OF UNIONS AND UNITY

Today the 3^rd October 2011 marks the 21^st anniversary of German Unity Day. The new Germany is now 21 years old and has for some time had a key to the front door.

On the 3^rd October 1990 the German Democratic Republic ceased to exist and its territory became part of the Federal Republic of Germany. East German citizens became part of the European Union. This day is now a public holiday celebrated as German Unity Day.

An alternative choice to commemorate the reunification could have been  the 9^th of November, which was the day on 1989 when the Berlin wall came down. That day also coincided with the anniversary of the proclamation of the German Republic in 1918 and the defeats of Hitler’s first Munich Coup in 1923. But German sensibilities were more aware of the fact that the 9^th November 1938 was the night of the first large scale pogroms against the German Jewish population, now known as Kristallnacht. It was therefore decided that the day of formal reunification, the 3^rd October, 1990 would be chosen as a day to commemorate.

This day is celebrated each year with a ceremonial act and a citizens’ festival, Bürgerfest , which is hosted usually in the state capital of the German state presiding over the Bundesrat in the respective year. The Bundesrat is the legislative body that represents the sixteen federal states of Germany at the federal level. This year it is Bonn, the capital city of North Rhine-Westphalia. It seems fitting at the age of 21, that the celebrations should be held it what was once the capital city of the Federal Republic of West Germany.

Some 2053 years ago on the 3^rd October 42 BC (if such dates can be considered as accurate) the first battle of Philippi took place. This battle between the unified forces of Octavian, Marc Antony and Lepidus, the Triumvirs, against the unified forces of Brutus and Cassius, styling themselves as the Liberators, was initially considered a draw; however, the subsequent encounter, on the 23^rd was pretty decisive in favour of the Triumvirs of Octavian and Antony. 

Antony

Octavian (Augustus

Brutus

                                       

Once again Shakespeare made it all come alive:

BRUTUS

Well, to our work alive. What do you think

Of marching to Philippi presently?

CASSIUS

I do not think it good.

BRUTUS

Your reason?

CASSIUS

This it is:

'Tis better that the enemy seek us:

So shall he waste his means, weary his soldiers,

Doing himself offence; whilst we, lying still,

Are full of rest, defense, and nimbleness.

BRUTUS

Good reasons must, of force, give place to better.

The people 'twixt Philippi and this ground

Do stand but in a forced affection;

For they have grudged us contribution:

The enemy, marching along by them,

By them shall make a fuller number up,

Come on refresh'd, new-added, and encouraged;

From which advantage shall we cut him off,

If at Philippi we do face him there,

These people at our back.

CASSIUS

Hear me, good brother.

BRUTUS

Under your pardon. You must note beside,

That we have tried the utmost of our friends,

Our legions are brim-full, our cause is ripe:

The enemy increaseth every day;

We, at the height, are ready to decline.

There is a tide in the affairs of men,

Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;

Omitted, all the voyage of their life

Is bound in shallows and in miseries.

On such a full sea are we now afloat;

And we must take the current when it serves,

Or lose our ventures.

CASSIUS

Then, with your will, go on;

We'll along ourselves, and meet them at Philippi.

BRUTUS

The deep of night is crept upon our talk,

And nature must obey necessity;

Which we will niggard with a little rest.

There is no more to say?

CASSIUS

No more. Good night:

Early to-morrow will we rise, and hence.

BRUTUS

Lucius!

Enter LUCIUS

My gown.

Exit LUCIUS

Farewell, good Messala:

Good night, Titinius. Noble, noble Cassius,

Good night, and good repose.

CASSIUS

O my dear brother!

This was an ill beginning of the night:

Never come such division 'tween our souls!

Let it not, Brutus.

BRUTUS

Every thing is well.

CASSIUS

Good night, my lord.

BRUTUS

Good night, good brother.

TITINIUS MESSALA

Good night, Lord Brutus.

BRUTUS

Farewell, every one.

Indeed farewell noble Brutus. There is something unforgettable about these four lines:

There is a tide in the affairs of men,

Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;

Omitted, all the voyage of their life

Is bound in shallows and in miseries.

Something to do with Carpe Diem I think.

When thinking of unity or union one must recall the Roman Empire:

And the Holy Roman Empire:

One presumes German Unification has stopped at 1990 borders. Mind you, the Empire as depicted in 1600 does give one pause; although, that could indicate that the Republic of Turkey might say "Give us back Spain". There is a tide in the affairs of men….