WHAT IS "KULTUR?"

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 16, 26 February 1915, Page 3 (Supplement)

WHAT IS "KULTUR?"

DEFINITIONS FilO.M A LONDON

newspaper

Germany has boasted and toasted Us "kultur," as well as "The Day. It has held itself up to the world as a shining example of advancement and enlightenment incomparable throughout the "universe. Its boastful attitude is summed up 111 the word., of ProfeS-or Lasson, of Berlin, who, writing to a Dutch friend, rays:— '• Wo are morally and intellectually superior to all mm. Vie are peerless; so, too. are our organizations and our institutions." That is the German'* vainglorious opinion of him-ell. That no one c!- v -c shares that opinion does not trouble loin. for. in his spirit of superiority, he has given the word "kultur quite a new definition. While we like to think of "kultur' as the systematic improvement and refinement of life anel mind, development of learning and taste, cultivation and promotion of all that is good man, animal, and plant, to quote the dict'onarv meanings, Germany regards "kultur" as dishonour, devastation. Backing. looting, butchery, and arrogant brutality and cruelty. "Kultur" is made by the reeking blade, And the pitiless, blasting shell. It finds a homo whe're tho liouscles.i

roam. And the land is a blazing belt,

Its altar it ream of blood and tears '.Mid the counties-, noble dead; God grant us grace that in little spaco This "Kultur" may be sped.

These lino-, published in the " Daily Express." admirably sum up the German definition of "kultur. and won a prize of £f) offered, by that newspaper, which has a ' f "° printed a number \ f other clever definitions of " kultur " >ent in by th.eiir readers, from which we make tbe following selcct'on. "Tile war-chant of the god of Kelt 1 marching over the grave of Conscience. ' "The art of seeing ourselves where others will never see n<." . "The creed of the Potsdamm d.'* "Fnvv. hatred, and malice dispensed with a -l'2-pentimetre gun." ' A ,'oi-v powerful einet'c which lias turned the whole world sick. "The looking-glass which reflects the German mind and soul." " 'Kultur' i.s the animal armed. It worships tlr nuisclo which can hit without being hit back and the cunning which k : lls .vithout being caught. It tries to gain the world by losing its own soul, and £oes down to hell with its own moustache pointing the better wav." , ~ •'One touch of 'kultur' make- th> whole world kill." Here 'is a more enmpr benstvo account of what "kultur' means: "The deification of brute force:, the justification of falsehood: the glorification of pillage; the violation of mnooeiH'e ; tin'enthronement of folf-aggran-deement: the crucifixion of bumaniU; the negation of Christianity; the deathblow to civilization; tbe Sermon 011 too Mount revised by the d'vil: Hell b rho'Cf*st fragrance; man's last insult to God."