August 24th, 2006, 7:35 am
Seeing WWIII in a Museum
Denmark, Copenhagen
Seeing so much of the history of WWII, it is impossible for me not to think of the current WWIII.
How apathetic we Americans are to the “conflict in the middle east,” - the convenient label placed on TV news graphics, a ceaseless and confounding stream of crying old women and bandaged babies.
Decontextualized.
I see the images of resistance in the admittedly small Danish Resistance Museum, which presents the efforts of the Danish to sabotage their Nazi occupiers in the 40s. Here, there is a contraption used to blow up trains, a special powder to throw off the scent of trained German dogs, an illegal printing press which printed underground news.
It becomes clear to me: Banning lip gloss and shampoo on my flights won’t make it safer.
Although I cannot agree with and do not condone the actions of the terrorists, it is clear to me that ideological, patriotic resistance to U.S. actions abroad will not be thwarted.
Just as the Danes found ways around the Nazi rules, managing to smuggle nearly all of their small Jewish population to safety in Sweden, so too will the terrorists find ways around the rules and regulations of our flights.
There is no stopping someone who fervently believes that he is doing the right thing.
CNN was on in the lobby of the Copenhagen hostel. We gathered around, all nationalities, on the pop-inspired furniture, to watch the countdown to the Israeli-Hezbollah cease fire. Many of us only stayed for a moment, on the way back to our rooms.
In this historic moment, what was CNN doing?
The correspondent was quizzing airport-bound Americans.
“Can you bring lip gloss?” - “yes,” answered a little girl, incorrectly.
“Gel deodorant?” - “no,” an old man shook his head emphatically, correctly.
During a moment I believe is crucial in this developing story of restrictions on American travel abroad - a sure sign that the world is not as safe as it used to be, no? - our “top news destination” was offering us pop-tidbits.
Cotton candy content.
Is it any wonder then, that Americans are so apathetic to the suffering of others when we are so woefully underinformed?
True, we live in the Information Age, where everything can be discovered with a little mouse work and some smarts.
But our president mocks higher education; guffing about them there eggheads at that school he went to. Our public education system is so grossly incompetent that few Americans make it to adulthood with a taste for learning or the practical ability to do so.
Instead, those of us who can aspire to nest; IKEA lighting and Home Depot decks. The world is confusing and complicated, especially if you lack - as I do - a base understanding of world history and geopolitics. Much easier to just worry about yourself.
I see a future. I hope I am wrong. But I see a future in which rights are exchanged for convenience and safety.
We want our lip gloss on flights, so we will consent to the profiling system, when it comes, as a sensible solution to avoid ‘wasting time’ looking at people who ‘aren’t terrorists.’
“Finally,” we will say, breathing a sigh of relief, as we waltz through security, eyeing suspiciously Muslims we do not know. Those who resist the profiling - already well on its way to full-fledged existence with the mysterious no-fly lists - will be mocked as left wing loonies.
We will give up our freedom with the idea that it somehow makes us safer. But looking at the homemade radio antennae in the Danish Resistance Museum, I disagree with the idea that we can ever be made safe.
The war feels so much closer in Europe. Everyone we meet has an opinion. Every time we travel, it’s a reminder that we are engaged in a full out war - where resisters blow up trains, planes and people in order to get their point across.
August 24th, 2006 at 9:00 am
Your grandfather checks your blog daily, so I thought I would see what you were doing. I am glad you enjoyed Poynter. The man who founded it, Nelson Poynter, has some unusual ties into my dissertation on the Hays Office and film censorship, something I learned while researching at U of Chicago a few summers ago.
I thought your “Invisible Man” story from Gulfport was very well done.
Are you on assignment in Europe, or are you freelancing between career moves?
August 25th, 2006 at 12:02 am
I’ve come to read your blog fairly regularly, and I figure you enjoy as I do comments on you’re meanderings.
I like you’re writing, and I need to say first that I mean no offense when what follows is somewhat critical.
Occupations have worked. In fact, because we didn’t occupy Germany after WWI, we left the country to it’s own devices. Lacking all national pride, and left with a battle scarred country, it was easy pickings for Hitler. After WWII, we did occupy, and the country was able to rebuild successfully into a source of cultural and creative freedom. A bastion of engineering talent. Keep in mind this is only sixty years later, which in the whole scheme of things is a very short time. Just take a look at the Israel/Palestine conflict.
This is not to say that occupations always work, but it is false wisdom to argue the opposite.
It’s hard to take foreign conflicts into context. I sometimes wonder if America outright admitted it was there simply for oil and to take out a dictator so famous he was made gay with Satan in SouthPark: The Movie, if people would calm down and say “well, i guess that’s legit.”
However, I will say I wholeheartedly agree about the giving up of our freedoms. How many freedoms will we hand over to the government in order to secure our safety? The famous quote by Mr. Franklin, “Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.” is all too true. A lot of people enjoy the smoking ban in bars, but it is a freedom we have given up to the government. If people truly did prefer smokefree bars, then the free markets of capitalism that have made this country so great would surely provide. If there is money to be made, somebody will attempt to make it.
Sorry I went off so long there, and while I know my points maybe controversial, especially as it comes to socialist doctrine, I thought I might throw in my two cents.
Have fun on your trip.
August 29th, 2006 at 5:33 pm
I too enjoy your posts and try to check them as often as possible. I have said again and again that we are at war, regarless of whether the rest of America or her media are willing to admit it. Just ask any soldier returning to the U.S. after a long tour in the desert.
Love, glad you’re having fun. O
August 31st, 2006 at 5:33 am
I too have become a fan of your writing. I think you hit nails right on their heads here. I also enjoyed responder Jimmy. Best in your continuing adventure and thanks for sharing.