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What an enlightening read!

I really appreciated the fact that they included the map of German immigrants across the United States in the article. I expected New York to have a large population of immigrants, but the real surprise are the large numbers of German immigrants in the Midwest, California, Washington, and Texas. One line that was particularly fascinating to me was the fact that Germans sometimes looked for land in America that resembled the land of Germany such as the forests of Wisconsin. Also, the German fascination with Native Americans was interesting to read. The article mentioned the many publications and clubs in Germany that resulted on account of the contact between Native Americans and German speaking immigrants, but I wish it had talked more about why this obsession came about.

The Turner movement around the country and especially in Milwaukee is a great example of how the German culture thrived and continues to thrive in American society. I have always been impressed with the fierce dedication of European countries, especially Germany, in their constant rethinking and innovation in terms of the way we look at ourselves and society.

Another highlight of this article was the brief explanation on the origins of Bambi. Prior to reading this article I had a little knowledge of Bambi even though I have never seen the Disney movie. It is very interesting how this story came from such a dark place yet was molded into something for children.

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The article explains how German American culture is today. How the German's synchronized into American Society. German Ancestry is the most proclaimed identity in the United states. If we look at America now we can see various examples of German culture such as churches established by the German people and traditions such as Groundhog Day, there are also breweries, beer gardens, and theater groups all over the country.  Alike, Americans accepted the German culture, Germans accepted the English language, German now has a mixture and various similarities between English and German words. Every day German words became mixed with English sounds and words, such as "kindergarten" "fooBball".  The article basically emphasizes the influence both German and American Culture had on one another.

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                I found the article as a whole quite interesting.  It seems that German-Americans have assimilated into the American way of life, better than any other major ethnic-group.  Many of them learned English fairly quick and yet after time, their knowledge of the German language began to fade.  The assimilation into American culture progressed rapidly due to the negative consequences of the First World War.  I am not for sure, but I have been told that before the war, Harner use to be Heiner.

                Yet many German’s continued to hold on to their roots and introduce them into American culture.  Foods such as pretzels, hamburgers, and sausage made their way to American cuisines.  Known for a good work ethic, many German intellects brought their knowledge to America and helped create some of the country’s most crowning achievements, such as the atomic bomb and NASA. 

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     The article I read from the Max Kade institute made me reevaluate my own German heritage and how it's been absent from my life. I am of German and Polish heritage. My mother's family was as Polish as Polish could be. My father's family...well they're a little more American. As a child, I remember nearly nothing "German" from my father's side of the family. I think one time we had German potato salad? Or maybe it was Americanized. I definitely told people I was German:

The first day of school every single year: "Kotlzer? Koller? Kollzer? Kolser?"

Me: "It's pronounced 'Kelzer' actually. It's German. Silent 'O'. Whatever."

     My mother was proud of her heritage and still finds nearly any Polish joke funny, but she seemed fine with raising an All-American family until she realized my family had virtually no traditions. Well, we had traditions like waffles on Sundays or summer camping trips, but nothing that connected to our heritage.
One year my mom had the best idea ever: Gingerbread Houses. How German is that, right? German enough. So every year the day after Thanksgiving our house smells spectacular. We knead the dough while my mom carefully plays architect. Each year a member of my family chooses a house design to make. We've done everything from classic elf houses to Dorthy's house in the land of Oz. We constructed Neuschwanstein castle (right) last year! My mother and I visited the castle when we were in Europe last summer. The trip to Europe made us realize how awesome Germany really is. I wish that we had hung onto more of our culture but I think gingerbread is a gut stand-in for now.
     Anyways, my mom decided to share this brand new tradition with all of my German cousins. All 30 of them to be exact. Every year dozens of my cousins are awed by my family's masterful creation and then try to immiate with their own miniature house. Usually it just ends up being globs of frosting and candy canes, but sometimes you get a standout like Santa getting eaten alive by gummy worms.
So, in attempts to try to tie this all together...
Gingerbread is awesome by itself. But for me it's more than that. I'm so thankful for it. I know that sounds weird but really, without it, I'd hardly even feel German.

I found it interesting how German immigrants moved to the northern states and that they went to forested/wooded areas like those in Europe. Also it was kinda cool to see my dad's side of my family came with the surge of German immigrants in the 1800's. I didn't realize how important land was to immigrants, espically German ones. I wasn't surprised to read that many communites in the US and Canada took up Oktoberfest though. Its disappointing how German culture has slowly faded or been forgotten in America when other nationalitites still hold onto their cultural heritage. Although, I'm sure it didn't help that we fought two world wars with germany and that increased distrust of Germans during the wartime period.