TURNER MOVEMENT
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OVERVIEW
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FRIEDRICH JULIUS JAHN
Friedrich Julius Jahn was the founding father of a concept of physical training named "Turnen." His goal was to educate the youth to become aware of a healthy concept of being German when Napoleon occupied large parts of the territory that would become Germany. Jahn's first athletic field opened in Berlin in 1811, and his movement spread across all cardinal points within the German-speaking territory. The athletes wore grey linen dresses and were trained in climbing, broad jumps, physical training, and target practice. The athletic fields should form defensible citizens without thrill instructions. His attitude against foreigners, especially against French people, is seen by many historians within Napoleon's occupation. His good intentions to prepare Germans to stand up against the French outweighs controversial aspects about his person. His concept emphasized the importance of physical fitness, which he believed was essential for the development of a healthy and strong nation. The Turner Movement aimed to create a community of physically fit and morally upright citizens who would be ready to defend their homeland against foreign aggression. Jahn's emphasis on physical fitness and national identity made him a controversial figure in German history. Furthermore, Jahn's concept of Turnen influenced the development of gymnastics as a sport. Gymnastics became an Olympic event in 1896 and remains a popular sport today. In addition, Jahn's philosophy of physical fitness and self-improvement continues to influence fitness and bodybuilding culture worldwide.
Jahn's Turner Movement plays together with another movement that arose during that time, namely the singers' movement, a significant role in the unifying process of Germany. Also, his Turner Movement can be seen as the forerunner of modern bodybuilding.
THE TURNER MOVEMENT IN THE U.S.
The turner movement was introduced to the United States by Jahn's former students Karl Beck and Karl Follen. In 1828, they published Jahn's training guide in Northampton, titled "Treatise on Gymnastics taken chiefly from the German of F.L. Jahn." The guide included new instructions on physical training that helped promote the movement. Jahn's friend Franz Lieber also played a role in spreading the turner movement in the United States.
Throughout the 19th century, German immigrants established Turner Associations across the United States. In the first two decades after the failed German Revolution of 1848/49 and the arrival of the Forty-eighters, more than 40 associations were founded in cities such as Cincinnati, Boston, Philadelphia, Louisville, St. Louis, and New York. The associations provided training not only in gymnastics but also in fencing and swimming. Emphasis was placed on cultural aspects and education.
These Turner Associations were also the first contact points for German immigrants arriving in the United States. They served as a way for German immigrants to maintain their language and culture while adapting to American society. Many Turner Associations also supported the abolitionist movement and were involved in social and political issues of the time.
THE TURNERS' LEGACY TODAY
The Turner movement, which emerged in 19th-century Germany and eventually made its way to the United States, was founded on principles that resonate deeply with the values of justice, humanity, civil rights, and democracy. Their ideals were rooted in the belief that a strong, educated, and engaged citizenry was essential for a thriving democracy. Thus, the original Turners were champions of freedom and equality.
However, as with many movements that begin with noble intentions, there is a danger that the Turner movement, over time, may have been infiltrated by individuals with far less virtuous aims. History has shown that when a movement gains influence, it can attract those who seek to co-opt its power for their own purposes. It is conceivable that some elements within the movement, far removed from the original ideals of the 19th-century Turners, could have twisted its principles to serve agendas that are anything but just, democratic, or aligned with civil rights.
This potential for corruption is not unique to the Turner movement. It is a risk inherent in any organization or ideology that garners significant social or political influence. When we look at the Turner movement today, it is crucial to distinguish between those who genuinely uphold the movement's foundational values and those who might be using its legacy as a cover for intentions that have nothing to do with justice or democracy.
This concern brings to mind the dystopian world depicted in the series The Man in the High Castle. In this alternate history, a dream made its way abroad and everything on the surface appears patriotically American, yet underneath lies a sinister reality where freedom is a facade, and foreign nationalism has taken root in what should be the land of liberty. The series starkly illustrates how easily the symbols of patriotism and freedom can be co-opted by forces that have nothing to do with true American values and everything to do with an oppressive, foreign-born nationalism that seeks to destroy them. Fortunately, in the real world, there are tools to prevent such pervert subversion.
The noble ideals of the original Turners deserve to be remembered and honored, but we must also ensure that their name is not tarnished by immigrants who seek to exploit it for purposes that are fundamentally at odds with the values they fought to uphold.