Thomas Mann's Letter to Dean

Thomas Mann responded to the Dean of a German university, in 1937 by letter- that was written in response having his honorary doctorate rescinded by a German university, since he lost German citizenship. Mann writes - " my work comes from a connection to my nation. it is for germany. that connection should not be sundered so easily" "the sole purpose of the national socialist state is this alone and can only be put to this: to put the german people in readiness for the "coming war" by ruthless repression, elimination, extirpation of every stirring of opposition; to make them an instrument of war, infinitely compliant, without a single critical thought, driving by a blind and fanatical ignorance." "that germany would not have any allies, not one - is a single consideration, but the smallest" " other nations treat us, as a nation as doctors treat a sick man - with utmost tact and caution, with inexhaustible if not very flattering patience. " "But it thinks it must play politics with the doctors." ----- This was, in effect, a great writer and Artist saying goodbye to his homeland and hello to ours. When the University rescinded his Doctorate, we were quick to step up to the plate. In his acceptance, at Princeton - Mann writes: `To be grateful for all life's blessings, . . . is the best condition for a happy life. A joke, a good meal, a fine spring day, a work of art, a human personality, a voice, a glance -- but this is not all. For there is another kind of gratitude . . . the feeling that makes us thankful for suffering, for the hard and heavy things of life, for the deepening of our natures which perhaps only suffering can bring` So. Is there any country anywhere like this ?