Deutschland, Deutschland

From my Livejournal, 3/27/2002 - Somewhat dated news items, but it certainly seems generally relevant to events happening today, and events under GW are certainly foundational to today's World.

Deutschland, Deutschland über alles,
Über alles in der Welt,
Wenn es stets zu Schutz und Trutze
Brüderlich zusammenhält!

I learned these lyrics from my mom when I was young. They were the words of the German National Anthem during the time of Nazi control. She learned them by singing them in school just as all young Germans were doing at the time (other than those Jewish children who had already been taken away).

There was a time in Germany (before it was destroyed by war) when the people were united and exhilarated by the vision of the future that they had in common. They were destined for greatness. It was in their hands if they chose to reach out and take it. Or so the great majority believed.

I'm not a great historian. I can't recount battles or treaties from memory. I do know however that few in Germany saw the end of the Third Reich arriving the way it did, just as nobody in Rome foresaw it's fall, and just as nobody in E. Berlin saw the wall coming down before November 9,1989.

Who knows what will transpire in the next decade or two. I tend to hope for the best, yet imagine the worst.

I believe deep within myself that violence does in fact only breed violence and so I am very bothered by the track that this country, with all it's power and grand ideals, has begun to follow.

One of the first things that our current beloved leader (GW, at the time) accomplished was the removal of the US from a biological weapons treaty that had grown over the course of seven years to near acceptance by 143 nations. We are once again not only beginning the re-investigation of military applications of nuclear theory but we are actively invoking our right to use nuclear weapons on a first strike basis (in conjunction with maneuvering to step out of existing nuclear treaties with Russia). We are deploying troops and lending military aid to numerous questionable nations (in fact many former Russian republics are now hosting American military personnel - this is making Russia very nervous).

America is great. God is great. We are destined to lead the world into the future. We will stomp out "evil" wherever we find it. Or so the great majority seem to believe.

So thought millions of Germans just 65 years ago. Their righteousness gave them good reason (so they thought) to build up a great military. They were unified and proud. They sought to make their way the only way throughout the world.

Does history really repeat?

I hope not.

Deutschland, Deutschland über alles,
Über alles in der Welt,
Wenn es stets zu Schutz und Trutze
Brüderlich zusammenhält!

In English (in whole):

Germany, Germany over all
Over all the world
When Germany unites fraternally
In protection and defiance
From the Maas to the Memel,
From the Etsch to the Belt
Germany, Germany over all
Over all the world.
German women, German faithfulness,
German wine, and German song
Should retain their beautiful old sounds
In the world
And motivate us to noble deeds
Our whole life long.
German women, German faithfulness,
German wine, and German song!
Unity, rights, and freedom
For the German fatherland!
That is what we shall all strive for,
as brothers we are, with heart and hand.
Unity, rights, and freedom
Are our guarantee of happiness.
In the sunshine of this triad,
Thrive, our German Fatherland