Albert Einstine

The above mentioned quote conveys the idea of how the society views people with stunning success. He clearly highlights the words, “If my theory of relativity is proven correct, Germany will claim me as a German and France will declare that I am a citizen of the world” (Albert Einstein, 1929).  This illustrates how he is accepted throughout the world for his genius intellect; especially with regard to the theory of relativity. In addition these words also demonstrate how people understood the value of his theory. Einstein is known to have worked at many universities including, University of Zurich, Charles University of Prague, University of Berlin, Princeton University (New Jersey)1. It is said that even the geniuses accepted him as on of the greatest minds to ever set foot on this earth. By the time of World War II he was so well known in America that he would be stopped on the side on the street by strangers wanting him to explain “that theory”. He finally figured out a way to handle the incessant inquiries, by telling them, “Pardon me, so sorry, I am always mistaken for Professor Einstein.”2 This clearly points out how people in the society valued and accepted Einstein.

Among the current issues in the world, social issues can be stated as one that causes the most damage to human life style. These issues can be classified under many sub categories; such as racial, political, religious, tribal, mythical issues, and also not forgetting colour bar. All these issues have one common reason which is, the virtual groups that humans have formed within their mind. As a result there were various consequences such as wars, exploitation, alienation, humiliation. The historical foundation for the quote in question is the mass execution of Jews during World War II. His quote unmistakably points out that if his theory proves untrue, how France will say that he is a German and Germany will declare that he is Jew. This also indicates how he would be discriminated against and he would not be accepted in the society that he was born in if he was an ordinary person as appose to a world renowned scholar. During this time people were physically and psychologically affected by the war. In an era like such Einstein spoke the word above mentioned twice, once in France and the other in the United States, which shows how bad the situation was at that time.

Even today great researches, theorists, inventors exist. Some instances they are from developing or third world countries. They might be even from a particular minority from, a so called virtual group, where they suppressed, due to the status they are born in to or given to by the modern society. From the quote under consideration we could see how well such people are recognised by the world; and this quote sounds more or less a message to such people existing in the world to come up and present their ideas to the world so that the human kind would benefit from their ideas. Although this is the surface message there is also a deeper implication which is really important; and in the quote it is signified in a sarcastic tone. That is in reality people have themselves divided into groups and of which they should get rid off right now in order for the world to grow and prosper.

In conclusion, even though Albert Einstein is not physically alive in the world today his inventions, theories and his words would live on forever. At a time of such turmoil in the world he discovered a way to enhance and bring more creativity to the world. As he sarcastically mentioned in this quote people need to diminish the sense of status in society and start accepting people by what they can offer to better the world. Unfortunately such actions take a lot of will power and unity in the world, factors that are currently not present in the world, thus, his quote holds importance today as much as it did in the past.

                                             Bibliography

1. wikipedia.org. Albert Einstein. 10th of October 2007 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Einst>

2. The New Yorker. 14th January 1939, pg 69

<http://www.newyorker.com/search/query?queryType=nonparsed&query=Einstein+&bylquery=Maloney&month1=01&day1=14&year1=1939&month2=01&day2=14&year2=1939&page=&sort=&submit.x=10&submit.y=5