TO BE GERMAN: Some Thoughts about National Identity Tell me – What does it mean to be German? Must I speak the language of Goethe or enjoy Wagner and Bach? Should I sing "Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit" with fervor or feel ecstatic when the National Football Team ranks 1st place? Must I believe that spanferkel is mouth-watering or that beer is the best invention to date? Should I confront the word "holocaust" personally or believe “European integration" is a matter of fate? Must I understand why November 9 is important & be familiar with all sixteen states? Should I feel Caspar David Friedrich stands on par with Raphael & describe how Dr. Caligari was great? To be German what is required of me? Anya: Hmm. Adolph Hitler claimed to be the last true German. Devani:(shaking her head) That man was warped – there was too much hatred in his heart. Carlos: In more ways than I prefer to acknowledge, I'm afraid that all of us are warped. ===================================================================================== from POEATIONS: Explorations in Meta-Poetry by T Newfields Summary: A poem about German identity and discussion about human nature. Keywords: Germany, national identity, Germaneness, Volksgemeinschaft Author: T Newfields [Nitta Hirou / Huáng Yuèwǔ] (b. 1955 - ?) Begun: 2015 in Tokyo, Japan ⋒ Finished: 2023 in Yokohama, Japan Creative Commons License: Attribution. {{CC-BY-4.0}} Granted LAST: https://www.tnewfields.info/Poeations/screen.htm TOC: https://www.tnewfields.info/Poeations/index.html NEXT: https://www.tnewfields.info/Poeations/dialogs.htm TRANSLATIONS Deutsch https://www.tnewfields.info/de/deutsch.htm Español https://www.tnewfields.info/es/alamanes.htm Français https://www.tnewfields.info/fr/allemand.htm Nihongo https://www.tnewfields.info/jp/doitsujin.htm