PASSt mir
I can’t wait to see these posters around town. Berlin is starting a PR campaign to encourage foreigners to apply for German citizenship. The main spokesperson is European boxing champion, Oktay Urkal.
In the press release on the Berlin site, there are quotes from the brochures promoting this campaign from people answering the question, Why become German?
Some of my favorite practical responses:
- I don’t need a visa to travel to other countries and I don’t have to stand in a long line.
- Often you get discrimated against if you don’t have German papers.
- I can go on vacation with my friends without a visa.
- I save a lot of money because I don’t need to apply for visas.
- Having it is more practical.
Maybe Ritter Sport‘s ad agency worked on this campaign. The German passport: Quadratisch. Praktisch. Gut.
raskal trippin 
Nate said,
Monday 15 May 2006 at 5:42 pm
I don’t think my heart would let me give up my US citizenship. Besides, have you seen that long-ass line for non-citizens at JFK?
sattva said,
Tuesday 16 May 2006 at 9:33 am
I try to avoid JFK at all costs. Newark is the sane people’s airport.
Somehow I don’t think US citizens are the campaign’s target group. Besides, I heard that if you give up your citizenship, you automatically get put on the waiting list for Stephen Colbert’s roommate in Guantanamo.