Für Elise

This entry is for Elyse, a friend of Heather's, who in turn is a colleague and very good friend of mine from Berlin (currently). Now, as it is easy to guess, the title of this post means "for Elise" in English. It is also the name of a piece of music by Beethoven. (Read the Wikipedia article on this topic. I actually find it informative.) Now, although the name of Heather's friend is spelled differently, this was too obvious to miss. In fact, it is so obvious that Elyse might think it's rather corny. I've decided to put here anyways, because there is a associativity to my name - "Alexander the Great" - which would have, in my humble opinion, about the same level of corniness. Yet there are worse things than being called by this name, and thus I assume Elyse won't mind it either, as neither is the connection so bad in her case. (Did you mind after all?)
After this rather cumbersome introduction you might wonder why I dedicate this entry to a friend of a friend of mine, whom I haven't even met a single time. Well, although Elyse and I are nothing but somebody else's tale to each other, she did not hesitate to visit my blog and even leave several comments. Thank you for that! I encourage you to continue, and all other readers be hereby prompted to follow your fine example. After all, this is what will encourage me to keep on writing ...
Well, here is one more for you, Elyse: I took it from your comments on the Owl's Nest, as well as on the Lyon's Den, that you are susceptible to subtleties. In particular I remember what you wrote on Caravaggio's Cupid. In fact I am still wondering what you mean, although the (self-proclaimed) "Aryans" would fit the description of "those who trusted their love of the strength of their leadership", and the Jews "those who feared it". Please correct me if I'm wrong. ... The story I was actually going to tell here is about something different. It is about an article I just stumbled upon in the online edition of the Chicago Tribune. It is about Catherine Vogt, a 14-year old girl, who happens to live in the same suburb of Chicago as I do. But what really impressed me was the experiment she has carried out. While you might want to read the full article, I will briefly summarize it here. She has created two T-shirts, one saying "McCain girl" (in red), and the other one "Obama girl" (in blue). First she wore the red shirt in school. For a full appreciation of this experiment you must know that Oak Park is strongly backing Obama (although I have seen several "McCain - Palin" signs in the front yards in my street.) Obviously she did not fit in at all with everyone else, and it turned out to be a really bad experience for her. She was even told to go die, and that she should be "crucifixed". I kid you not! (Catherine even had the courage to tell the latter person that he obviously meant "crucified".) The next day, however, when she was wearing the blue shirt, her apparent change of mind was much appraised by her fellow students (although some called her a flip-flopper). The bottom line of this experiment is that Obama has vowed to promote tolerance in the US, yet some of his supporters seem to be in need of a lesson or two what this actually means. Quite disturbing - and sad, as this incident will ultimately cast a shadow on Obama's idealistic approach. (At least I assume him to be an idealist, which is why he meets my approval.)
But not enough of disturbing stories, unfortunately. Yesterday I read another article, but this time at SPIEGEL ONLINE. It is about many school kids going on strike for one day, as they are unsatisfied by their schooling conditions. As a matter of fact, great many a thing can be deplored when it comes to the German system of education, most of them being directly related to a dire lack of respective funding. No doubt there is a good reason to go on strike, and march on the streets and protest for better learning conditions. However, a fraction of teenage students in Berlin, stirred up and led by some extreme-left individuals grew into an angry mob and stormed the main building of the Humboldt university in downtown Berlin. To those of you who are not familiar with the location: it is actually right across the street from where the Nazis burned all the books they considered "un-German". A memorial with an empty shelf can still be visited there. The reason why I tell you this is the following: after entering the said building, the angry teenage mob had nothing better to do than to destroy everything that came into their sight. Reportedly bathroom tissue was spread everywhere and even set on fire! If this does not leave you speechless, then what do you say on the following: the lobby of the building is currently hosting an exhibition on the victims of the Nazi terror, and even this exhibition was not spared from being devastated. There are two ironic points to that. First, the mob seems to think of itself as left-wing, yet they devastated a memorial exhibition on Jewish victims. Think of all the applause they will get from the fascist extreme-right, who is actually their sworn enemy ... Second, the event was later praised in some internet forum as the right way to fight the "knowledge elites". I really don't get it! People protest for better learning conditions, and some airhead connotates it to a fight against the knowledge elites? By the way, I have seen a few universities from inside - the overwhelming majority of them is in dire needs of refurbishments, so I really wonder how you could feel elitist while marveling at crumbling wall surfaces. Just one more example: my former alma mater, TU Kaiserslautern, decided a few years ago to run only one elevator per building and cease operation of all others - because they could not afford the power. I guess those Berlin rioters would even be able to see this as further further narrowing down their promotion prospects.
... It just occurred to me: while still working with Heather, I fell for a song called "America", by the British band Razorlight. It appealed to me because of the pre-chorus line, "All my life I'm watching America". In fact, I would agree that I fit this description pretty well. As I am sure it holds true as well for many of my fellow Germans, I am watching "America" (i.e., the U.S.), because everything is bigger there (at least in my imagination) . That is the ultimate reason why I have eventually come overseas. The song continues, "All my life there's panic in America". Thus far the latter line would have reminded me of, say, the mediocre Bush administration, recently maybe the financial crisis; but now? Panic in America? Check out the Berlin riots, and think again!
Oops, I actually intended to write just a few lines tonight. I better head to hit the sack for a change, it's a school night!