in 1000 years when they look back on the ruins of the USA

[Linzyhop]

Originally Posted by RMNIXON

He did renounce his German Citizenship and later became a dual American/Swiss Citizen durring WW II until he died. (1940-55)

There was also talk that he could become the leader of Israel in 1952, but he thought that was a foolish notion even if a very flattering one.

he was still born in Germany.

[Joe_Cool]

Originally Posted by Linzyhop

he was still born in Germany.

So? I was born a baby, and I'm not anymore.

I was born in Germany too. But I'm still an American.

[Linzyhop]

Originally Posted by Joe_Cool

So? I was born a baby, and I'm not anymore.

I was born in Germany too. But I'm still an American.

born on an army base in germany i take it?

listen, he was born in germany, raised in germany, lived the majority of his life in germany. just because he immigrates to the US doesn't suddenly not make him german anymore. it makes him a german immigrant.

we're talking about who will be discussed as important americans in 1000 years. Einstein would qualify as german since he did all of his work in germany. if you really insist he's "american", he still wouldn't qualify since his groundbreaking work wasn't done when he was "american", but prior to his immigration.

[Dumpy Dooby]

Originally Posted by Linzyhop

born on an army base in germany i take it?

listen, he was born in germany, raised in germany, lived the majority of his life in germany. just because he immigrates to the US doesn't suddenly not make him german anymore. it makes him a german immigrant.

we're talking about who will be discussed as important americans in 1000 years. Einstein would qualify as german since he did all of his work in germany. if you really insist he's "american", he still wouldn't qualify since his groundbreaking work wasn't done when he was "american", but prior to his immigration.

Well what about someone like Thomas Paine, who spent about half of his life here, and half of his life in England? Paine is clearly regarded as an American, and contributed a great deal of relevant philosophical information to the Founding Fathers, despite the fact that he was born and raised in England.

I'm not sure how Einstein will be remembered, but if I had to take a guess, I would think he would be remembered as an American, especially since he didn't approve of the Germans during that time.

[Linzyhop]

Originally Posted by Dumpy Dooby

I'm not sure how Einstein will be remembered, but if I had to take a guess, I would think he would be remembered as an American, especially since he didn't approve of the Germans during that time.

um. but not all germans were nazis. he's one of those that fled, like Anne Frank and her family. the Franks moved to Amsterdam but were still Germans!

he still did everything that made him "Einstein" in Germany when he was a German citizen.

if you asked the majority of americans if Einstein was German or American i'd bet they'd say German!

[nbiggershaft]

Originally Posted by Linzyhop

um. but not all germans were nazis. he's one of those that fled, like Anne Frank and her family. the Franks moved to Amsterdam but were still Germans!

he still did everything that made him "Einstein" in Germany when he was a German citizen.

if you asked the majority of americans if Einstein was German or American i'd bet they'd say German!

I bet if you asked the average american who the smartest man in american history was they would say einstein.

[thomez]

Thomas Paine is not a fair example, he even said himself that he had no homeland to speak of.

A better example would be Hamilton, who immigrated here as a teen and stayed the rest of his life... I'd call him an American.

Paine... I would call a wanderer

[Dumpy Dooby]

Originally Posted by thomez

Thomas Paine is not a fair example, he even said himself that he had no homeland to speak of.

A better example would be Hamilton, who immigrated here as a teen and stayed the rest of his life... I'd call him an American.

Paine... I would call a wanderer

It's not fair to compare Hamilton to Einstein because Hamilton came here when he was youngster. That's why I used Paine as my example.

[thomez]

Originally Posted by Dumpy Dooby

It's not fair to compare Hamilton to Einstein because Hamilton came here when he was youngster. That's why I used Paine as my example.

the problem with that is calling Paine an American

[Linzyhop]

Originally Posted by nbiggershaft

I bet if you asked the average american who the smartest man in american history was they would say einstein.

i'd say franklin.