Receiving gifts is nice. But mega-gift from China was a little too much for the oldest city in Germany.
Let’s be clear: the Moselle valley, not revolution. And when the next year in Trier, Catholic and humble Trier in the West of Germany, right on the border with Luxembourg, will be erected an enormous monument to Karl Marx, this should not be interpreted as blind worship to socialism and communism.
Since the fall of the “iron curtain” in Eastern Europe toppled from their pedestals countless monuments to Marx, Lenin and other socialists.
Facts: Karl Marx
Philosopher and writer, the most influential philosopher in the labor movement.
Born in Trier on 5 may 1818.
The son of wealthy parents, had six brothers and sisters.
He received his doctorate in philosophy at Jena in 1841.
His main work, Capital, published in 1867, with the subtitle “Critique of political economy.”
Died in London on 14 March 1885.
To give up is not easy
But what medium size German city, when the people’s Republic wants to give him a great gift? Is it possible to say “no” to a bronze statue of a man born in the city, the statue with a height of 6.5 m, which is fully funded?
Since, as Chinese Consul General in Frankfurt in January 2015, unexpectedly spoke about the great gift that was to be expected from the Beijing authorities, the debate in Trier continued. The statue was created by renowned master From Vasanam (Wu Weishan).
Will not turn himself in Trier arena Chinese propaganda? Does a beautiful, old city, perhaps the oldest in all of Germany to have a huge bronze of a socialist square Simeonstiftplatz — right in the centre?
The Romans were here long before Marx
All travel guides are dominated by photos of large city gate of Roman times, the Porta Negra. In the fourth century Constantine had elevated the town to the residence of the Emperor. This wants to be proud of Trier in addition to good wines and beautiful surrounding scenery.
But it is of some historical significance is the fact that in 1818 the city was a bookworm, a thinker, experiencing the interest in employment and property relations, a kind of type, who liked to think and write. In 1848 he, along with Friedrich Engels wrote “the Communist Manifesto”, and eventually became one of the greatest masterminds and the shining stars of the world political movement.
Facts: Trier
German city in the Federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
Centrally located in the Moselle valley, near the border with Luxembourg.
The city is home to about 100 thousand people.
In Trier many cultural monuments from the times of the Romans, it was founded as Augusta Treverorum in 16 BC.
With 1473 in the city has its own University.
He passed away before many things went wrong
In April, the city Council overwhelmingly agreed to accept the statue. 42 people voted “Yes”. 7 voted against. 4 abstentions.
Marx was a philosopher that violence was never involved, and died in 1883, so it shouldn’t be held accountable for what some bad modes in the following years, pressed him to his breast, says the mayor of Trier, a social Democrat Rainer Martz (Marz Reiner).
All Christian Democrats, members of the City Council, voted, to pay homage to Marx. This is due to the history and a little bit — with the prospect of a little cash in on the Communist. Every year in Trier come tens of thousands of wealthy Chinese tourists and fans of Marx. And, of course, there would be nothing wrong if the hordes of tourists will flood into the city to see the statue in connection with the 200-year anniversary of Marx in may next year.
Against was “Green” and the liberal FDP, as well as some residents of the city. To accept the gift means to accept someone who presents it, said many. And the people’s Republic of China with its numerous human rights violations doesn’t deserve it.
Ideology plays no role
Suncin Wang (Wang Shunqing), Consul General in Frankfurt, was familiar with these so unpleasant to China’s objections. But during your visit to the town Hall of Trier in October last year, he reassured everyone.
After the cultural revolution in China we are pursuing a new principle, namely, that ideology should not play any role in our relations with other countries, explained Wang.
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung received a letter from the Chinese Embassy in Berlin. The Embassy believed that the German press is too much “selective response” to the statue of Marx, gave the impression that the monument was imposed on the city.
“The monument is exclusively a gift as a token of friendship, it should not be somehow exaggerated to interpret, to politicize or ideologize,” wrote Chinese.
In March, square Simeonstiftplatz put the figure of Marx in two dimensions. She was supposed to give people the notion that later there will come to them in bronze 200th anniversary — may 5, 2018.
Compromise
The statue was big. And there are limits. The city Council decided that the statue will need to decrease from 6.5 to 5.5 metres including a furnished in the form of a ladder base on which anyone could sit down and rest at the feet of the philosopher.
The parties agreed on economic issues. The Chinese will pay for the statue, transport in Trier and the Foundation. The municipality of Trier will pay for the installation — as the basis and the superstructure, two main concepts of Marx.
