@Walter Hinteler,
Since I do think that gratitude isn't a bad sign at all, I'll show it:
► I've gratitude to all those, who enabled the Treaty of Meersen - otherwise I would speak French as native language,
► I'm grateful to the Frisians that Saint Ludger Christianised my ancestors - otherwise I still would fear figures like Wotan and Odin,
► I'm grateful that Henry the Lion, Duke of Saxony, was defeated and we could stay rather calm under the reign of the Prince-Bishops of Münster
► I'm grateful that those allowed the old Saxon laws of name giving to stay in use - otherwise, my family name would have changed at least twice,
► for period from 1939 onwards, I'm grateful for all nations who helped to destroy the Nazi-regime.
Unfortunately, all this gratitude doesn't include biting on my lips when I have a different opinion to those whom I'm acknowledge my gratitude.
This seems to be a bad character trait. But together with the original sin to born as a German, I can live with it.