The Museumsgesellschaft is Freiburg’s oldest Bürgergesellschaft. Civil society is not the correct translation for, in this case, Bürgergesellschaft rather signifies a unique society of citizens with a common interest. In 1806 it was the joint acquisition of expensive books, journals, and newspapers to be shared by all members of the Lesegesellschaft (reading society), the initial name of the Museumsgesellschaft. Here you may like to read about its history and name change.
The Lesegesellschaft was founded at the time when Napoleon ruled over Europe and when following Austria's total defeat in the battle of Austerlitz, the French emperor ordered that the Catholic Breisgau, the Schwanzfeder (tail feather) of the Habsburg empire, was" married by force" to the Protestant Grand Duchy of Baden.
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| Friederike, competent and charming at the rostrum of the Museumsgesellschaft |
In some towns, German authorities took over the financing of existing Houses. In the case of Freiburg, the city council guaranteed the existence of the American foothold in town while renaming the America House after Carl Schurz, the Baden revolutionary. He fled Germany as a 48er and started a political career in the States.
Nowadays, Freiburg's Carl-Schurz-House is half financed by the state of Baden-Württemberg, the city of Freiburg, and the US embassy (5%), but is proud to raise the other half of its yearly budget of about one million dollars by member fees, paid language courses and cultural events.
Red Baron frequently attends those well-organized events and blogged about some of the highlights. Here my blogs are presented in chronological order: The NSA and No End, What's Brewing?, Armageddon, Is This a Beer Or Not a Beer ..., The Freiburg Writers' Group, Napoleon Is to Blame for Everything, An American in Berlin, A Noble Cause For Religion, My Digital Revolution, I'm Going to Bring the Jobs Back, Shielding Democracies?, and Journalism 2.0.
Thanks to its dynamic management, the Carl-Schurz-Haus offers more events in a year than there are days.
Friederike skilfully and moderately incorporated the current political development in the States into her talk, a story that causes incomprehension, shaking of heads, and German angst, particularly with the older generation.
The generous US, who helped rebuild Europe after the war, where their mission of democratization mostly succeeded, suddenly retorts with aggressive tweets and acts. It is true that in NATO, Europe relied too much on the United States for its defense. In Germany, the Bundeswehr's equipment is deplorable, so more money must be made available.
On the other hand, the US trade deficit is homemade. We also had to run down many industries here in Europe due to cheap competition from Asian and African countries. POTUS, in his erratic way, mixes NATO and the American balance of payment:
There is a grain of truth in his tweet. European countries buying more advanced military equipment from the States will help to improve the American trade balance. On the other hand, unilateral tariffs followed by retaliatory measures will kill the global economy.
Friederike's talk was on July 16, the evening of the Helsinki summit between President Trump and President Putin. Late at night, I read the following blog.
But then is his usual way POTUS pedaled back, as CNN reported on July 17:
President Trump moments ago said he misspoke during his Monday news conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump was talking about interference in the 2016 election when he said, "I don't see any reason why it would be" the Russians.
Now, POTUS corrected, "In a key sentence in my remarks, I said the word 'would' instead of 'wouldn't. 'The sentence should have been: 'I don't see any reason why it wouldn't be Russia."
Thank you, Friederike, for keeping your head up. Keep on informing the Freiburgers about the American democracy based on checks and balances that still work despite an erratic president. Much hope is placed into the upcoming midterm elections, but how will POTUS react if the results are not to his liking? Will those results be fake?
Nowadays, Freiburg's Carl-Schurz-House is half financed by the state of Baden-Württemberg, the city of Freiburg, and the US embassy (5%), but is proud to raise the other half of its yearly budget of about one million dollars by member fees, paid language courses and cultural events.
Red Baron frequently attends those well-organized events and blogged about some of the highlights. Here my blogs are presented in chronological order: The NSA and No End, What's Brewing?, Armageddon, Is This a Beer Or Not a Beer ..., The Freiburg Writers' Group, Napoleon Is to Blame for Everything, An American in Berlin, A Noble Cause For Religion, My Digital Revolution, I'm Going to Bring the Jobs Back, Shielding Democracies?, and Journalism 2.0.
Thanks to its dynamic management, the Carl-Schurz-Haus offers more events in a year than there are days.
Friederike skilfully and moderately incorporated the current political development in the States into her talk, a story that causes incomprehension, shaking of heads, and German angst, particularly with the older generation.
The generous US, who helped rebuild Europe after the war, where their mission of democratization mostly succeeded, suddenly retorts with aggressive tweets and acts. It is true that in NATO, Europe relied too much on the United States for its defense. In Germany, the Bundeswehr's equipment is deplorable, so more money must be made available.
On the other hand, the US trade deficit is homemade. We also had to run down many industries here in Europe due to cheap competition from Asian and African countries. POTUS, in his erratic way, mixes NATO and the American balance of payment:
There is a grain of truth in his tweet. European countries buying more advanced military equipment from the States will help to improve the American trade balance. On the other hand, unilateral tariffs followed by retaliatory measures will kill the global economy.
Friederike's talk was on July 16, the evening of the Helsinki summit between President Trump and President Putin. Late at night, I read the following blog.
But then is his usual way POTUS pedaled back, as CNN reported on July 17:
President Trump moments ago said he misspoke during his Monday news conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump was talking about interference in the 2016 election when he said, "I don't see any reason why it would be" the Russians.
Now, POTUS corrected, "In a key sentence in my remarks, I said the word 'would' instead of 'wouldn't. 'The sentence should have been: 'I don't see any reason why it wouldn't be Russia."
Thank you, Friederike, for keeping your head up. Keep on informing the Freiburgers about the American democracy based on checks and balances that still work despite an erratic president. Much hope is placed into the upcoming midterm elections, but how will POTUS react if the results are not to his liking? Will those results be fake?
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