Posted on 12/31/2004 3:28:11 PM PST by wagglebee
Her diary is said to be the second most read book worldwide, after the Bible. It has been translated into 67 languages and transformed into several stage and screen productions. It enshrined its teenage author as one of the 20th century's greatest witnesses to one of history's darkest evils, and it has been a beacon to others imprisoned by fanaticism and hate.
Despite all Anne Frank accomplished, however, it appears that nearly 60 years after her death from typhus in Bergen-Belsen, she remains as stateless as she was when hidden away in her "Secret Annex" in the Netherlands, or wasting away in a concentration camp in Germany.
That, in the view of an Islip town council member, Christopher Bodkin, makes Frank a perfect candidate for honorary American citizenship.
The distinction has been bestowed on only six figures. The first to receive honorary citizenship was Winston Churchill, in 1963. Next was Raoul Wallenberg, the Swedish diplomat who saved thousands of Jews during the Holocaust, in 1981, when Wallenberg received the honor posthumously. Also awarded citizenship posthumously were Mr. and Mrs. William Penn, founders of Pennsylvania, in 1984, and the Revolutionary War hero the Marquis de Lafayette, in 2002. Mother Theresa received honorary citizenship in 1996, a year before her death.
Anne Frank, Mr. Bodkin said, would be the first Jew to be awarded honorary American citizenship, and the first child.
(Excerpt) Read more at nysun.com ...
Same here. I've read her diaries several dozen times over the years.
What is the purpose of this? Some people have lots of time on their hands.
She was not and is not an American citizen. What an insult!
"in Israel, the country's laws do not allow for the granting of citizenship posthumously"
The matter is not for the United States, but for the people of Israel to make a new law or amend an existing law, such that the victims so estranged from a homeland, may go home and end their exodus.
Why?
Bump to that. It's like Mudd's family "clearing his name." What a silly waste of time.
What a waste of legislative effort this would be to award citizenship to a non-American who never even set foot on this continent. Of course the wasted legislative effort would at least distract our congress-critters from spending our money, if only briefly...
Anne Frank said in her diary that her dream was to go to Hollywood and be a star. In any case, she never set foot in America. This "honor" would cheapen her memory, because she is for all countries, for all times.
The senior researcher at the Simon Wiesenthal Center, Aaron Breitbart, also expressed skepticism about the purported restoration of Anne Frank's German citizenship.
"I'm sure the Germans would like to claim her," he said, but he added: "Anne Frank's citizenship was certainly taken away from her, and she was dead by the time the law had been changed, so it's very difficult to say that she became a German citizen after she died."
In summary, he said, "Anne Frank remains stateless."
Anne, if no one else wants to claim you, I would love to welcome you here in America.
I would be happy were this to occur, but IMHO she should be made an honorary citizen of Israel. Both countries? Ok with me.
Israel seems to have some bizarre law that prohibits posthumous citizenship, but I agree she should certainly have honorary citizenship in Israel and the US.
When I visited the Anne Frank Museum in Amsterdam several years ago, I was surprised to learn that Anne's diary was one of dozens of diaries that were written. Anne, along with others, had written diaries with the intent of publishing them once the war was over (and cashing in). Annes' just happened to be thew best written of the lot.
I read that her sister Margot kept a diary as well--but it was lost.
Her diary was also pretty pornographic / erotic in content. In my opinion it wasn't appropriate required reading, but it was in my 6th grade. Yes, we were even reading it aloud.
No. Way. She wasn't, never even came here. Why doesn't the freaking UN declare her a Citizen of the World? Ridiculous and unAmerican to bestow this kind of honour / title!
I had no idea. I find this scandalous!
I don't think it is an insult, though I fail to see the point in doing it, really.
If Anne Frank had lived through the war...the last thing on earth she would have wanted...is someone to print her diary. It is the stuff that teenage girls usually talk about...drama, problems, boys, and life in general. After you go to the house in Amsterdam and understand the stress of living in 24 hours a day...seven days a week...you can't blame her for intense emtions and putting those feeling into print.
As for the citizenship deal...its mostly a joke. We as well go back and convict Hitler of war-crimes or take Chairman Mao into court over the execution of 1000s of Chinese.
Why an insult? Because she died as a German Jew and I see nothing wrong with that.
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