November, 2005 - Nr. 11
Letter from the Editor
Dear Reader
When daylight savings time rolls around we know that Christmas is just around the corner. In fact the first Christmas fair took place already in Markham. It was probably a bit too early, yet the next few are not to be missed. We know that The Tannery Mall in Newmarket is having one on the weekend of November the 11th, 12th and 13th. For more information you can call Siggi Block at 519-744-5933. He also runs Alpine Gifts and Sound and we have arranged for him to be able to have Tom Buchwald’s book "Berlin-Vergewaltigte Stadt" there. Pick it up as a Christmas gift for the history buff in your family.
The following weekend (November 18th, 19th and 20th, the Danube Swabian Club in Scarborough is holding the annual; Christmas Fair on their premises. Our friend Siegfried Erck will have a display there with his wonderful handmade floral clocks and he too will carry the Berlin book. Perhaps he will even have a few in Kitchener at the Christkindl Market. Call him at 905542-8183 to find out more.
At the very end of November starts the famous Christkindl Market in Kitchener’s City Hall. (November 30th,December 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th). I can hardly wait to see the many Christmassy items, listen to the music, and smell the familiar odours, like cookies and cakes, candles mingling with fresh pine, which all together put us in the mood for this best loved of all the festivities of Christianity. And if it snows like it did in the first year during the concert of the Forget-me-nots, that would truly be another miracle touching all of us. Never was the ambience more unique and ideal for the Christmas season and us northerners.
In other news, the big news, there were of course all those terrible hurricanes and a devastating earthquake, reminding us that this planet is far from docile, and that we have to become more concerned with what we are doing to it. It is time to look seriously at the responsibility that is ours and ours alone. We the people must stop wasting our resources and demand of our politicians to find ways to make that happen. We have to forgo some of our creature comforts to help this planet.
And no, I am not being melodramatic. It is necessary that we burn less fuel, use less energy, waste less water, cut down fewer trees, and create less garbage. Instead we can walk a bit more, eat healthier, and clean our environment up. Not seeing, speaking or hearing is not the solution. No one is asked to do everything by himself or herself, but if everyone does just a bit, or a bit more than they are already doing, then that is a good thing in the right direction. If we want drinkable water and breathable air we must contribute to the reversal of these dangerous conditions that are influencing our weather patterns.
More big news came from Germany. The first female Chancellor is forming a government. It will be interesting to see what develops! In checking for other things related to things German it has to be said that the new Pope Benedict the XVI is making some unexpected waves. Observers have hailed him to be much more liberal in a forthright way than was expected. He understands how to hold the ground for the Catholic Church by being more inclusive and at the same time upholding the old values. That obviously only comes from having total understanding of human nature and the established order and how to work them together.
You might have noticed some changes again in Echo Germanica, which is now published by Echoworld Communications. We will also soon have a new address to be announced in the next issue. The changes are in more cultural content and with some different correspondents. With young people the tides are always shifting, so we must be flexible. Even some of our much appreciated columnists need occasionally a break. What will remain the same is our endeavour to make the German cultural landscape shine. And this season is destined for some great reporting.
Anything that does not fit into the paper version you can find on the Internet at www.echoworld.com. Since we are having around 60thousand hits per day and going up we are now approaching critical mass and are growing faster than ever.
Tell us what you want us to connect to and we will try to accommodate.
We will be around to some very interesting events, including the annual German Gala Ball in Toronto. See you there?
As
I am writing this Trick or Treaters have continuously interrupted me. After
all, it is Halloween. I saw a lot of witches and warlocks as well as fairies
and princesses tonight!
Some of you asked if I knew of a St. Martin event this year. Unfortunately I have not been able to find out. Too bad, I always liked to walk by the light of lanterns with children and their parents, singing the old songs to the moon and the stars. Perhaps I can still find it out in time for November 11. Otherwise, we shall go and see you around that time at the cemetery. It is the Year of the Veteran. Perhaps after 60 years we can finally lay the past a bit more to rest.
Until then
Sybille Forster-Rentmeister
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