of rationalization goes on.
@ interventor:
You are mistaken, the “Pennsylvania Dutch” largely arrived before the revolution. Enough that the population of Germany at the time of the revolution was nearly half of German ancestry, Germantown, now a district of Philadelphia, was founded in 1683.
@ DavidSh:
Of course I meant the population of Pennsylvania, not the population of Germany.
interventor wrote:
I’m pretty sure that rule doesn’t apply to refugees, and that the U.S. has similar rules.
Novil wrote:
Maybe you should tone it down & just say: “That’s the evil dictator responsible for the destruction of Nuremberg”. Or you simple leave it away, because it does distract a little from the comic, which is clear enough.
This is, as many commenters have noted, the thirty-years’-war scenario (1631), with Carolus XVI Gustavus playing Gustavus Adolphus. You should not be fooled by the name. Well, Carolus X would not be any better. He started by invading Poland, but continued by attacking Denmark via Northern Germany. In the process, he destroyed the countryside. The end result would be very much the same.
As such, this scenario of anarchical violence was possible only after some dozen years of German civil war, even in 1630’s. So, a breakdown of this size does not happen fast.
As a Finn, I have sort of mixed feelings about this. This is a catastrophic war playing out in the middle of Europe, but in this case, it would be my people massacring, looting and pillaging. At their best, about one third of the Swedish army comprised of conscripted Finns, who were, by many accounts, absolutely inhuman in their cruelty. And I’ve grown up in a village where all the chandeliers in the church are loot from the 30-years’-war. Our national library was originally based on a collection of books looted at the time. So, were this scenario to happen, I would probably be with Carolus XVI somewhere in Germany, participating in the pillaging as a junior officer. Personally, I would be doing pretty fine; I would be either a senior officer and a rich man very fast or a dead Lutheran martyr quite as fast, or both. (I am a Finnish reserve officer, so I would be out there, fighting with a platoon of conscripts.)
A white European mass exodus? That’s what you get for continuing to import the 3rd world for all these years.
Considering Sandra is American, the proper response is: fuck off, we’re full. Go to Canada or something. They cna handle you all.
@ Nimetu:
Heh. Also a fan of the 163x alternate history series*, or just studied the era in school? 🙂
*Which gets DEEP into the entire Thirty Years’ War. I mean, like, *really* deep. The fanbase does seminars on 17th Century Germany.
Moe Lane wrote:
Somebody get the Abrabanels on the phone; I’ve got sewing machines to sell!
I know this is supposed to be on Syria and Middle Eastern conflict, but as many comments said, it also feels like 30 Years War, or maybe a dash of 7 years war and 1848 revolution too.
Except Americans did encourage refugees to settle out west, either out of kindness or getting rid of immigrants to wildlife, Native Americans, and whoever set up an outpost on the frontier (Appalachia being an example).
What’s with the two squished panels on the left bottom? No one has said anything about them?
Cosmacelf wrote:
The “squished panel” is a lamppost with a flyer sticking to it. “Is this your cat?”, I would guess.
Reminds me of Dutch integration. There actually was an article about that by an immigrant writer, years ago. There was a test that you could do which, if done succesfully, meant you did not have to do the exam. This immigrant writer knew the language and culture well enough to get a literature prize. However, the questions had almost nothing to do with Dutch culture, and he failed anyway.
The system has apparently gotten even worse since then.
I do believe my country needs to do its part. I wonder if we could support other countries with their refugees while we sort out this mess. If Germany could take a million refugees, while we struggle, we should help them at least.
So is Grantville, West Virginia from the 24th Century going to be transported to modern Thuringia? 😀
@ Yellow:
— … (and expecially Germany) seems to get the blame for false politics etc.
Draw your own conclusions.
— Why don’t you instead make some references to Trump …
No one wants politics in a fun comic strip.
@ Moe Lane:
Bit of a history buff, and yes, a fan of the series too.
Long ago studied in Gustav Adolf Grammar School in Tallinn as well 🙂
@ Nsinger998:
I’m sorry you had to explain the connection. 😭😭
@ Norman Prather:
I really enjoy researching history so its fine. 🙂
Why does one of those refugees look like Ye Thuza?
Ordinarily, I ignore the comments section on this strip (and Gaia) because it takes two clicks to get to it – and another two clicks to get to the next page of comments. But I had to find out how many Ring of Fire fans read this. My first thought was, “Lichtenstein? But I thought Sarah had the Ken Doll wrapped around her finger, and he controls all the Lichtenstein money…”
My response to the casting of the current King of Sweden as a stand-in for Gustav II Adolphus and blaming him for the destruction of Nuremberg, is to ask, What destruction of Nuremberg? As I understand it, it got off fairly lightly. Perhaps you were thinking of the Sack of Magdeburg by forces of the Holy Roman Empire under the Count of Tilly?
And finally, a Question: If they had been their current ages while living in Grantville in the spring of 2000, which of the cast would would have wound up as Entrepreneurs (possibly even members of the Barbie Consortium!) after the Ring of Fire took them to 1631? Who would have run off to be a firebrand for the CoC? Who would have arranged to be in London to watch the Globe Theater (not so old then) burn down?
I would say it is a caricature of what some people from outside europe might think when they follow their local press.
The whole scenario for an insider is totally off. Never ever going to happen – impossible.
kotih wrote:
Depends how *much* of him survived, I suppose…
@ lord Martiya:
Not really. With North African and Middle Eastern so-called refugees swarming into Europe and helping to turn it into the same kind of hellhole they came from, a lot of Europeans might end up as refugees. Too bad they would make it to the US which puts quotas on white European legal immigration but has no problem admitting Mexican and Central American illegal immigration.