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Does ‘Baron Cut and Paste's’ punishment fit the crime?
Published: 24 Nov 11 14:24 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/opinion/20111124-39091.html
Disgraced former Defence Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg has escaped criminal prosecution for plagiarizing his doctoral dissertation – by making a $20,000 donation to charity. Is that really fair? Have your say.
Guttenberg was once one of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s most popular and promising cabinet ministers. But he got caught up in a nasty plagiarism scandal earlier this year, eventually resigning on March 1 after being accused of lifting at least 23 passages in his dissertation on constitutional law.
But to some the real scandal may be how he managed to escape criminal charges. Prosecutors said they closed their case against Guttenberg this week after he donated €20,000 to a children’s cancer charity.
The practice is actually quite common in Germany’s criminal justice system. Typically only those suspected of very minor crimes are invited to make donations in lieu of prosecution – and the poor are expected to make smaller ones than the rich.
Experts generally seem to see no problem with the arrangement.
Plagiarism expert Volker Rieble, for instance, told the Süddeutsche Zeitung that it was “appropriate,” because other writers haven’t really faced economic damage from Guttenberg’s actions.
But what do you think? Did Guttenberg’s punishment fit the crime? Is it fair that he can now say he has no criminal record?
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Your comments about this article:
"Einstein, Oppenheimer, and countless others have left a "brain drain" on Germany"
I think you have mistaken this Guttenberg to "Johannes Gutenberg".
Sorry, but no. I am referring to the the ex- Minister of Defence of Germany.
And no, Gutti is not in the same category as actual geniuses such as Einstein, because it wasn't his life that was at stake, and his "persecution" was a direct result of his own actions, not his heritage.
We take much lower classes ie Beckam, Anthony Hopkins, Klinsmann, Piers Morgan ect ect. Sometimes the standard has to be lowered to include all talents.
Einstein did not come back to Germany becos the Nazi's evil power was spreading, he had good foresight, he was not a German-reject.
It seems that what the Germans call 'cheaters', the Americans address them as 'honourable stateman'. I am sure this is not a matter of language discrepancy but more the attitude of the whole American society whereby being predatory and narcissistic is the call of the day.
'Narcissism, the new Epidemic!' if you have not heard of that already.
Heard that somewhere ?.
The major problem here is just because you have money you are above the law ,what sort of message is that to send out ?.
@ mos101392
To equate the people who fled the Nazis and helped to bring them down with this cheat is showing there may be a need for a brain infusion somewhere but Guttenberg needs all of his to remember his name.
He should have been prosecuted as any normal person would have been.
I await TL's publishing of the list & cost, perhaps you could compare & contrast the cost between the mid 15th century & the early 21st century?
Already remarks are being made, that former Defence Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg could be a future Chancellor. Perhaps the song "Money makes the world go round" should replace the European Anthem.
There's a reason he's ex- Minister of Defence of Germany! CRIMINAL!
Herr Gutenberg is becoming very well known around the globe.
The word narcissism defines every fiber of his being.
I hope that he causing great embarrasemnet to anyone who associates with him.
By the way, zu Guttenberg (nicknamed zu Googleberg in Germany) got top marks for his 2006 law dissertation from the University of Bayreuth. Uhhmm
Perhaps it is time to closely examine Frau Merkel's credentials?
She makes German advanced educational degrees a joke round the world.
Perhaps were she to focus as much energymon this as she has spent having babies, she would understand!
America is much more forgiving, having given a pass to both of its highest elected officials for their own well-documented plagiarism. Barack Obama admitted to plagiarizing a speech by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick during the Obama 2008 presidential campaign, and Vice President Joe Biden was caught during his graduate Law School program at Syracuse University having copied and submitted as his own work, over 5 pages of copy in a 15-page academic paper. Biden was found guilty, threw himself on the mercy of the University board and promised not to repeat the offense. This, according to the New York Times, persuaded the board to drop the matter and allow Mr. Biden to remain in law school. Biden went on, ironically, to become the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and then had to withdraw from a Presidential race due to again plagiarising in a speech entire passages of a British politician's speech.
No one called for Obama or Biden to be criminally prosecuted. One wonders why?
All humans "borrow, if you will", phrases and thoughts spoken by others. In speaking it is often very expedient to rephrase what someone else has elegantly stated. There is no expectation that I am aware of that would lead me to believe otherwise.
In contrast, the expectation for a dissertation is that the work will be the author's work and will reflect a genuinely unique assimilation of information. The purpose of a speech is inherently different than that of a dissertation.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Biden
During his first year there, he was accused of having plagiarized 5 of 15 pages of a law review article.
" other writers haven¦#39;t really faced economic damage from Guttenberg¦#39;s actions. "
This is not the point- no way. Nobody was really hurt or had to face economic damages.
The reason for the discussion in germany is - a real soap character - in generell - no efforts, no real challenges faced - just playing pop star - without any results - look at his CV - it´s ridiculous - ask him what he really did in his life - we Germans were so stupid.... our running gag now is - Kanada - Kann - er -da - net bleiben? Translated - Can´t he stay there?
Best regards from Bavaria....
I think striking a deal in order to avoid court is mirroring what happens more frequently in the US. The fact that state is part of the deal is not significant (I don't think that the German public would have been better served if zu Guttenberg would have had to do community service for example).
However, there are other significant consequences for him. First of all, he lost his title. Secondly, he "won" the disgrace of many Germans and not only. I would say both weight significantly in his failed political career in Germany. But it seems that there are some in the US who have no problem in working with a cheater and a liar.
"Leave the poor guy alone. He is the best politician Germany has ever had!!!!"
Were you to be right Sally, have you thought about what this would really mean?
Perhaps it may be true to say he is the best man available now. Looking around I see nobody in the Bundestag who I would trust to take 10 Euros across the street, but that is certainly no recommendation for him. As with Great Britain, the voters only have the choice between bad and worse.
@ Mos101392_ I heartily agree with you again. I read one stupid response to you and couldn't take it anymore.
Here Germany had a bright, charismatic and talented politician, and threw him out for sacrifice. Lovely wife. Great potential for a chancellor with class, brains and great conservative values. Really, the way he was treated was like the trench warfare of WWI where you send the troops over the top or one of those stupid sacrifices of the next great conflict. He made significant contributions to the modern German state.
The man paid a severe price. The worst. It was documented and OVER discussed. He was wrong. Academic excellence demands much better. But a lot of Germans are "throwing stones" as if they have never taken advantage of a system to their own benefit. Don't even try it. How many of his accusers have secret Swiss bank accounts, unbeknownst to the government, have dealt in shoddy investments, have embezzled etc.
Well, the best and brightest immigrate and we will continue to use the best from Germany to better our country, as we have for three centuries now.