It is an age-old rule. You shouldn’t do everything you can and may do. Prudence and decency dictate that it be adhered to. And tact. Angela Merkel just missed this. Just like Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. The former Federal Foreign Minister has decided to award the former Federal Chancellor the Grand Cross in a special copy, the highest award of the Federal Republic of Germany. It has only been awarded twice in the 73 years of the Federal Republic.