Is That Legal?

If my theory of relativity is proven successful, Germany will claim me as a German and France will declare that I am a citizen of the world. Should my theory prove untrue, France will say that I am a German and Germany will declare that I am a Jew.

supposedly (and quite possibly) a valid quote.

Germany didn't lose Einstein. It never had him.

Interesting reaction - though not completely comparable, I guess this means that various Indian tribes are not 'American,' as they were driven to the brink of a somewhat planned and often seen as desirable extinction. (Coming from the hell that is Northern Virginia, I will let other people debate about 'Redskins.')

How about African Americans - do the children of slaves get a special pass? (Shackled into citizenshp - it certainly has a special American ring of freedom to it.) Of course, again not completely comparable, but a certain pattern should be emerging here, just from American history alone.

Or does there come a point where the history of someone born in Germany is handled in its complete truthfulness, pride and shame mingled, by the children or grandchidren of murderers?

I don't know, but at some point in my lifetime, everyone living in Germany will have had no opportunity to have been personally involved in the crimes of their parents or grandparents.

The idea that no person can be legally burdened with their parents' crimes is an American virtue still found in the Constitution (the phrasing '...Corruption of Blood...' certainly shows that the Framers would understand this discussion).

Personally, this reaction seems both reflexive and understandable, but maybe a broader view of simply one genocide among too many in the last 100 years is required? Or at least, some way to deal with the fact that humans do this to each other. To broaden the scope, see how Turkey is handling the question of its own historical genocidal practices as part of its EU accession process. For example, by jailing historians who raise the issue in public.

As a final point - to deny that Einstein was 'German' is exactly what the Nazis did.

It's not unusual to see Frederick Douglas on lists of great Americans, even though he was enslaved in this nation.

Professor Muller,

Is it possible that your post can be read as a very arrogant one? Who are you to say who is German or not, and who Germany can claim as one of its own? I don't say this to attack you, but as a real question.

Why cannot Germany claim Einstein? Would we say that about every unfairly expelled/treated native of a culture cannot be claimed by that culture? Can New Orleans claim Louis Armstrong? (You may know that Armstrong refused to perform there or be buried there because of the racism he endured there.) Would I be wrong to say that Geronimo or Paul Robeson were great Americans?

What if the Germans making the claim feel horrible about what happened to Einstein? Or is there some sort of collective blood guilt that prevents even good-hearted Germans from being proud of Einstein?

"If my theory of relativity is proven successful, Germany will claim me as a German and France will declare that I am a citizen of the world. Should my theory prove untrue, France will say that I am a German and Germany will declare that I am a Jew."

--Einstein, Address at the Sorbonne, Paris.

Yes, it is entirely possible that my post might be read as an arrogant one. I concede that.

I maintain that it is a daring act for a German government advertising campaign (I'd note, too, with some irony, a nationalistic one) to "claim" Albert Einstein as a German, without so much as a reference (and in the text of the ad, which I've read, there is none) to his barely escaping murder.

When I saw the ad, my first thought was, "We've come a long way, baby." Less than 70 years ago, putting up a poster like that one probably would have been considered a treasonous act. Assuming most Germans know Einstein was Jewish, it seems like a positive message, saying in effect, German Jews are not only true Germans, but among Germany's most admired citizens. If nothing else, you can at least take comfort in the fact that German neo-Nazis are doubtless even more outraged by the ad than you are.

I wonder if Einstein got any awards or honors from Germany or German institutions during his lifetime and if so, how he reacted. Did he ever go back for a visit?

Poor, poor DCA. :)

The Einstein ad is not a "positive message", as Beth wrote, "...that Jews are among Germany's most admired citizens." Sorry. That may be very true in 2005, for all I know, but it certainly was not true under the Nazis, and the Nazis are what created the need for the whole "feel good about being German" campaign to begin with.

To tell all Germans that they are Einstein is to tell them that they are all refugees from the Nazi government. Probably millions of contemporary Germans feel they are, at least in spirit, but it doesn't make them so.

Well, well, Eric... this pic should say all to satisfy or to expand your theory:

http://www.spreeblick.com/wp-content/images/dubistdeutschland.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/asterix/65863792/in/pool-dubistdeutschland/
http://www.spreeblick.com/2005/11/22/one-more-time-du-bist-deutschland/

This photo was taken in 1935 and shows the slogan "Denn Du bist Deutschland" ("Because You are Germany", same meaning as "You are Germany") under the head of Adolf Hitler.

In the meanwhile, researching bloggers of Germany could find out, that this pic is not a fake. It is part of the book "Ludwigshafen - A century in photos", which was produced in 1999 and can be ordered in many bookshops; ISBN-No. 3924667292, f.e.

http://www.amazon.de/exec/obidos/ASIN/3924667292/

Author of this book with all the photos is employee Stefan Mörz, who works for the government of the city of Ludwigshafen. The photo were saved in their city-archive, cp.

http://www.ludwigshafen.de/leben_in_ludwigshafen/kultur/5/
http://www.dieneueepoche.com/articles/2005/11/24/6646.html

There is a huge discussion in the whole blogger-scene within Europe. A mass-critic of many german people against the campaign-makers http://www.du-bist-deutschland.de , f.e.

http://blog.outer-court.com/archive/2005-11-23-n59.html
http://www.spreeblick.com/2005/11/22/one-more-time-du-bist-deutschland
http://www.flickr.com/groups/dubistdeutschland/pool/
http://bembelkandidat.blogg.de/eintrag.php?id=439
http://nachtschicht.blogger.de/stories/352323/
etc.

I personally think, this photo of Hitler with "You are Germany" was the the last straw. It is the total opposite what the german economy needs. Another problem is, that many campaign-makers were from the press. The german press (as the campaign-makers) have tried to calm down this mass-critic, cp.

http://www.spiegel.de/kultur/gesellschaft/0,1518,386544,00.html
http://www.zeit.de/online/2005/48/denn_du_bist_deutschland
http://zuender.zeit.de/2005/40/du_bist_deutschland

Editor Falk Lüke of the german press "DIE ZEIT" thinks, words of german bloggers are not allowed to be respectable.

http://blog.zeit.de/blogruf/?p=68

Nice idea by the prejudiced press to calm down the neutral bloggermedia.

bye
Rob

Dear Mr. Mueller,

it is not true that this "Du bist Deutschland"-campaign is from the german government or any other official.

Neither it is a campaign from the german people. First there were some scientiest, who wanted to lift the enthusiasm of the german people for innovations research.

But than the bad people took over and I mean that, how I'm saying it. There are neo-liberal think tanks like the "Bertelsmann-Stiftung" or "Initiative Neue Soziale Marktwirtschaft" (INSM), who are eagerly trying to change many social attainments in Germany, dismantle civil rights, etc.

If you understand german or have a good translation tool, you might want to read this:

Think tanks are to create tendency and leave the border between PR and journalism blur: http://www.heise.de/tp/r4/artikel/18/18613/1.html

How the INSM reacts to critical media reports: With pressure on the editorships and attacks on the reliability of journalists
http://www.lobbycontrol.de/blog/index.php/2005/11/insm-und-kritische-medienberichte/
http://www.freitag.de/2005/45/05450601.php

A study reveals INSM: http://www.spindoktor.de/2004/10/die-soziale-neue-marktverarsche.html

Newspaper-Article about INSM: http://zeus.zeit.de/text/2005/19/insm

After changing a relativly small image campaign about german science and research into a massive spindoctoring propaganda machine, formidable numbers of objections/disaccords emerged against the "Du bist Deutschland"-campaign and opposition formed up.

Many Webloggers wrote their displeasure and rejection against this campaign with prudent statements and were ignored by the mainstream media, because many media companies were bound to the "Du bist Deutschland"-campaign by the wily campaign makers.
These advertising agencies Jung von Matt/Alster (creation), fischerAppelt and kempertrautmann (strategy) were equipped with a lot of money, but they failed with developing something new, they only used some slogans and strategies from the think tanks for their "new" campaign.

People against this campaign discovered that the logo was stolen from the olympic summer games in Barcelona 1992: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tobi-bauer/47261874/in/pool-dubistdeutschland/

Or they compared the logo to a pile of dogshit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ix/47136409/in/pool-dubistdeutschland

They made fun of this stupid campaign and created almost 200 different parodic pictures and created a Image Pool at flickr.com, see for yourself: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ix/47136409/in/pool-dubistdeutschland

Some germans reported an offence against the advertising agencies and prosecuting authorities now must investigate the televison advertising spots of the campaign.

So there is a lot of critic and disaffirmation against the "Du bist Deutschland"-campaign in Germany.

Please don't judge a book by its cover.

Very interresting position you have. But this is typical for those blind guys like you, they still see germany as nazi-germany. But this had changed, germany is not the same as for 60 years. We wouldn't be Goering or Himmler, we want be Einstein. This Blog-Entry is an example for the stupid opinion that a lot of people have. The times have changed, a new generation lives in germany, but you still reduce them as nazi's!

regards from germany

@ixtreme

Jawoll, Vee have se right to claim anyone, vee can do sat. Vee can be a Jud if vee want to.

"After the Germans murdered my Jewish brothers in Europe, I want to have nothing more do with Germans." Albert Einstein, 1946

Source:
"Nachdem die Deutschen meine jüdischen Brüder in Europa hingemordet haben, will ich nichts mehr mit Deutschen zu tun haben."
http://www.eckermannschule.de/einstein.html#dtld

I forgot:

WE ARE GERMANY!. And if you don't schtop sis, YOU ARE GERMANY as well.

Well let's quote Einstein some more:
"I do not believe in a personal God and I have never denied this but have expressed it clearly. If something is in me which can be called religious then it is the unbounded admiration for the structure of the world so far as our science can reveal it." Sorry, no Jew by choice.

Yet of course this wouldn't have made any difference in respect to his fate in nazi German.

He didn't deny his origins:
„Die Stadt der Geburt hängt dem Leben als etwas ebenso Einzigartiges an wie die Herkunft von der leiblichen Mutter. Auch der Geburtsstadt verdanken wir einen Teil unseres Wesens. So gedenke ich Ulm in Dankbarkeit, da es edle künstlerische Tradition mit schlichter und gesunder Wesensart verbindet.“

"The town your are born in sticks a lifetime as something unique just like your biological mother. Our native town we owe our character. Thus I think of Ulm in gratitude, as this noble artistically tradition paired with homebred and down-to-earth (healthy) way of life allies."

There are some more reasons to be proud of as the wisdom of the Berlin Max Planck Institute to create a suitable environement for Einsteins studies.

Just imagine if he had chosen to leave Germany much earlier. he might have been some poor engeneer in the industry or a busdriver. He never had written the letter to Roosevelt. You might not have to live with the burden to be the first nation to drop the nuke and kill thousands and thousands ...

You see we all have our burdens. ;-) Just because history is history. Although we might have all kind of outcomes when we reconsider Einsteins theories.

@Silke Schümann

>There are some more reasons to be proud of as the >wisdom of the Berlin
>Max Planck Institute to create a suitable >environement for Einsteins
>studies.

Let's see, what your reason is for being proud of having supported Einstein...

>Just imagine if he had chosen to leave Germany >much earlier. he might
>have been some poor engeneer in the industry or a >busdriver. He never
>had written the letter to Roosevelt. You might not >have to live with the
>burden to be the first nation to drop the nuke and >kill thousands and
>thousands ...

Just imagine, he had fled earlier. He would have avoided much horror, not leaving germany in the year of its revolution, 1933, when the germans were already hunting and detaining jews.

Here's the reason: He has written his nuclear letter of recommendation and that's probably the reason why America dropped the bomb. America did not drop the bomb, because it fought two fascist regimes, the first axis of evil, but because it was told so by a ... you know what. So here's the chain of causation: Because Germany supported him, Einstein made America drop the bomb which hereupon had to live with the burden of killing "thousands and thousands" - not in the normandy, but in the 'nuclear holocaust' of Hiroshima. That's the reason for germans to be proud of having supported Einstein. If they had killed him as they had planned , he would not have caused such a burden for the US which makes the german genocide balance much more suitable.

>You see we all have our burdens. ;-) Just because >history is history.
>Although we might have all kind of outcomes when >we reconsider Einsteins
>theories.

Killing 6 million jews and devastating the world or annihilating two cities in order to end this world war: what's the difference? Just "burdens" because history is history. C'est la Vie!

Eric, may you please publish my comment posting yesterday? It seems so, that my comment disappeared in your spamfolder. Thank you very much.

I don't think that pride is a good advisor in any situation. no matter what the pride depends on.
i won't start counting up examples what you can be proud on and why it will lead you either to disappintments or an unrealistic view. and it simply makes you hesitate thinking in all directions.

"Sorry, Germany. You don't get to use Albert Einstein for a German feel-good ad. You kicked Einstein out in the thirties. If he'd stuck around, he'd have been murdered."

What "Germany" are you directing this at? Is it the ground that I sit on? It can't hear you. It's just soil.

Or is it the people of Germany and all their establishments? In that case: No, we did not kick Einstein out, and we certainly couldn't have murdered him. Proof: All but a tiny minority of us were not even alive at that time or old enough to make or influence any such decisions. This was sixty years ago, after all.

Please do not fall into the trap of inherited guilt. It's morally wrong: Burdening a baby with its father's crimes is as morally valid as burdening it with its mother's heroin addiction. It's also not very smart: Very few peoples are guilt-free in their history, so judge not lest you be judged. (Comparing the respective historical crimes of different peoples leads into an even worse trap.) It's also, for obvious reasons, not nice.

Whether the campaign you are talking about is a good idea is a different matter. One cannot be proud of anyone else's achievements any more than one can be responsible for anyone else's crimes. Which invalidates the question whether we ever had Einstein. It's irrelevant.

Keep in mind, though, that crediting someone with somebody else's achievements is flattery. Accusing someone of somebody else's crimes is an insult.

I thought being "Jewish" is a religion? And this it seems to me a choice. Where as no one has the "choice" to be born a "german". You either are born in Germany or arent.

I know in America, youre African Americans, or Irish-americans, or Italian Americans, giving kudos to the country your parents and grandparents were born in. But once people start to define themselves first by thier CHOICE of religion, as in Catholic-American or Christian-American, you start bordering on religous fanaticism.

If you say someone "looks" German, has blonde hair, blue eyes, light complexion, thats an observation. Of that someone "looks" Italian, with dark complexion and brown eyes... but if you say someone "looks Jewish" your met with anti-semetic accusations, of almost Hitlerian proportions.

"How can someone looks Jewish? Its a religion"

Yet when Germany claims one as its own, suddenly being a Jew is an ethnicity.

Ironically this is what Hitler believed as well.

Since when does action define the nationality of a man?