Page 2 - GC-JULY-AUGUST-2026

PERSPECTIVES

By Daniel Schwarz bridges”. Historically donkeys were
A few thoughts for America 250 Oin German is Leckerbissen. used to carry goods and supplies,
ne of the closest words to tidbit
are typically stubborn animals, and
Literally Leckerbissen means tasty wary of water. So small bridges
By Martin Ederer you should. The part that we like to morsels or bits. The following may were sometimes built to cross
A s the United States celebrates quote that expresses high political include some tidbits of German cul- streams to help them with their trav-
ideals only constitutes the first eight
th
its 250 anniversary as an in-
dependent nation, perhaps a few or nine lines. The rest is a list of ture, foods/drinks, traditions, folk- els. DACH Countries – This is an
lore, myths, history, language,
historical observations are appropri- grievances against King George III geography and current events. acronym for a group of Central Eu-
ate. of Great Britain. One of my col- Germany and Rock Music – Cup is Fussball (soccer) at its high- ropean nations with close economic
1) There was a long and compli- leagues describes it as “the best One of the largest music festivals in est level and will bring to the games ties, cultural identities, and common
cated history of peoples in our part breakup letter ever.” What becomes the world is held in Germany annu- 1,248 professional players from 48 goals and German language. They
of the world before the Europeans clear is that British subjects in the ally for 3 days in June, since 1985. teams representing 449 different are Germany (D – Deutschland),
landed here. Some – especially in colonies held that they should not The festival is the Rock am Ring soccer clubs spanning 71 countries Austria (A – Austria), and Switzer-
Central and South America – built have been treated as “colonials”. and the Rock im Park. These are globally. land (CH – Confoederatio Helveti-
advanced civilizations. All of them They expected the same rights that two separate festivals under the From opening day on June 11 in ca).
everywhere had their own political Englishmen back home enjoyed, es- same umbrella, run simultaneously LA, California to closing day on Abitur – At the end of upper
organization and complex diploma- pecially some consultation if the and are about 200 miles apart. The July 19 in NYC, these teams will be secondary school (gymnasiale
cy. Even after the Europeans land- crown demanded taxes from them – Rock am Ring is held at the race- part of 104 matches (games), hosted Oberstufe), either grade 12 or 13 in
ed, the indigenous peoples engaged a fundamental right already ex- track Nürburgring, Nürburg, Rhein- by 16 cities – eleven in the US, three Germany, a final exam is required
in complex diplomacy with the new pressed in some way in the Magna land-Palatinate, and the Rock im in Mexico, and two in Canada. for a graduation certificate and
arrivals and took sides based on Carta of 1215. The other fun factoid Park at Zeppelinfeld racetrack, Every 4 years the Federation school diploma. This exam is the
their own self interests. It is some- is that for many Brits, George III Nuremberg, Bavaria. Tickets are re- Internatiionale de Football Associa- Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hoch-
thing of a disservice to portray our came to be viewed as a welcome quired to attend, young children tion (FIFA) World Cup is held, and schulreife, the Abiturzeugnis or
indigenous peoples only as victims change from his haughty predeces- have restrictions, and typically over this year Germany has qualified for Abitur certificate, which is a certifi-
– even if for most of them that was sors. The American view is obvi- 150,000 people attend each. These the World Cup for the 21st time. cate of general qualification for uni-
the end result. As well, think of ously very different. Isn’t it funny festivals are regarded as one event Germany’s Deutscher Fussball versity entrance. It is the primary
how much know-how we all missed how politics never really changes. and even share the same artists and Bund (DFB) oversees Germany’s entrance qualification to attend Ger-
out on because of dismissive Euro- 6) It is sometimes important to national and international bands. In professional soccer league, the man Universities. In Germany pub-
pean attitudes toward peoples who remind ourselves that as important 2025, Germany issued three differ- Bundesliga, and will be picking the lic universities are tuition free,
knew this part of the world the as a baseline national narrative is, ent postage stamps to highlight this players for Germany’s team. The however, there are some small fees.
best… there are numerous side stories and festival’s 40-year anniversary, see US men’s national soccer team Private institutions in Germany are
2) Before Columbus there were smaller, yet interesting, stories hid- photo of one of these stamps. (USMNT) will be represented at the not funded by the state, so they
the Vikings in the 900s. Nordic ing out behind the bigger narrative Did U Know? – That Germany 2026 games. The US has qualified charge tuition. The Abitur is a very
sagas give us some glimpses into that we really all should master only is only 5 years older as a country for the FIFA World Cup 12 times in comprehensive exam, covering the
Viking relationships with the people as a starting point. In the angry than the United States of America. its history, twice as host country last two years of schooling course-
they encountered in the Canadian either-or debates that often domi- The U.S. is celebrating our (1994 and 2026), and 10 times work, and consisting of three writ-
Maritimes and the northern Atlantic nate political invective about teach- Semiquincentennial (250th anniver- through the traditional qualification ten exams and one or two oral
coast of what is now the United ing American history, a practical sary of signing of the Declaration of process. exams. In the vernacular the Abitur
States. Already they weren’t getting and honest approach should domi- Independence) in 2026, and Germa- Eselsbrücke – This German is shortened to “Abi”. After results
along. nate. There’s room for all the sto- ny held theirs in 2021. word is a mnemonic, an aid to re- of the Abi testing are posted and
3) Although Christopher Co- ries, but not always the time to tell Fussball – The FIFA World member information, using a catchy successfully passing it, a formal
lumbus got a national holiday in the them all. That’s when some sensi- Cup is coming to the US as one of phrase, an acronym, or a rhyme, so graduation ball is held to celebrate
United States, he never landed in ble decisions become important. three host countries in June 2026. that it helps recall facts or names, with fellow graduates. Then on to
any territory that is part of the Unit- 7) We need to remember that the The other host countries are Canada etc. Literally it means “donkey university if that is chosen.
ed States. He got his holiday for a history of the United States has al- and Mexico. The 2026 FIFA World
few other reasons. First, his “dis- ways displayed conflicts between
covery” of America was the one that our high ideals, and shortfalls in VIEWPOINT
stuck and initiated ongoing and in- implementing them in the real
tensive European activity in, and world. The United States has al- "Heidenröslein"
emigration to, the New World. In ways been a work in progress, and
short what he did – love him or hate every nation – if it is really being By John Duke tions of both, German and Polish. I Sah ein Knab' ein Röslein stehn,
him, and there is a case to be made honest – ends up having cringewor- estern New York was and is used stop in with everyone to cele- Röslein auf der Heiden,
both ways – fundamentally trans- thy pages in its history. People Wwell represented by the heri- brate Oktoberfest at the Polish Ca- War so jung und morgenschön,
formed the world forever. Second, make up nations, and we know how tage of the German states. There dets. My German language Lief er schnell es nah zu sehn,
he got a national holiday in the Unit- we all are, so why the surprise? For was of course the German East Side instructor was Larry Sieteski. Our Sah's mit vielen Freuden.
ed States because the Italian immi- America, there’s much to be proud of Buffalo New York. But its West principle was Frank Strasser and our Röslein, Röslein, Röslein rot,
grants who got dismissed as inferior of, and much that admits of im- Side had many Bavarians, as was history teacher was James Herkert. Röslein auf der Heiden.
and, in some places faced lynching provement. For example, how do my father's mother. His father was Each and everyone wonderful. 50
for not being white enough, wanted we reconcile freedom from the Brit- Viking. years ago you had only two choices Knabe sprach: ich breche dich,
to remind White, Anglo-Saxon ish only to perpetuate slavery in the I went to high school, Cardinal for a second language, German and Röslein auf der Heiden!
Protestants that they were only here new nation? Or…for a long time
and in charge because an Italian had the only people who had voting Dougherty, in Black Rock, which French. Spanish wasn't an option. Röslein sprach: ich steche dich,
To graduate from Mr. Sieteski's
was in a mainly Polish neighbor-
Daß du ewig denkst an mich,
landed here first. privileges (note the word choice)
4) À propos to point three above, were landowners. Only people who hood and there were many combina- class you had to be able to recite Und ich will's nicht leiden.
some thoughts on dates and how we only owned an actual “piece” of the the United States as signers of the "Heidenröslein" from memory! Röslein, Röslein, Röslein rot,
use them. We consider July 4, 1776 United States were allowed to vote Declaration of Independence. Both Amerika was almost 200 years old Röslein auf der Heiden.
back then, and now, this month we
the birthday of the United States. – a fundamental aspect of how a also played major roles in shaping
This was the official rollout date of republic was expected to function at the US Constitution in 1787. Up are celebrating 250! Und der wilde Knabe brach
's Röslein auf der Heiden;
"Heidenröslein" (“Little Rose
the Declaration of Independence. our beginnings. Consider, as well, until Jefferson became president in
Date geeks are well aware, howev- that less than 100 years in, the Unit- 1801, the two men were good on the Heath”) is a poem by Johann Röslein wehrte sich und stach,
Wolfgang von Goethe written in
Half ihm doch kein Weh und
er, that by July 4, 1776, the Ameri- ed States faced collapse twice. The friends. Then they became enemies.
can Revolution had been raging for first occasioned a new constitution. Jefferson blamed Adams’ last-min- 1771 during his Strasbourg period, Ach,
Mußt es eben leiden.
inspired by his relationship with
more than one year. Congress had The second, the Civil War, threat- ute appointments of Jefferson ene-
already declared the thirteen colo- ened to tear the country in half for mies as he left the presidency to Friederike Briodn, the daughter of a Röslein, Röslein, Röslein rot,
local parson in Sessheim. Some say
Röslein auf der Heiden.
nies free of British rule on July 2, good: that was only 85 years in. It Jefferson. After Jefferson’s terms
1776. was only after the Civil War – start- as president, they reconciled and it was his favorite poem as it is the I hope I have given you some-
favorite of many Germans.
Since the United States was a ing in the North – that Americans renewed their friendship. It was
The poem was first published as thing to teach your grandchildren
creation of British colonists, the began to say “the United States is” clear that despite all, they respected verse in 1789 by Georg Joachim and great-grandchildren for Inde-
other important “birthday” for the rather than “the United States are.” one another and valued their friend-
United States is May 4, 1607: The How telling is that? ship as human beings. Both died on Göschen. It describes a young man pendence Day 2026.
Tell them that someday they'll
who observes a freshly blooming
establishment of Jamestown marked 8) I don’t seem to recall as much July 4, 1826.
the first successful permanent Brit- political drama surrounding plans Perhaps the best assignment for rose sitting upon a heath and de- understand that 250 years, July 4th,
cides to pluck it, despite the rose's 1776, to July 4th, 2026, is just ein
ish colonial venture in North Amer- for our national bicentennial cele- our 250th is for all of us to take time
ica. The takeaway: There is a brations in 1976 as there is now for out from our political acrimony to warning that it will prick him so that Augenblick... (a blink of the eye...).
he will never be able to forget the
Happy Holiday,
169-year prehistory to our 250th our 250th. There certainly could remind ourselves about ideals that
anniversary this year. If we take have been. We were just coming off we do share as Americans instead of flower. Johann
The poem has been frequently
The Columbus 1492 discovery date the Watergate scandal and a presi- the differences. They exist. They
into account, there is a 284-year dential resignation, a fuel crisis, a shouldn’t be ignored amidst the ca- set to music, most notably by Franz
Schubert (1815), but also by Hein-
prehistory. That comes with a cor- growing economic mess, and a di- cophony and drama. To use an ex-
ollary that the first permanent Euro- sastrous outcome to the Vietnam pression that both German and rich Werner (1829), whose simple Published by
strophic melody became widely dis-
pean settlements in what is now the War. Yiddish languages share, let’s each Buffalo Standard Printing
United States were Spanish: St. In that spirit, maybe we should one of us concentrate on being a seminated in 19th-century song- 3620 Harlem Rd.
books, and by Franz Lehár (1928),
Augustine, Florida (1585) and West remind ourselves about the rocky Mensch. Let’s turn the decibels Cheektowaga, NY 14215
of the Mississippi, Santa Fe, New relationship between Thomas Jef- down, be more curious than furious, who incorporated a setting of the 716-831-8013
song into his operetta Friederike
Mexico (1610). ferson and John Adams and learn listen more than we speak, have [de]. thegermancitizen@gmail.com
5) If you have never read the from it. Founding Fathers both, some friendly yet honest discus-
entire Declaration of Independence, they were present at the creation of I still can't get it out of my head, For Advertising Sales call:
sions and give our overused, one- and I hope I never will. Michelle Kisluk or
sided invective a vacation. Happy
2 • THE GERMAN CITIZEN • July - August 2026 Fourth of July to all of us. Steve Kroczynski