How German Is American

It was very interesting to read this article and almost survey how much there is a crossover of cultures when it comes to Germany and America. Not simply through the fact that 42.8 million Americans claim German ancestry, or were submergence due to World War I, but because German culture runs through the very fabric that has become American culture. It is always interesting to look back in history and see how much of American culture is drawn from other societies. After all, America is a melting pot itself. If there is one thing I have realized studying languages, philosophy, and ethical leadership through out my academic career as a student, it is that our society (North America), has an obsession with the idea of the other. We love to separate ourselves from the "other" picking out observed differences in order to label or classify something else as different. This subconscious attitude of americans was made even more evident to me after reading the article. In reality, much of our culture is very much rooted in German ideals, symbols, and traditions and therefore in my opinion, I agree that German IS American.

The article outlined images and themes that are relevant today and apply to American cultural groups. These themes when analyzed have been  a great part of our society for decades and help us understand the transatlantic ties that have essentially bound Germany and the US together. the biggest symbol that stuck out to me when reading as a musician myself would have to be Oktoberfest (or as Americans like to call it, Octoberfest). This has become a signature fall event in the US where over 200 communities here and in Canada take part in the festivities. Where as Oktoberfest for Germans was more of a celebration of heritage, today is is a display and expression of the cultural diversity of the local identity. Were people from every background come together to enjoy good food, good company and even better music. This can also be seen with the stereotypical image of alcohol in German society. Alcohol once illustrated the early division of between Germans and the Yankees over political issues of temperance. The images of food and drink related to Dutch men and women then spread in our community in places such as Chicago and St. Louis where beer, pretzels, and sausages have become staples of mainstream american settings. At every ball park, and fair across the country you can expect to enjoy  a hot dog and a can of beer  at baseball game. Beyond these two examples there are symbols of club culture and fraternal community, all of which are greatly American customs, illustrating how German truly is American.