“DEUTSCHTUM
= THE GERMAN BEING” (MENTALITY, CULTURE AND VALUES); “DIENST UND EHRE = SERVICE AND HONOR”
 
This special part of
germerika.net is first of all meant as a recognition to those, who
serve by giving people hope and help in the worst situations: Paramedics,
fire-fighters and law enforcement officers.
Those, who serve in 911
services, also have a very special capacity to bring our culture back to
where it had once been - or let’s better say “show people that it’s
never been away, as it deeply influenced the ‘American way of life’”. Only
few can show such easily and clearly, how much this is connected to
being a patriotic American! Be invited to explore our “lifestyle” chapter for
more about this.
Unfortunately our motto 9-1-one for all and all for
9-1-one only works in English … but
there are many different ways how the GERMAN-American culture could have a much bigger valuable
influence again. The will to strengthen the German culture in America
again is clearly connected to the idea of making the social life better.
Today real human
contacts don’t have the same importance for the daily life anymore as they
did in the past. Tremendously often you have to recognize a catastrophic lack
of respect among people! Children grow up more with online-bullying than with
sports and team spirit. Much too often consume replaces creativity. –
Old cultures don’t have to be old fashioned(!), but traditions do in
every case show different priorities - the easiest example is our notion of
time, if it is about cultural goods that exist for centuries, while
commercials permanently tell us how important it “is” to always buy something
new! Further cultural values are necessary to stick to laws for being
aware of their purpose and their importance for social life. Of course
our chapter “Manners” has a lot to do with this topic.
If you take the time to
read our article “German-American History” you will recognize that the German
culture in the USA once became a victim of law enforcement -
the enforcement of laws that were judged unconstitutional by the
Supreme Court of the United States later. This happened during World War I,
but it does still have huge consequences! Nowadays a “drug war” hits the
society and the American casualties are horrific. Many other crimes are
connected to these circumstances. Paramedics permanently see the sad
consequences. Often people do not pay enough attention to what a heroism it
means, if helpers put themselves through this every day!
Law enforcement officers
even help those, who fear them (!
...). Strengthening the awareness of the society for how many people
get help only because their problems get covered up by law enforcement and
strengthening the ties between authorities and all parts of the society
appears crucial to win this struggle.
Germerika and Hecker
want to motivate German-American clubs to help to break up the various taboos
connected to this topic - taboos that kill, because they keep ILL
people from seeking help.
It was Germantown,
Pennsylvania, where the anti-slavery movement began - and Germerika and
Hecker are convinced that the modern German-American community has the same
capacity to initiate historic progress
- or like an old
Anglo-American saying expressed it, if tasks appeared almost impossible:
“It takes a German to do it …”
Until today the numbers
9/11 can easily also remember events of 2001. They remind people of heroism
and of a society expressing thankfulness. But looking back should always also
remind us of the bad developments that followed: Great Fire-fighters and
rescue workers, loosing their health and their lives for missing protection
against toxic construction materials. Also in other cases courageous people
have to recognize that the great word “hero” often can’t be heard much longer
than it takes to pronounce it’s four letters a few times …
It is comradeship
that lasts!
This is one of the things,
people in 911 services have in common with the armed forces -
and Germerika and Hecker want to strengthen the ties of comradeship.
Therefore we decided to
offer you this special access or at least express
a special invitation to the active German-American community. There are
special German-American Associations for members of
911 services in different parts of the country. As “fraternal” clubs
these share common interests and experiences. They foster the relationship
between the authorities and the society
- and most of all they
strengthen each other’s families. Germerika offers chances to connect these
valuable ties to a strong network in the entire United States.
Germerika and Hecker
want to inspire women, men and dogs (…) from the 911 services to join
German-American institutions or even found new 911-associations
in their own region. Please just make a first step to experience how welcome
you are in this community, no matter whether you speak German or not!
However you should be
aware, that German cultural life does not need to be reduced on private
activities! Our chapter “Identity” shows that the terms “German“ and
“American“ absolutely don’t harbor any
contradiction. In the past there were municipalities
in the United States, which officially used German words like “Polizei” or
“Feuerwehr” and our chapter “Facts” can give you an impression of how
legitimate this idea actually still is today.
In South Tyrol all
squad-cars have the German inscription “Polizei“ and the Italian
inscription “Polizia“ just like some American municipalities still have
German street signs with names like “Hauptstrasse” and “Mainstreet”.
In every case remains
the fact that your support can help Germerika in a special way to
achieve her patriotic goals, just like Germerika offers concrete approaches
to make the society better.
Please accept our
invitation to deal with what colleagues, comrades, German-American sisters
and brothers of yours already do. We hope to be helpful with our contents and
we ask you for help - just like so many others do it
successfully every day … - Thanks and be proud!
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