|
 
LANDESVERBAND
NEWSLETTER AND MAGAZINE
HISTORY
AND POLITICS
 02/24/13
October November December
2009 Volume 4 Number 4
|
VISITING
AUTHOR/EDITOR ARTICLE
NOVEMBER
2009
Rep.
Miller and Carpathia
Club President John Huth
Statement
on Address
by
German ChancellorAngela Merkel
to
Joint Session of Congress
Forwarded
by Elisabeth Miehle
Washington
– Congresswoman Candice Miller and
Carpathia Club President John Huth
released the following statement after
the address by German Chancellor Angela
Merkel to a joint session of the United
States Congress. Mr. Huth
attended as a guest of Congresswoman
Miller.
“I am very glad that Chancellor
Merkel had the opportunity to address a
joint session of Congress today and
reaffirm the strong alliance between the
United States and Germany ,” said
Miller. “Chancellor Merkel is a
strong and dynamic leader who is the
first Chancellor of the united Germany
who grew up under communist rule in the
former East
Germany so she understands well
the struggle for freedom.
“Her recognition today of the
horror of the holocaust, the sacrifices
of American forces to bring freedom to
Germany and the steadfast resolve that
was necessary to bring down the Berlin
Wall were great reminders that
freedom is not free and must be
protected.
“My district is home to a large
and proud community of German-Americans
and I was very pleased that Carpathia
Club President John Huth could attend as
my guest for Chancellor Merkel’s
historic address. I very much
appreciate everything the Carpathia Club
does to give back to our community and
preserve the German-American
heritage,” Miller concluded.
“I very much appreciate
Congresswoman Miller for inviting me to
attend this address by Chancellor Merkel
as a representative of our
German-American community in southeast
Michigan ,” said John Huth.
“Chancellor Merkel today reiterated
the important partnership between our
two nations and that is a message I will
be glad to communicate to our
community.”
|
On November 3, 2009,
Angela Merkel became the first
chancellor in 50 years to
address the US Congress.
Merkel followed a rare
invitation by Nancy Pelosi to
speak before the House of
Representatives and the US
Senate on November 3, 2009.
Prior to her appearance in
Congress, she met with US
President Obama for talks
about the upcoming United
Nations summit in Copenhagen
and various other topics
concerning both nations.
German journalist Lars Halter
who witnessed Merkel's
appearance in the US Congress
told German World that she was
greeted with a very warm
welcome and that her address
received much applause and
standing ovations from the
members of Congress.
|
|
|
|
Click
on Image for PDF File of
Entire Speech
|
|
|
|
|
VISITING
AUTHOR/EDITOR ARTICLE
NOVEMBER
2009
How Numerals 0
to 9 Got Their Shape
!
Interesting !
Forwarded
by Eduard Grünwald
Do you know why numbers look like they do?
Someone, at some point in time, had to create their
shapes and meaning.
Read this short presentation and then you will know
how our Arabic numbers were originally created a very long
time ago and what logic the people that created them used to
determine their shapes.
It is really very simple and quite creative!
You have to admire the intelligence of a person that
created something so simple and perfect that it has lasted
for thousands and thousands of years and will probably never
change!
When the presentation gets to the number “seven”
you will notice that the 7 has a line through the middle of
it. That was
the way the Arabic 7 was originally written and in Europe
and certain other areas they still write the 7 that way.
Also, in the military, they commonly write it that
way. The
"nine" has a kind of curly tail on it that has
been reduced, for the most part nowadays, to a simple curve.
However the logic still applies.
|
Origin of Arabic
Numeral Shapes
|
|
|
|
|
VISITING
AUTHOR-ARTICLE
OCTOBER
2009
The
Sunic Journal
Interview
with Hans Kopp
On Tuesday, October 13, 2009, at 9 PM Eastern US
time, Dr. Tomislav Sunic will interview Hans Kopp. As
part of our series on the campaign of ethnic cleansing
against German civilians in post-WWII E. Europe, Mr. Kopp
will discuss the tribulations and suffering his family
endured as they were separated and sent to prison camps in
various countries and how they escaped and made their way to
America. It will air on the Voice
of Reason Broadcast Network (use your favorite media
player to listen in as it airs by going to the How to Listen
tab in the main page). The interview will also be
archived in mp3 format for download (free of charge) on
Tom’s page at the VoR site after the show airs.
Topics
will include:
·
Capture at age 9 and the 3 day march to prison camp with no
food or water
·
Life in a Communist death camp in Yugoslavia:
starvation, one set of clothes, hygiene & sleeping
conditions, crowding, death rates in camps, mass graves
·
Hiding from Tito’s thugs
·
Grandmother’s miraculous survival and return to the family
before her death due to injuries suffered
·
Father’s fate in Russian slave labor camp
·
Mother’s fate in Ukrainian coal mining camp (4 years)
·
Flight to Hungary, Austria, and Britain by foot and train
·
Escape to US and reunion with mother
·
Life in US: founder of US Olympic development
program for youth soccer, ski instructor, and retired
mechanical engineer
·
Responsibility of Allied nations and reason for their
silence
·
Popular perception of “human rights” in America
For more information, visit donauschwaben-usa.org,
where you can read an even more graphic description of the
horrors suffered by ethnic Germans in Communist death camps
in Mr. Kopp’s article, “Human
Misery: Life in a Death Camp”, and you can also
read his article on the history of the Donauschwaben, "Our
Life on Foreign Soil."
The site also contains a brief history and timeline
of the Danube Swabians. Mr. Kopp has written a book
entitled The Last Generation, Forgotten and Left to Die,
which is available for $60 US. There are only 15
copies left for distribution, so only scholars and those
deeply interested in the subject need inquire. His
contact for any questions and correspondence is hanskopp.anni@yahoo.com.
|
|
VISITING
AUTHOR/EDITOR ARTICLE
OCTOBER
2009
SMELLS ON BOARD?
Submitted
By Sgt. James S. Thornton
There's an old sea story in the Navy
about a ship's Captain who inspected his sailors,
and afterward told the Chief Bosun that
his men smelled bad. The Captain
suggested perhaps it would help if the
sailors would change underwear occasionally.
The
Chief responded, "Aye, aye sir,
I'll see to it immediately! "
The Chief went
straight to the sailors berth deck and
announced, "The Captain thinks
you guys smell bad and wants you to
change your underwear.
"Pittman, you change with Jones,
McCarthy, you change with Witkowski,
and Brown, you change with Schultz.
Now get to it!!!"
THE
MORAL:
Someone
may be promising "change" in
Washington ,
but don't count on things smelling
any better!
| THE
LIGHTER SIDE?
(Click
on Image for Windows Video)
|
|
|
| UNION
LOAFERS?
and the
Stimulus Plan?
|
|
|
|
|
VISITING
AUTHOR/EDITOR ARTICLE
OCTOBER
2009
UNITED
STATES
PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE
Forwarded
by Magdalena Metzger
Red
Skelton said this almost 40 years ago
and really had no clue it would ever
come about.
SAD
isn't it!!!!!!!
What
a wonderful and worthwhile clip to watch
and share.
|
United
States Pledge of Allegiance
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pledge_of_Allegiance
The Pledge of
Allegiance to the United
States is an oath of loyalty
to the republic of the United
States of America, originally
composed by Francis
Bellamy in 1892. The
Pledge has been modified four
times since then, with the
most recent change adding the
words "under God" in
1954. The Pledge is
predominantly sworn by
children in public schools in
response to state laws
requiring the Pledge to be
offered. Congressional
sessions open with the
swearing of the Pledge, as do
government meetings at local
levels, meetings held by the
Boy Scouts of America, and
some sporting events.
The
current version of the Pledge
of Allegiance reads:
"I pledge
allegiance to the Flag of the
United States of America, and
to the Republic for which it
stands, one Nation under God,
indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all."
According to the United
States Flag Code, the
Pledge "should be
rendered by standing at
attention facing the flag with
the right hand over the heart.
When not in uniform men should
remove any non-religious
headdress with their right
hand and hold it at the left
shoulder, the hand being over
the heart. Persons in uniform
should remain silent, face the
flag, and render the military
salute."
|
1892
|
1892
to 1923
|
1923
to 1924
|
1924
to 1954
|
1954
to Present
|
|
“I pledge
allegiance to my
flag and the
republic for which
it stands: one
nation indivisible
with liberty and
justice for all.”
|
"I pledge
allegiance to my
flag and to
the republic that he
represents: one
nation indivisible
with liberty and
justice for
all."
|
“I pledge
allegiance to the
flag of the
United States
and to the republic
for which it stands:
one nation
indivisible with
liberty and justice
for all."
|
"I pledge
allegiance to the
flag of the United
States of
America, and
to the republic for
which it stands; one
nation indivisible
with liberty and
justice for
all."
|
"I pledge
allegiance to the
flag of the United
States of America
and to the republic
for which it stands:
one nation under
God,
indivisible with
liberty and justice
for all.”
|
After a proclamation by
President Benjamin Harrison,
the Pledge was first used in
public schools on October 12,
1892 during Columbus Day
observances. This date was
also significant as it was the
dedication day of the World's
Columbian Exposition in
Chicago, Illinois. Bellamy
thought that the pledge itself
and the involvement of
children across the country
would be a fine show of
national solidarity.
|
|
|
|
Students
swearing the Pledge
on Flag Day in 1899
|
Students
pledging to the flag
in with the Bellamy
salute
|
Swearing of the pledge
is accompanied by a salute. An
early version of the salute,
adopted in 1892, was known as
the Bellamy
salute. It ended with the
arm outstretched and the palm
upwards. It eventually evolved
to palm downward. Because of
the similarity between the
Bellamy salute and the Nazi
salute, President Franklin D.
Roosevelt instituted the
hand-over-the-heart gesture as
the salute to be rendered by
civilians during the Pledge of
Allegiance and the national
anthem in the United States,
instead of the Bellamy salute.
This was done when Congress
officially adopted the Flag
Code on June 22, 1942.
|
|
|
|
|
VISITING
AUTHOR/EDITOR ARTICLE
OCTOBER
2009
HERE
SHE IS!
Forwarded
by Magdalena Metzger
|
USS
New York
|
|
|
|
She will
be
arriving
in NY
harbor on November
1, 2009 and
commissioned
in the US
Navy
November
7.
Here
SHE is,
the USS
New York,
made from
the World Trade Center!
If
you are
planning a
trip to
New York
City, you
will be
able to
tour the
ship
during
that week.
|
|
|
It was built with 24 tons of
scrap steel from the World Trade Center.
It is the fifth in a new class of
warship, designed for missions that
include special operations against
terrorists. It will carry a crew of 360
sailors and 700 combat-ready Marines to
be delivered ashore by helicopters and
assault craft.
Steel from the World Trade Center was
melted down in a foundry in Amite, LA to
cast the ship's bow section.
When it was poured into the molds
on Sept 9, 2003, 'those big rough
steelworkers treated it with total
reverence,' recalled Navy Capt. Kevin
Wensing, who was there. 'It was a
spiritual moment for everybody there.'
Junior Chavers, foundry
operations manager, said that when the
trade center steel first arrived, he
touched it with his hand and the 'hair
on my neck stood up.' 'It had a big
meaning to it for all of us,' he said
'They knocked us down. They can't
keep us down. We're going to be back.'
|
The
Ship's
Motto?
|
|
|
|
'Never
Forget'
|
|
|
Please
share this so everyone can see what we
are made of in this country!
Blessed are those who have one hand held
by God and the other held by a friend!
|
Anchors
Aweigh
|
|
Anchors
Aweigh, my
boys,
Anchors
Aweigh,
Farewell
to college
joy, we
sail at
break of
day-day-day-day!
Through
our last
night on
shore,
Drink to
the foam,
Until we
meet once
more
Here’s
wishing
you a
happy
voyage
home.
Heave aho
there
sailor,
ev’ry
body drink
up while
you may,
Heave aho
there
sailor,
for
you’re
gonna sail
at break
of day,
Drink
away,
Drink
away,
For you
sail at
break of
day, Hey!
Stand Navy
down the
field
Sail to
the sky
We’ll
never
change our
course so
Army you
steer
shy-y-y-y
Roll up
the score
Navy
Anchors
Aweigh
Sail Navy
down the
field
And sink
the Army,
sink the
Army Grey.
|
|
Click
on Lyrics
for PDF
file.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
VISITING
AUTHOR/EDITOR ARTICLE
OCTOBER
2009
8TH
ANNIVERSARY
911
Forwarded
by Magdalena Metzger
With
the 8th Anniversary around the corner...
We
all need a reminder...
MEET
ME IN THE STAIRWELL
|
'MEET
ME IN THE STAIRWELL'
You say you will never forget where you were when
you heard the news On September 11, 2001.
Neither will I.
I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room
with a man who called his wife to say 'Good-Bye.'
I
held his fingers steady as he dialed. I gave him
the
peace to say, 'Honey, I am not going to make it,
but it
is OK..I am ready to go.'
I was with his wife when he called as she fed
breakfast to their children. I held her up as she
tried to understand his words and as she realized
he wasn't coming home that night.
I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a
woman cried out to Me for help. 'I have been
knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!'
I said.
'Of course I will show you the way home - only
believe in Me now.'
I was at the base of the building with the Priest
ministering to the injured and devastated souls.
I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven. He
heard my voice and answered.
I was on all four of those planes, in every seat,
with every prayer. I was with the crew as they
were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the
believers there, comforting and assuring them that
their
faith has saved them.
I was in Texas , Virginia , California , Michigan
, Afghanistan ...
I was standing next to you when you heard the
terrible news.
Did you sense Me?
I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew
every name - though not all know Me. Some met Me
for the first time on the 86th floor.
Some sought Me with their last breath.
Some couldn't hear Me calling to them through the
smoke and flames; 'Come to Me... this way... take
my hand.' Some chose, for the final time, to
ignore Me.
But, I was there.
I did not place you in the Tower that day. You
may not know why, but I do. However, if you were
there in that explosive moment in time, would you
have
reached for Me?
Sept. 11, 2001, was not the end of the journey
for you. But someday your journey will end. And I
will be there for you as well. Seek Me now while I
may
be found. Then, at any moment, you know you are
'ready to go.'
I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.
God
|
Pray
for our Military
|
|
VISITING
AUTHOR/EDITOR ARTICLE
OCTOBER
2009
German-American Day
A
Short History
Forwarded
From Akron Donauschwaben, German Family Society
Präsident:
Sepp Geiser
German Day was celebrated in the 19th
century and revived in 1987 as German-American
Day. The persons most instrumental in establishing
German-American Day were Drs. Eberhard and Ruth
Reichmann of the German Heritage Society of
Indiana, Dr. Don Heinrich Tolzmann of the Society
for German-American Studies, Elsbeth Seewald of
the German American National Congress and the many
thousands of individuals who petitioned Congress.
The U.S. Congress passed a Joint Resolution
requesting President Ronald Reagan to call on the
American people to observe German-American Day
with appropriate ceremonies and activities. The
Congressmen who led this effort were Senators
Lugar and Riegle and Representatives Foley,
Hamilton and Luken. President Reagan officially
proclaimed German-American Day on October 5, 1987,
in the Rose Garden of the White House.
German-American Day is celebrated on
October 6th because on that date in 1683, 13
German families from Krefeld near the Rhine landed
in Philadelphia and subsequently founded the first
German settlement in the 13 Colonies--Germantown,
Pennsylvania. The day also honors the many German
immigrants who came here before and after that
year and who contributed so greatly to this
country.
In
declaring German-American Day in 1991, President
Bush said, "generations of German immigrants
and their descendants have made outstanding
contributions to American history and culture.
However, the ties that we celebrate today are not
only those born of kinship but also those based on
common values and aspirations. Indeed, the same
love of liberty that led the first German
immigrants to these shores continues to animate
U.S.-German relations." He stated that the
Germany united again in 1990 "stands in
friendship with the United States [and] also
stands as our partner in leadership."
In 1991, Chancellor Helmut Kohl sent
cordial greetings from Bonn to the celebrants of
German-American Day: "When President Reagan
proclaimed German-American Day in 1987 for the
first time, Europe was still divided by the Iron
Curtain. We Germans did regain our unity and
freedom in a peaceful way. The thanks for this
deservedly is owed to the American people, who
secured European peace over 40 years.
America stood by our side in the most
difficult times, and we will never forget the
contributions of U.S. Presidents." Kohl
declared that the "friendship and partnership
between Germans and Americans" is "a
guarantee for a successful future."
In 1995, President Clinton declared,
"Since the earliest days of the settlement of
North America, immigrants from Germany have
enriched our Nation with their industry, culture,
and participation in public life. Over a quarter
of Americans can trace their ancestry back to
German roots, but more important than numbers are
the motives that led so many Germans to make a new
beginning across the Atlantic. America's
unparalleled freedoms and opportunities drew the
first German immigrants to our shores and have
long inspired the tremendous contributions that
German-Americans have made to our heritage...
German-Americans have attained prominence in all
areas of our national life... While parts of the
Midwest, Pennsylvania, and Texas still proudly
bear the stamp of the large German populations of
the last century, it is their widespread
assimilation and far-reaching activities that have
earned German-Americans a distinguished reputation
in all regions of the United States and in all
walks of life."
In 1998, President Clinton said,
"Germans and German-Americans have profoundly
influenced every facet of American life with their
energy, creativity, and strong work ethic. They
have enriched the economic and commercial life of
the United States, and it is befitting that we set
aside this special day to acknowledge their many
contributions to our liberty, culture and
democracy. All of us can take pride in the
accomplishments of German-Americans--as soldiers
and statesmen, scientists and musicians, artisans
and educators. It is fitting that we set aside
this special day to remember and celebrate how
much German-Americans have done to preserve our
ideals, enrich our culture, and strengthen our
democracy."
President Clinton made an equally incisive
proclamation in 1999.
Although the annual date of German-American
Day is based on the arrival on October 6, 1683, of
the settlers of Germantown, PA, German immigration
predates 1683; in 2008, we will be commemorating
the 400th anniversary of German immigration to
what is now the United States. But these
immigrants came to English, Dutch and other
settlements. The year 1683 is significant, because
it marks the establishment of the first entirely
German settlement.
By
Gary C. Grassl, with thanks to Elsbeth Seewald.
(Nov. 1999)
Source:
German-American
Heritage Society, Washington D.C.
|
|
|
