Originally, I wrote this text as a letter to our fellow students at Ohio University. I tried to find some thoughts of reflection on what I kept from studying and living with them on my onward travels through the U.S.. Much of my experience is still not processed yet, but I found myself able to articulate some thoughts shortly before boarding my flight back to Leipzig.
"Aloha Friends,
I know that for some of you the new school year already started off this week. For some others, new episodes in their individual lives already took them away from Athens to endeavor new spaces and tasks.
I am therefore arguably late to address you all with some thoughts about the time we spent together as a group of fellow students, and on my individual further travels. Actually, I am about to board my flight out of the US. As of right now, I am sitting at the Los Angeles International Airport waiting to board my flight.
The cheesiest and most general statement first and foremost: behind me lies an utterly interesting time. In early August, I finished up my work with the World Affairs Council on Hawaii. Most of the hours there, I got to reminiscence about the projects we worked on at the GLC.
Essentially, all my tasks there where affiliated with making people aware on why the world matters them. That they hold more strings that they might think. That they conduct a much bigger orchestra than only the instruments to the soundtrack of their own individual island lives.
Eventually, I got to set up a conference outline on Human Security within the concept of global migration, targeted towards both residential and migrant populations – sounds familiar?
Shout outs to Emma Perrin, Kira Remy, Alexandra Phillips, Shayna Siegel, and Clarinda Lyons. Our work helped me a lot during the past months. Due to the special position of Hawaii, as a melting point between military and civil interests, I could both implement focal points on security studies and humanities in a broader sense.
Talking to people on Hawaii, this little spot in midst of the pacific blue, reminded me a lot of talking to people in Athens, this colorful spot in the middle of the Ohioan green. In retrospect, to me both spots represent a very significant societal bubble.
Athens, with its rather progressive and hippie-esque lifestyle, felt very much de-attached from its surroundings. Inside the bubble, the academia ivory tower if you will, people share liberal views, enjoy healthy foods, get to meet exchange students from all over the world to broaden their horizons. Life is good. It is easy going. And apart from finals week, problems seem far away.
However, once I got into the country side the first time, I was astonished by the precariousness and nothingness of the land around our college town. Out here, very different things seemed to matter, and the “Townies”, as some refer to the locals, are confronted very different realities.
On Hawaii, the high-polished façade of a paradisiacal tourism destination also suggests not to realize problems as too apparent. Everything is far away. Carelessness easily becomes a glorified life style. Meanwhile, Hawaiians outside of the Waikiki hotel towers severely struggle with issues like homelessness, or too low wages contextualized with the costs of living.
Before and after my months far off the mainland, I covered a whole new variety of places from the East Coast to the West Coast. It left me rather uncertain about the state of this most controversial country, which in many ways can also be considered, in terms of its diversity for instance, the greatest country in the world. Surely, by now some of you will raise another eye brow while reading this (if you got so far).
What do I mean by that? What is to be said about the United States these days? What does it mean if people seek to make America great again? Ouch! I tried to navigate around these questions for most of the time not to blur my vision and my ability to absorb the American controversies. And quite bluntly, I haven’t found what I am looking for yet.
Since it is easier to complain, let me list the things I am irritated about. I am irritated about the waste of resources, the lack of foresighted action, and the ignorance towards sustainability.
To build houses with walls thin as matchboxes, just to heat them during the winter with the same device to cool down during the summer. To refuse keeping the air pressure of car tires at a reasonable level, not only because it would safe significant amounts of gas (Okay, I get it, gas is cheap!), but it’d also severely increase the safety to drive cars – easy physics, right?
I really don’t know much about physics. However, I like to think that there is something like a common sense existent. Arguably, this common sense is seemed with societal rift zones. Some lay very much open, like the saddening bias around policing and incarceration throughout the U.S. Others, though outwardly pressing in everyday lives, lead a rather crouched existence, hidden away from the daily headlines; like your guy’s parents decades long stagnating wages, your sky-rocketing college tuitions.
I remember the day hearing the news on the Dallas shootings. My friend Jonathan had sent me a hurried text message. I stood within an open air workout area next to Diamond Head, the Hawaiian state monument. At this point, I perfectly sensed the feeling of being in a bubble again. Since the dramatic things occurred very far away, they appeared more like a Hollywood-esque spectacle. During a march in one of the largest American cities, police officers were shot. Wow! What would happen next? All the well-shaped people around me starred at their phones. It almost felt like people were dribbling for more dramatic news.
But no, it did not start any further avalanche of separating violence. The country kept together. Societal leaders all over the place gave great speeches, stimulated common ground, hope, progressive thought, encountering cynicism, and an eye for an eye-revenge.
As much as I am touched by the beauty of nature, the vastness of lands, the economies’ entrepreneurialism, I am utterly impressed by the way America holds together as a nation during their darkest hours. It is when the American people really start to feel and think outside their everyday bubbles, when they start to reach out for one other. It creates a unique inclusiveness.
I believe this inclusiveness does not always need a dark hour. I believe that Global Leadership Center Alumni can help to trigger this kind of caring to a more constant level. Keep getting other people to know what is going on in the world. This can mean a monthly town hall lecture in Nelsonville as much as coming to Leipzig and spread the spirit.
I'd like to thank you for all you taught me during these exciting months in the beautiful bubble called Athens. Be well, do good work, and keep in touch! Yours very sincerely – Friede, or for some of you who are still down to try: Friedrich."
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