i believe our incidental agreement was, on my part, also based on a very basic understanding of germany's culture. i have also imagined what a german might or might not say upon hearing of this news, and if you were as interested in hearing mine as i was yours, i would tell you "i am mostly indifferent to this headline as it doesn't particularly affect me unless i am swimming in public, which i don't do very often, but reading it makes me happy". it really just aligns with, what i believe to be, their social values - just doing "the right thing" per say.

i agree that their ability to adhere to rules and regulations is unprecedented and worthy of celebration, and also that we should attribute this to, and allow it reflect from, their culture. their relatively large and successful financial sector was important in me deciding that they follow the rules, as successful finances require an incredible amount of integrity, discipline, and patience.

likewise, while germany is (relatively) homogenous, i also agree that their anti-discriminatory policies are way ahead of the curve. while i, unfortunately, don't know enough about their anti-discrimination policies to discuss it in any more detail than i have already, i can read this headline and think that if they are (possibly reiterating?) making it legal for women to swim, without a top, in public, then i'm almost certain that they're setting the bar for multiculturalism as well. it just makes sense.