Finally!
First Initiatives To Give Political Voice to German-American Community
Have you noticed, dear reader, how many German surnames appear in American politics? I am thinking of US Secretary of Treasurer Timothy F. Geithner and the recently elected new Speaker of the House John A. Boehner, as well as the countless German surnames among representatives and senators such as Heidepriem, Daschle, Ehrlich, Shuster and Gerlach. But do these politicians give the German-American community any political influence in the USA? So far, definitely not. Even though Germany is America’s most important partner in Europe, has the third largest economy in the world, and although 43 million Americans, according to the 2000 Census, are of German descent and are thus the largest ethnic minority in the USA, Germany plays no role in the US media and politics. Even a visit by German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Los Angeles was covered by the LA Times with a mere photo and a two-line text.
The opening of the first national German-American Heritage Museum in Washington DC in March of this year put German-Americans in the limelight for the first time, with a focus on their history and their achievements.
And slowly, we are seeing what looks like a new trend in American politics, too. Not only did John A. Boehner talk openly about his German descent in a TV
interview with Diane Sawyer, Jim Gerlach from Pennsylvania has recently issued an initiative for creating a German-American caucus in the US Congress.
At a gala event of the German Society of Pennsylvania on October 3 commemorating the 20th anniversary of German reunification he spoke in detail about his plans: “My growing awareness of my family’s German roots and the rich German heritage in my Congressional District has led me to take actions in the House of Representatives to foster a greater appreciation of and fortify the German-American connection. (….) The Caucus will be an informal, bipartisan group of Members of Congress dedicated to maintaining and strengthening the relationship between the US and Germany. It will highlight our current economic ties with Germany and draw attention to the German-American heritage and achievements German-Americans have made in building the United States. The House already has well-established caucuses focused on issues with India, Pakistan, Switzerland, Mexico, and Albania to name a few. I believe it well past time to establish one focusing on the German-American experience.”
Don’t you think that it is finally time to honor the achievements of German-Americans in building and developing the United States of America?
Jim Gerlach has already found support from the nonprofit organizations German American Business Council, German American Coalition and German American Heritage Foundation. I hope that many members of the US Congress from both parties will listen to and follow Jim Gerlach’s request. After all, Germany is still America’s most important partner. Reason enough for a sufficient number of American politicians to step forward and help launch this caucus, either because of their German descent or their interest in Germany and Europe.
Typical of what happened to German-American communities all over the USA:
German Village, Columbus, OH
The area was in serious decline throughout the first half of the 20th century, however, due to anti-German sentiment during World War I. This was sparked with the sinking of the Lusitania by Germany, where innocent women and children lost their lives. The media used this to demonize Germany and German-Americans. The Germans claimed it was transporting weapons in a war zone, which the British and American governments denied. In 2008, however, millions of rounds of ammunition were found at the wreckage of the ship.
What ensued was the teaching of German in public schools being banned, and German textbooks burned. German street names were changed, such as Germania Street becoming the present-day Stewart Avenue,[32] and Schiller Park was renamed Washington Park. The anti-German sentiment fueled by the media was so bad that in 1918 German books were burned on Broad St., and at the foot of the Schiller statue. German canine breeds were taken from their owners and slaughtered, including German Shepherds and Dachsunds. Despite the hatred, the German American community would produce one of America’s finest heroes from the war, Captain Eddie Rickenbacker, for whom Rickenbacker International Airport in southern Columbus is named.
Further decline occurred later due to the closing of the local breweries during Prohibition, another response to the anti-German sentiment. After the war, the south end was zoned for manufacturing, leading to the erosion of the area’s residential feel. In World War II, the street car tracks and wrought iron fences were confiscated for the war effort. By the 1950s, the area had become a slum. The city then demolished one-third of the neighborhood.[
-Wikipedia
Typical of what happened to German-American communities all over the USA:
German Village, Columbus, OH
The area was in serious decline throughout the first half of the 20th century, however, due to anti-German sentiment during World War I. This was sparked with the sinking of the Lusitania by Germany, where innocent women and children lost their lives. The media used this to demonize Germany and German-Americans. The Germans claimed it was transporting weapons in a war zone, which the British and American governments denied. In 2008, however, millions of rounds of ammunition were found at the wreckage of the ship.
What ensued was the teaching of German in public schools being banned, and German textbooks burned. German street names were changed, such as Germania Street becoming the present-day Stewart Avenue,[32] and Schiller Park was renamed Washington Park. The anti-German sentiment fueled by the media was so bad that in 1918 German books were burned on Broad St., and at the foot of the Schiller statue. German canine breeds were taken from their owners and slaughtered, including German Shepherds and Dachsunds. Despite the hatred, the German American community would produce one of America’s finest heroes from the war, Captain Eddie Rickenbacker, for whom Rickenbacker International Airport in southern Columbus is named.
Further decline occurred later due to the closing of the local breweries during Prohibition, another response to the anti-German sentiment. After the war, the south end was zoned for manufacturing, leading to the erosion of the area’s residential feel. In World War II, the street car tracks and wrought iron fences were confiscated for the war effort. By the 1950s, the area had become a slum. The city then demolished one-third of the neighborhood.[
-Wikipedia
I am of partly Pennsylvania German descent, and the fact does give me more of an interest in Germany and things German, but let’s face it, our German roots are so ancient that any real cultural connection to Germany is long gone from American memory. And just having a German last name indicates very little about an American’s overall ancestry. One could have a German surname and be only about 1/32 German or less! It certainly does not automatically make one
I am of partly Pennsylvania German descent, and the fact does give me more of an interest in Germany and things German, but let’s face it, our German roots are so ancient that any real cultural connection to Germany is long gone from American memory. And just having a German last name indicates very little about an American’s overall ancestry. One could have a German surname and be only about 1/32 German or less! It certainly does not automatically make one