Replies

1. I think that more Americans than Germans know the text of the Horst-Wessel-Lied. I don´t know it, either - and I don´t want to learn or even read it, so I will make no remarks about it.

2. The time when most Germans emigrated was when a united Germany didn´t exist officially (and that´s the explanation for the first stanza of the Deutschlandlied btw). But we had 35 states and 4 free cities then, not more than 200 as you stated.

3. Interesting article, although it tries to divide Brits and Germans, Americans etc. However, the reactions on it are exaggerated and one could think wether it is legal for Bush-followers to admit that they´re from German heritage.

It´s a pity that all that comes to the minds of most here when they confess their German heritage, is the beer... :-(

And finally, many have not understood that English names do not necessarily mean British ancestors. Many German names were changed because of WW1 and WW2 - and many of them not voluntary. A Smith could have been a Schmidt, a Miller maybe was a Müller, and so on.

Did you know that we´d all speak German now, if the ONE missing German representative on the day the founders of the USA decided about the future language was punctual? So the Brits won with 1 vote... just imagine how the world would look like today if that many was punctual!

Also, many Austrians and Hungarians, who emmigrated to America had German last names. Quite often, no one, hearing an American's last name, can say just which nationality his/her ancestors came from.

Don't worry, I think of Germans such as Goethe, Wagner ( and other music greats),and Marx when I think of Germany; not to mention such characyers as King Ludwig of Bavaria. LOL

The British Monarchs have been GERMAN since the Gerorges. The author has also forgotten utterly, that the Saxons, the Angels, and many other Germanic tribes invaded/took over much of England more than a millenia ago.

In my case, Kuepfer became Cooper.

And when I think of my german ancestors, I first think of Messerschmidt, not beer.

I went and asked my wife - she says the first thing she thinks of is Schloss Saaleck.

2. The time when most Germans emigrated was when a united Germany didn´t exist officially (and that´s the explanation for the first stanza of the Deutschlandlied btw). But we had 35 states and 4 free cities then, not more than 200 as you stated.

That wasn't me that said that ;-)

And finally, many have not understood that English names do not necessarily mean British ancestors. Many German names were changed because of WW1 and WW2 - and many of them not voluntary. A Smith could have been a Schmidt, a Miller maybe was a Müller, and so on.

Maybe I should have read the whole thread before answering to some posts because this is exactly what I wrote now. Funny.

Did you know that we´d all speak German now, if the ONE missing German representative on the day the founders of the USA decided about the future language was punctual? So the Brits won with 1 vote... just imagine how the world would look like today if that many was punctual!

Actually, this is not entirely true, it is a myth that has been kept alive. The vote was NOT about the official language, but (I am not sure on this, but I am sure it was not the official language) about the question if the constitution should be printed in German AS WELL as in English. Too bad, I liked this story too :-)