Hot Dogs in a Can... American style...
Number of days without a bike theft – 47
Days since it last rained – 1
As we make our final arrangements for the babymoon, it looks as if the rain has stopped. Is this the end of the rain here? Not a chance. It’s just a brief reprieve before it rolls in again.
A lot is being said about the events in Oslo. And it’s getting noticed. The statements of one of America’s shining gems of media – Glenn Beck – likened the camp where the tragedy took place to being a camp for “Hitler Youth.” It kind of makes me embarrassed to be from the states when that’s what the media is noticing.
There seems to be many things here that revolve around the perception of how Americans eat. And a lot of it has to do with hot dogs – on pizza and in cans, so it’s sort of accurate, but still very different. Their perception on us as a people? I’m still not 100% sure, but American tourists seem to be viewed similarly here as they are everywhere else, with the added bonus here that they’re also perceived as being stoned all the time.
But I have to love it when the public face of the country comes across in the form of comments made by Glenn Beck, or in the form of the way we react to tragic events.
Over the years, every terrorist attack on the US – whether or not it was successful – has resulted in greater and tighter security measures. The Patriot Act, the fact that you can’t wear your shoes through airport security or even carry a bottle of water with you, they’ve all meant little more than tighter restrictions on travelers in the US with no real results.
Under the guise of making Americans feel safer, they’ve only succeeded in creating an environment that is more restrictive and actually made them feel less safe. It seems that a terror attack or threat need never succeed any more, and it’s already succeeded. Every time a plot, real or suspected, leads to the loss of rights on US soil, then its effect has been felt.
It was really reassuring to hear the statement issued by Oslo mayor Fabian Stang, about how his country would respond to the tragic events:
“I don’t think security can solve problems. We need to teach greater respect.”
Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg echoed this:
“The Norwegian response to violence is more democracy, more openness and greater political participation.”
Compared to America’s response to attacks, it’s refreshing and completely foreign. In order to prevent dissident attacks, you must give voice to the dissidents? That’s just crazy talk!
The travel restrictions and loss of personal liberties in the states haven’t done much to help anyone except the companies selling water inside the airport. The idea that restrictions don’t prevent terror attacks is not an American idea, but it is a good one.
If You Go:
A foreign land is not just new sights, it’s also a new way of thinking. Take notice.
Love this entry and we totally agree with your view on American responses to threats.
We just arrived to The Hague yesterday!
With only 30% of Americans holding a passport compared to 65% in Canada and 75% in the UK, the Glenn Becks have futile ground in the US to say such things. Americans are great people but as a group, seem to lack much of a global perspective.