speeches
60th Anniversary of the Heidelberg German-American Institute
Ambassador William R. Timken, Jr.
Heidelberg
November 16, 2006
As prepared for delivery.
Mayor Weber, Minister-President Oettinger, Dr. Osten, friends of the Heidelberg D.A.I.
It is a pleasure and a privilege to celebrate with you the 60th anniversary of the Heidelberg German-American Institute.
Jakob, I would like to congratulate you and your talented and very dedicated staff. Sue and I visited the OneWorldSchool last month. We had the opportunity to learn more about this ambitious new initiative and the whole range of your activities. It is obvious that this is not a nine-to-five job for any of you. Your commitment shows. You are all making a difference.
Mayor Weber, Minister-President Oettinger, on behalf of the Embassy and the Consulate in Frankfurt, I would like to thank you for providing such strong support to the German-American Institute here in Heidelberg.
You help these dedicated people carry on the traditions of a partnership -- and a friendship -- that is an essential element not just of transatlantic, but of world politics. Minister-President Oettinger, I remember your words at another 60th anniversary celebration. Just a few weeks ago in Stuttgart, you recalled the importance of the “Speech of Hope” by Secretary of State James Byrnes in September 1946. That speech set the stage for a new era in German-American relations. It recognized and reaffirmed the common values and goals that we share -- human rights, freedom, justice, peace and tolerance. Today our two countries are the backbone of a growing community of democratic nations. Together we laid the foundations for the first period of democratic peace in the history of Europe.
Today, the challenges facing both our nations are plain for all to see. In the United States, we have just seen democracy in action. There are vigorous debates going on in the U.S. That’s healthy and as it should be – especially in times of challenge.
The election will change some things in Washington, but President Bush has assured the American people and the world that he will work with the leadership of the new Senate and House of Representatives to make these next two years productive ones. The Executive Branch, in cooperation with the new Congress, will continue to work with allies to promote our common interests and shared values. As the President's Representative in Germany, my goal has not changed, namely to build on and improve the bilateral relationship between our two great nations. The same bipartisanship and common sense for solutions that President Bush has called for carries over to our work at the Embassy in Berlin, our Consulates, the German-American Institutes, and other like-minded organizations around the country.
This German-American Institute, established as an Amerika Haus 60 years ago, just weeks after Secretary Byrnes delivered the Speech of Hope, was meant to be a beacon of light where Germans could rediscover those common values that are so basic to the heritages of both our countries.
The objective was to foster a rebirth of Germany’s traditional civic culture. Today, sixty years later, the vibrancy of the Heidelberg D.A.I. is proof of the strength and vitality of a transatlantic civic culture. Your good work reflects the wide array of private, government, and volunteer activities which define our partnership.
To me, that is what civic culture is all about. It means developing multiple points of positive connections between people. Minister-President Oettinger, getting back to a point you made at the Speech of Hope celebration last month, that’s how we can make sure that people not lose sight of our common values, and more importantly, our common goals. Coming from the private sector, I know that the transatlantic relationship is mutually beneficial, dynamic and open to innovation and opportunity. As CEO of the Timken Company and during the year I served as head of the National Association of Manufacturers, I never stopped encouraging the business community to play an active role in the development of public policy by becoming part of political and social processes.
I am especially pleased that the German-American Institute here in Heidelberg is developing public-private partnership initiatives. I would urge all those here this evening to actively support these initiatives – both financially and through constructive involvement.
At the Embassy, we have been very encouraged by the generous response from the private sector and other organizations in support of two new exchange programs -- the Eastern German Teachers Initiative and “Windows on America.” Sue and I are particularly excited about “Windows on America” because it helps to make an American dream come true for young people who might not otherwise have the opportunity to experience another culture. “Windows on America” is a two-week exchange program designed to give a more diverse segment of young people, including minorities and those >from less financially advantaged backgrounds, the opportunity to visit America. Time and time again, we hear how exchange experiences can change perspectives – and lives. Learning to see the world as others see it opens up whole new possibilities.
In the postwar era, generations of international students and researchers – the alumni of Humboldt, Fulbright, and other programs -- created a broad global community of expertise and knowledge. This community continues to be a seedbed for the enormous technological innovation that characterizes our times. This is one of the forces of globalization – and it is a very good thing. Experts have observed that centers of innovation tend to be at the intersection of different cultures, where beliefs, lifestyles, and knowledge mingle. People see new combinations of ideas with greater ease. That applies not just to science and technology, but also the fields of business, art, culture and education. I believe it is essential that we broaden those connections between cultures and peoples. Given the challenges that face our societies, we cannot afford to do otherwise. So, exposing people to new ideas, and sharing those ideas – through programs, exchanges, and library initiatives – is just as important to the German-American relationship as it was sixty years.
Jakob and the whole D.A.I. team, your work is cut out for you! We look forward to working with you in the future. Congratulations. For the D.A.I., the best is yet to come!
