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GERMERICANA
German Americans Cheer Bismarck's Triumph
Members of New York's German American groups came out in force to celebrate the end of the Franco-Prussian war that established Germany's unity. A report in The New York Times of April 10, 1871 make for interesting reading. Please click HERE
DER BLOGGER
Mitt and Newt: The Gloves Come Off
Newt Gingrich’s surge to success in South Carolina has surely brought joy to the Obama White House. For his 12-point victory ensures the fight for the GOP nomination will not end soon and will get nastier.
WANDERLUST
Québec City: A Touch of Europe
By Adam Leposa
When we woke up this morning, the scene outside our hotel window looked perfect for the Winter Carnival: lots of snow. Unfortunately, the storm also brought with it high winds that nixed our previous plans to go cross-country skiing on the Plains of Abraham. So, we set off to explore Québec City’s Old Town, as well as two unique hotels in the region.
ESSEN & TRINKEN
More Americans say, Prost!
German beer sales dip slightly in 2011 German beer sales remained more or less steady in 2011, according to the Federal Statistics Office. While Germans themselves bought less German beer compared to 2010, beer drinkers abroad were saying 'Prost!'
GERMERICA LINKS
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Textbook Vote in Texas
Thu, 03/18/2010 - 19:54 —We live in an age of diversity when multiculturalism is stressed, so one would think that German-Americans would be mentioned in school text books. More often than not, they are not.
Not only that - the most well-known names in German-American history often are not even mentioned.
Take any school textbook, for example, and go to the index and look for the names of Baron von Steuben or Carl Schurz and you are likely to find them not listed.
If the foremost figures in German-American history are not mentioned, then it is not surprising that German immigration, settlement and contributions are not discussed.
Perhaps the inclusion of treatment of the German-American experience during World War II will also provide the point of departure for discussing German-American history.
This could also make mention of the military service made by German-Americans during both world wars and the many officers of German descent, ranging from Pershing to Eisenhower.
And with regard to military service, we could even go back further to the Civil War and the American Revolution, which saw the formation of German regiments.
Germans settled in large numbers in Texas and their influence is readily seen in such places as New Braunfels and Fredericksburg.
A good example of the German heritage of Texas is Saengerfest 2010, which will held in San Antonio, Texas, April 9-11. It is sponsored by the Nord-Amerikanischer Saengerbund (North American Singers Association), which was founded in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1849.
The Saengerfest will bring together German-American singers from across the country, showing that Texas historically has had a significant history of German immigration and settlement.
In addition to the internment of German-Americans during World War II, hopefully the recently approved curriculum will also cover German-Americans and the role they have played in American history, including people like Baron von Steuben and Carl Schurz.
For once, I would like to find a school textbook that at least mentions von Steuben or Schurz, rather than completely ignoring German-Americans and their contributions to the making of America.
After all, they are America’s largest ethnic ancestry group.
Yours truly,
Dr. Don Heinrich Tolzmann, Cincinnati
P.S. For information on the author’s latest book, German-Americana: Selected Essays, please click HERE
News In Brief
DAS KINO
'Berlinale' Presents 2012 Offerings
A new movie from Billy Bob Thornton and a turn as Marie Antoinette by Diane Kruger will rub shoulders with offerings from Asia to Africa at this year's Berlin International Film Festival.
DAS BUCH
Breathtaking Tour of Germany
Featuring the wonders and beauty of Germany through the eyes of author Maureen Mahan Copelof and her husband, Sylvan, Discovering Germany shares a captivating view of the rich German tradition.
KULTUR
Thomas Quasthoff Bids Farewell
By Marita Berg
The news that singer Thomas Quasthoff would be concluding his career for health reasons came as a surprise to fans and concert organizers. His warm, colorfully nuanced and voluminous voice coupled with his intense, energized renditions have enchanted audiences for years.
DAS AUTO
The E-Car: False Hopes?
Germany’s plan to put a million electric cars on the road by 2020 is unlikely to do much for the environment without a dramatic increase in renewable energy, the daily Berlin-basedTageszeitung reported on Monday.
FUSSBALL
