His corpse is hardly cold and already German politicians
are competing in suggestions as to how he should be commemorated. Streets and squares
should be named after him; No one has suggested an airport as yet but Mrs. Grütters,
Minister of Culture, suggested setting up a government funded foundation that
will carry his name.
This arrangement whereby politicians name roads,and various publicly funded assets after their deceased colleagues is
very popular in Israel, where even C-List local politicians get streets named
after them. The current prime minister Netanyahu, even arranged for his deceased father, to get a motorway
junction named after him.
Why do politicians, senior as they may be, deserve eternal
commemoration? If their achievements are worth remembering, history books will
see to it.
I much prefer
the British tradition: There are no Margaret Thatcher hospitals, roads or
airports. There are not even Winston Churchill ones.
For once I agree wholeheartedly with your sentiment, although I wonder why - of all the many countries on the globe who name streets after politicians - you pick on Israel as a prime example.
ReplyDeleteAs for the facts unnfortunately you've got them wrong: Churchill Roads in London do exist, of course.
You are right. I have now found three rather insignificant streets named Churchill in London (If they were indeed named after Winston Churchill). However, in other countries they would have named big, central roads after the man and the attitude in England is more low key.
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