AFGHANISTAN (2)
Readers of this blog will know that I think the war in Afghanistan is futile and unwinnable.
I am heartened to read that the Afghanistan Study Group in Washington agrees with me, and for pretty much the same reasons. The link to their recently published report is here.
Walter Blotscher
Monday, 13 September 2010
Sunday, 12 September 2010
AUSTAUSCH
Today we welcomed a 16-year old German girl to our house. She will be spending the next four weeks here, as part of an exchange ("Austausch") between her school in Northern Germany and my daughter's school. The exchange programme has been going on for many years, and both my sons went on it. They had a great time, and still keep in touch with the Germans they met through it.
I think exchanges between children from different countries are a great thing. They learn at a relatively young age that although the food, the tastes, the language and the culture are all different, at heart everybody is pretty much the same, a kid wanting to have good experiences and fun. We have had children from France, Germany and Algeria staying with us; and our children have been to Finland, Germany and England. My younger son spent a year in Switzerland as a 16-year old, and it did him a world of good. Against that background, when they listen to politicians going on about "too many immigrants" (as they are wont to do at the moment, at least in Denmark), they look puzzled. Denmark may be nice, but who wants to be just Danish and nothing else?
Already after 4-5 hours, we are getting on in a mixture of English, Danish and German, and my rusty German (I went to school, and worked, in Germany as a lad) is creaking its way out of its decidedly dusty mental cupboard. It's uplifting, and gives hope for the future.
Walter Blotscher
Today we welcomed a 16-year old German girl to our house. She will be spending the next four weeks here, as part of an exchange ("Austausch") between her school in Northern Germany and my daughter's school. The exchange programme has been going on for many years, and both my sons went on it. They had a great time, and still keep in touch with the Germans they met through it.
I think exchanges between children from different countries are a great thing. They learn at a relatively young age that although the food, the tastes, the language and the culture are all different, at heart everybody is pretty much the same, a kid wanting to have good experiences and fun. We have had children from France, Germany and Algeria staying with us; and our children have been to Finland, Germany and England. My younger son spent a year in Switzerland as a 16-year old, and it did him a world of good. Against that background, when they listen to politicians going on about "too many immigrants" (as they are wont to do at the moment, at least in Denmark), they look puzzled. Denmark may be nice, but who wants to be just Danish and nothing else?
Already after 4-5 hours, we are getting on in a mixture of English, Danish and German, and my rusty German (I went to school, and worked, in Germany as a lad) is creaking its way out of its decidedly dusty mental cupboard. It's uplifting, and gives hope for the future.
Walter Blotscher
Saturday, 11 September 2010
9/11
It's hard to know what to write about 9/11. I don't have a theme, which encapsulates the whole thing, more a series of comments and questions. For what it's worth, here they are.
Will the annual ceremony in Manhattan, which marks the destruction of the twin towers, turn into a national day of mourning for all those killed in war, a bit like Remembrance Day in the U.K., which is held on 11 November each year? I hope it does. For although what happened was terrible, it doesn't seem right to elevate the 3,000-odd killed and give them almost mythical status. Ordinary people have been killed in terrorist attacks elsewhere - indeed, they are still being killed in such attacks today - and their lives were just as important, the grief of their friends and relatives just as strong.
9/11 has a peculiarly American feel to it, starting with the date (the opposite of that used in most of the rest of the world). Perhaps it is that uniqueness that makes Americans want to cling on to remembering it so fervently. Europeans, and other nations, have after all experienced bouts of terrorism and destruction before, not least during the Second World War. This was for America not only a terrible event, but pretty much a first. That's bound to have an effect.
I am dismayed by the attempt of many, both Americans and foreigners, to equate terrorism with Islam, as evinced by the row over the building of a Muslim cultural centre on Lower Manhattan, not far from Ground Zero. If 9/11 teaches us anything, then it is (in my view) the need for mutual respect between cultures and religions. The witless American pastor from Florida, Mr Terry Jones, has had his 15 minutes of fame, but it is sad that supposedly religious people can be so stupid; returning to the prejudices of the Reformation does not make the modern world any better. President Obama has tried to make this point, but he needs to keep on making it.
I hope that the eventual redevelopment of the Ground Zero site will make the process of reconciliation easier. As long as there was a big hole in the ground, it was like a scar that refused to heal. But new buildings, including a memorial, will in time demonstrate more clearly than anything else that life can, and does, move on.
Walter Blotscher
It's hard to know what to write about 9/11. I don't have a theme, which encapsulates the whole thing, more a series of comments and questions. For what it's worth, here they are.
Will the annual ceremony in Manhattan, which marks the destruction of the twin towers, turn into a national day of mourning for all those killed in war, a bit like Remembrance Day in the U.K., which is held on 11 November each year? I hope it does. For although what happened was terrible, it doesn't seem right to elevate the 3,000-odd killed and give them almost mythical status. Ordinary people have been killed in terrorist attacks elsewhere - indeed, they are still being killed in such attacks today - and their lives were just as important, the grief of their friends and relatives just as strong.
9/11 has a peculiarly American feel to it, starting with the date (the opposite of that used in most of the rest of the world). Perhaps it is that uniqueness that makes Americans want to cling on to remembering it so fervently. Europeans, and other nations, have after all experienced bouts of terrorism and destruction before, not least during the Second World War. This was for America not only a terrible event, but pretty much a first. That's bound to have an effect.
I am dismayed by the attempt of many, both Americans and foreigners, to equate terrorism with Islam, as evinced by the row over the building of a Muslim cultural centre on Lower Manhattan, not far from Ground Zero. If 9/11 teaches us anything, then it is (in my view) the need for mutual respect between cultures and religions. The witless American pastor from Florida, Mr Terry Jones, has had his 15 minutes of fame, but it is sad that supposedly religious people can be so stupid; returning to the prejudices of the Reformation does not make the modern world any better. President Obama has tried to make this point, but he needs to keep on making it.
I hope that the eventual redevelopment of the Ground Zero site will make the process of reconciliation easier. As long as there was a big hole in the ground, it was like a scar that refused to heal. But new buildings, including a memorial, will in time demonstrate more clearly than anything else that life can, and does, move on.
Walter Blotscher
Friday, 10 September 2010
KOSOVO (3)
After Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence from Serbia was declared legal by the International Court of Justice, the Serbs went into their thinking box. The result was a unanimous resolution by the U.N.'s General Assembly, calling for dialogue between the two sides.
This was not in fact what Serbia had originally wanted. In an earlier draft, Serbia had rejected Kosovo's secession and asked for new negotiations on the legal status of its former entity. However, realpolitik then prevailed. The E.U., which Serbia wishes to join and most of whose members have already recognised Kosovo, let it be known that the earlier draft, if passed, would end Serbia's path to accession. Serbia blinked.
In effect, this marks the end of Serbia's fight to keep Kosovo, and a beginning of the end-game for resolving the Kosovo problem. Serbia won't admit that, of course, but that is what it is.
Walter Blotscher
After Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence from Serbia was declared legal by the International Court of Justice, the Serbs went into their thinking box. The result was a unanimous resolution by the U.N.'s General Assembly, calling for dialogue between the two sides.
This was not in fact what Serbia had originally wanted. In an earlier draft, Serbia had rejected Kosovo's secession and asked for new negotiations on the legal status of its former entity. However, realpolitik then prevailed. The E.U., which Serbia wishes to join and most of whose members have already recognised Kosovo, let it be known that the earlier draft, if passed, would end Serbia's path to accession. Serbia blinked.
In effect, this marks the end of Serbia's fight to keep Kosovo, and a beginning of the end-game for resolving the Kosovo problem. Serbia won't admit that, of course, but that is what it is.
Walter Blotscher
Thursday, 9 September 2010
BACON
One of the adverse consequences of my sons' leaving home is a reduction in the amount of meat in the house. My daughter is vegetarian, and my wife likes to humour that, so poor old dad has to go along with it. Which can be tough at times, particularly when I see two packs of bacon staring at me whenever I open the fridge. Bacon is probably the food I like more than any other, so this is not easy.
And that is so, even though the bacon in Denmark is not great. Being a pig-infested country, you would think that it was the tops; but it is not, it's that miserable kind that shrinks in half as soon as it hits the pan. A good thick rasher is just not to be had. Danes are always telling me that the best stuff is all sent to the U.K. and elsewhere, but couldn 't they have reserved a few packets for people like me?
Anyway, despite my daughter's vegetarianism and the poor quality of Danish bacon, my patience was exhausted this evening. Out came one of the packs, and all eight slices hit the pan. After duly shrivelling down to the size of four, they formed the basis for two rather large bacon and cheese toasties. Not good for my physical health, but terrific for my mental health, as I settled down to watch the U.S. Open quarter final on the telly.
Walter Blotscher
One of the adverse consequences of my sons' leaving home is a reduction in the amount of meat in the house. My daughter is vegetarian, and my wife likes to humour that, so poor old dad has to go along with it. Which can be tough at times, particularly when I see two packs of bacon staring at me whenever I open the fridge. Bacon is probably the food I like more than any other, so this is not easy.
And that is so, even though the bacon in Denmark is not great. Being a pig-infested country, you would think that it was the tops; but it is not, it's that miserable kind that shrinks in half as soon as it hits the pan. A good thick rasher is just not to be had. Danes are always telling me that the best stuff is all sent to the U.K. and elsewhere, but couldn 't they have reserved a few packets for people like me?
Anyway, despite my daughter's vegetarianism and the poor quality of Danish bacon, my patience was exhausted this evening. Out came one of the packs, and all eight slices hit the pan. After duly shrivelling down to the size of four, they formed the basis for two rather large bacon and cheese toasties. Not good for my physical health, but terrific for my mental health, as I settled down to watch the U.S. Open quarter final on the telly.
Walter Blotscher
Wednesday, 8 September 2010
FRENCH PENSIONS
I said earlier that the French Government's announcement in June that it intended to raise the retirement age, one of the lowest in Europe, from 60 to 62 would not be received with open arms. Far from it. At least a million people took to the streets this week to protest against the proposal (and other mooted austerity measures), while a 24-hour national strike disrupted public transport and closed schools.
It's hard to see how the Government can find a compromise. The pension system is bust; and 62 is low in comparison with both other E.U. countries and French life expectancy. Moreover, if the Government can't win this fight, then it will be difficult to push through any sort of reform, even though much is needed, and not just on pensions.
It may just be possible that this was a late summer letting-off of steam prior to sullen resignation and acceptance of the inevitable. However, I have to say that I doubt it. This looks more like a fight to the death for preservation of the French way of life, even if that way of life is economically unsustainable. Expect more protests this autumn.
Walter Blotscher
I said earlier that the French Government's announcement in June that it intended to raise the retirement age, one of the lowest in Europe, from 60 to 62 would not be received with open arms. Far from it. At least a million people took to the streets this week to protest against the proposal (and other mooted austerity measures), while a 24-hour national strike disrupted public transport and closed schools.
It's hard to see how the Government can find a compromise. The pension system is bust; and 62 is low in comparison with both other E.U. countries and French life expectancy. Moreover, if the Government can't win this fight, then it will be difficult to push through any sort of reform, even though much is needed, and not just on pensions.
It may just be possible that this was a late summer letting-off of steam prior to sullen resignation and acceptance of the inevitable. However, I have to say that I doubt it. This looks more like a fight to the death for preservation of the French way of life, even if that way of life is economically unsustainable. Expect more protests this autumn.
Walter Blotscher
Tuesday, 7 September 2010
YDING SKOVHOEJ
I drove to Jutland today, and took the opportunity to pass over Yding Skovhoej ("forest height"), the highest point in Denmark. At just under 173m above sea level, it is not anywhere near the size of a mountain. Nevertheless, it still gives a tremendous view over the valley formed by the Gudenaa, at 176km the country's longest river.
The highest point in Denmark is, in fact, somewhat controversial. Yding wins only because there is a man-made bronze age burial mound sitting right on the top of it. Without that, it would be 9cm less than Moellehoej ("mill height"), a few kilometers away. The latter takes its name from the eight-sided mill that stood on its top until 1917, but it only became well-known in 2005, after a new, and more accurate, set of measurements had been made. Before that, Yding had vied for the title with Ejer Bavnehoej ("beacon height"), also just down the road.
All of which seems to confirm that if there isn't much of something (height, in this case), then people will tend to bicker and squabble about it.
Walter Blotscher
I drove to Jutland today, and took the opportunity to pass over Yding Skovhoej ("forest height"), the highest point in Denmark. At just under 173m above sea level, it is not anywhere near the size of a mountain. Nevertheless, it still gives a tremendous view over the valley formed by the Gudenaa, at 176km the country's longest river.
The highest point in Denmark is, in fact, somewhat controversial. Yding wins only because there is a man-made bronze age burial mound sitting right on the top of it. Without that, it would be 9cm less than Moellehoej ("mill height"), a few kilometers away. The latter takes its name from the eight-sided mill that stood on its top until 1917, but it only became well-known in 2005, after a new, and more accurate, set of measurements had been made. Before that, Yding had vied for the title with Ejer Bavnehoej ("beacon height"), also just down the road.
All of which seems to confirm that if there isn't much of something (height, in this case), then people will tend to bicker and squabble about it.
Walter Blotscher
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