There usually is disillusionment as they get older though - seeing that the other kids with Native American names aren’t much more virtuous than the rest, maybe learning that Karl May completely invented his stories or simply thinking back about the stories at some point and realizing that nobody can be that good.

So adult Germans don’t have that over-the-top image of Native Americans anymore… but there’s nothing to replace it. For example, you’ll never hear about alcoholism and gambling problems unless you go to the states. You may well shock people by telling them about that. To hear that some people live half an hour’s drive from a reservation and never mingled, nor do they intend to, is also shocking and incomprehensible, because the fascination remains.

I wouldn’t ask you to withhold anything you’d want to say - just keep in mind you are likely to shock people, gently disabuse them of their dreams.

One very good question though, does this mean I have to kind of watch what I say if this topic comes up in conversation while in Germany? I grew up and currently live in Arizona (my office is actually on Reservation land) I think the ideals spoken to in this song and actual daily life of the people are a wee bit different.