Contagious enthusiasm for war

adminonDecember 13, 2021January 27, 2022Leave a Comment

The German Bishops’ Conference has acknowledged that the churches share responsibility for the enthusiasm at the beginning of the First World War. At the same time, the bishops condemn "excessive nationalism".

Bishops, priests and the faithful had come out in large numbers to the side of those "who welcomed the war as a moral and spiritual renewal," according to a statement released Friday in Bonn to mark the start of the world war exactly 100 years ago. Many church leaders would have been guilty. "They did not sufficiently perceive the suffering of the victims of the war and followed national delusion."

Within the church, however, there have always been believers who have stood up for peace and reconciliation, the bishops write. The then Pope Benedict XV. The war’s destruction, suffering and horror for the population were at the center of his peace exhortations.

The dimensions of the world war are "still shocking today," the statement reads under the title "Overcoming the egoism of states – developing the order of peace". Not least, the use of poison gas had contributed to a considerable brutalization of the fighting.

Primal catastrophe of the 20th century. Century

The First World War began on 28. July 1914 with Austria’s declaration of war on Serbia. It is considered the "primordial catastrophe of the 20. Century". The German Empire came into being on 1. August 1914 entered the war. The four-year military conflict between Germany and Austria-Hungary on the one side and Great Britain, France and Russia on the other cost the lives of some 17 million people. The world war ended in November 1918 with the German-Austrian surrender.

It was only after World War II that Europe gave an answer to the questions that World War I had brought to consciousness, the Catholic bishops’ text says. They commemorate the reconciliation between Germans and French and between Germans and Poles. With European integration, a peace order has been created "that gives precedence to law over strength".

The retrospective of the war should be an incentive to "avoid any relapse into a unilaterally understood nation-state". Earlier, the Protestant Church had also expressed shame over the church’s failure in the outbreak of World War I.

Failure of theology

The church and theology in Germany have failed in the face of the task of contributing to peace and reconciliation and becoming advocates for humanity and life, according to a word from the Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) published in Hanover earlier this week. Lessons should be learned from this.

On the anniversary of the beginning of the war on 1. August give a Europe-wide minute of silence. On 3. August, German President Joachim Gauck and French President Francois Hollande visit the Hartmannsweilerkopf (Vieil Armand) near Colmar to commemorate World War I. On the battlefield in the Vosges Mountains in Alsace, between 1914 and 1918, nearly 30.000 German and French soldiers.

Uruguay celebrates its "bicentenario": 200 years ago, around 100 men in battle fatigues gathered at the Asencio River and swore freedom from the colonial power Spain. Even though years passed before the small country on the Rio de la Plata was declared the Republic of Uruguay, the "Cry of Independence of Asencio" is considered the beginning of the State of Uruguay.

With a ceremony on Sunday (27.02.2011) commemorates this oath of freedom; at the same time, a series of festivities begins that will continue until October.

If you stroll through Montevideo’s old town, past bookstores, cafes or small street markets, you’ll see the same picture on almost every corner: public banks, private money houses and exchange offices. Perhaps this is why Uruguay is called the "Switzerland of South America", partly because of its banking secrecy. And perhaps it also has to do with the landscape: Beyond the metropolises, there are dense forests, lush meadows and grazing cows.

Switzerland and Uruguay are also similar in size. Both are small states – squeezed between the big ones. Uruguay, formerly an official buffer state, appears tiny between Latin America’s two largest countries, Brazil and Argentina. In a similar setting, Switzerland is surrounded by five countries, including France and Germany. In the political context, Uruguay is just as neutral as its European counterpart, and stays out of international conflicts as much as possible.

First democratic state on the continent
However, Uruguay has been called the "Switzerland of South America" only since the beginning of the 20. The first democratic state on the continent. At that time, the small state was currently developing into the first democratic and secular state on the continent. The economic boom was accompanied by numerous rights for the population, such as the eight-hour day, unemployment insurance, paid vacation and old-age pensions. The government banned child labor, allowed divorces, nationalized companies and expanded the education system. In exemplary Uruguay, a broad middle class grew up, the mortality rate fell, and the standard of living rose steadily.

Uruguayans have always been impressed by the Helvetic model on the other side of the Atlantic. The collegial council of the Swiss executive, which then as now consisted of seven federal councillors, inspired Uruguay’s politicians. After a referendum in 1919, for example, the country was ruled by nine executive members at once. The president of this "National Council of Government" took care of international affairs according to the Swiss model. After some golden years, however, Uruguay’s economy also went downhill.

Proud of what has been achieved
Today the country is a presidential republic. And even if many Uruguayans believe they no longer deserve to be called the "Switzerland of South America" – they do it anyway. Uruguay is still the most democratic state on the continent. Citizens can rely on a functioning rule of law, and the country has the best corruption ranking compared to other countries on the continent. Since 2003, the economy has been growing steadily; unemployment and poverty are falling. Not long ago, banking secrecy was another commonality. Uruguay, however, was bothered by being on the list of "tax havens" in 2009. So at the end of 2010, parliament voted to modify banking secrecy, which has been in place since 1982.

The otherwise discreet and modest Uruguayans are proud of their democratic welfare state. On a continent "full of injustices, we have created the most just country," President Jose Mujica said euphorically two weeks ago: here, "no one is more than the other". That might end up being a little too euphoric after all.

While in Germany in view of a few cases almost a bird flu hysteria breaks out, experts estimate that a surface covering spreading of the virus in Africa is only a question of the time. With far greater consequences than in this country, becausei n Africa, people live closely with their pets.

While bird flu hysteria is almost breaking out in Germany in the face of a few cases, experts estimate that a widespread spread of the virus in Africa is only a matter of time. With far greater consequences than in this country, because in Africa people live closely together with their pets. Chicken or duck meat intended for private consumption is rarely slaughtered and prepared under proper hygienic conditions. If the H5N1 virus mutates and infects people, thousands of deaths are to be expected in Africa, the World Health Organization warned weeks ago. No human cases of avian influenza have been reported in Africa, but poor health care, malnutrition and widespread diarrhea, malaria and other diseases weaken the people. They would have little to counter a flu pandemic, let alone the supply of medication.missio consultant Toni Gortz was in Nigeria until a few days ago:

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