Germany was one of the last countries in Europe to respond in the race for the Americas and were, consequently, unable to conquer for themselves “…a place in the sun.” The excerpt from Kaiser Wilhelm’s speech to the North German Regatta Association (1901) emphasizes the pride Wilhelm II felt regarding their conquered land. He takes his pride a step further by attempting to inspire fellow Germans to pick up and go to one of the ancient Hanseatic cities.
At one point in his speech, Wilhelm addresses the pettiness he sees in peoples’ lives but covers his insult by softening his words. He does so by stating they have now learned to look beyond what is by looking to distant shores. This statement strikes me as interesting. While on the surface it seems harmless, one truly uncovers the rudeness of Wilhelm’s suggestion when they ponder his sentiment. This caused me to think about politicians who say one thing but mean another. In light of this, listeners would be well-served to pay attention and to listen for subtle ideas hidden between the lines.
In today’s world fewer nations are trying to conquer new lands defeat other nations. However, one can relate this story to the business world or the world’s economy. Wars today aren’t always fought in conventional ways. Increasingly, today’s wars are economic in nature. Countries fight to control the world’s wealth and try to get other nation’s resources.
The text book talks about how William was the first Emperor of unified German, yet Wilhelm’s speech was given thirteen years after Williams reign. His speech helps define what Germany was like at the time and depicts its political ambitions of the day. Speech to the Northern Germans is an example of their politics and how it evolved from the beginning of the countries unification. The text book gives an idea of the beginning and the Speech continues to describe the transition of Germany.
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