Community and/or Gemeinschaft

I was just talking with a newly met friend in Boston about ‘community’ and how it doesn’t translate well to German. It almost seems as if in progressive circles in North America community is the best: think community bikeshops, community gardens, and online communities.

However, the next best German translation, Gemeinschaft, doesn’t seem to carry over the enthusiasm for new forms of collective engagements. Could it be that many German speakers are wary of collective structures due to Germany’s history which certainly has contributed to a dark perspective on collectivity. The racist people’s community (Volksgemeinschaft) of the Nazis and the authoritarian collectives in the GDR have made us justifiably suspicious and critical of community reminding us of violence and oppression based on race and ideology.

While the United States have historically put a very strong focus on individuality, there seems to be a surge of community-based activism and civic engagement. Could it be that the individual approach to happiness has also led to isolation and alienation? We need to build open and emancipatory communities that support individuality and collectivity as compliments to each other. Right after the conversation with the aforementioned friend i stumbled upon a fitting quote in the weekly dig (magazine in the Boston area):

The time of the lone wolf is over. Gather youselves! Banish the word struggle from your attitude and your vocabulary. All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.
- The Elders Oraibi, Arizona Hopi Nation