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When I was in Germany in the late 1990's, I was the guest of some local politicals, the mayor of one of the cities I visited, appointed tourism secretary and some official people who I befreinded < (sp ) I don't think I have ever spelled that word before see how discussion heals, words are so wierd) Or they befriended me, either way I was out of my league with politician employed people, at state sponsored affairs big dogs and shit. People who were servants of the local governments.
One reason I have never liked the words, I will never wear a suit and tie, my response, well then you will always feel uncomfortable in a situation involving people who are standing around, wearing suits and ties.
So be it.
I on the otherhand have at times been placed into the position of conversing with people, always uncomfortable I am so rough and unsophisticated, who If they knew all about me would still like me, but probably wouldn't want me as thier chief of staff.lol.
I was asked several times, do you want to go see the concentration camps, they named a few, I declined, something most wouldn't do due to the nature of political social exchange. The next day I was asked again, we will get a tour together escort you and such, again I declined.
I guess this was strange to them, due to the looks of bewilderment on thier faces, of my constant refusal to see what seemed to them what everyone wants to see the must see on a trip to Germany.
I was asked at a quiet dinner by the tourism secretary, Why don't you want to go ..I guessed a honest answer was timely at this point, instead of my ambivilent not interestsed answers from days past.
She asked if I was affraid.. I said it was more like it was my fathers war, my fathers nightmares the past that perhaps to some must be understood, a past to me that need not be stomped all over, touched by the people who weren't there, in a attempt to somehow understand, for, what was.
I don't need to be constantly reminded about the terror of racism, I said to her, my refusal to visit the site to me is the only way I can express how much I want to embrace the people who have been and gone by not assuming I can understand what life was like in that time and assuming I can relate to it is the perpetuation of racism.
This was hard for me, to refuse this tour, it seems like so many want to make it part of thier visit,... the strange person in front of them, that doesn't need this to feel as he experienced Germany.
She said she found my attitude refreshing .I find it the only way I can voice my position on such matters, if people stop talking and making elegance in, suffering for the future generations, only then can we move forward.
I was a simple traveler who recieved kindness and hospitality from people I... had never met before,.. a pipe dream made real.
One reason I have never liked the words, I will never wear a suit and tie, my response, well then you will always feel uncomfortable in a situation involving people who are standing around, wearing suits and ties.
So be it.
I on the otherhand have at times been placed into the position of conversing with people, always uncomfortable I am so rough and unsophisticated, who If they knew all about me would still like me, but probably wouldn't want me as thier chief of staff.lol.
I was asked several times, do you want to go see the concentration camps, they named a few, I declined, something most wouldn't do due to the nature of political social exchange. The next day I was asked again, we will get a tour together escort you and such, again I declined.
I guess this was strange to them, due to the looks of bewilderment on thier faces, of my constant refusal to see what seemed to them what everyone wants to see the must see on a trip to Germany.
I was asked at a quiet dinner by the tourism secretary, Why don't you want to go ..I guessed a honest answer was timely at this point, instead of my ambivilent not interestsed answers from days past.
She asked if I was affraid.. I said it was more like it was my fathers war, my fathers nightmares the past that perhaps to some must be understood, a past to me that need not be stomped all over, touched by the people who weren't there, in a attempt to somehow understand, for, what was.
I don't need to be constantly reminded about the terror of racism, I said to her, my refusal to visit the site to me is the only way I can express how much I want to embrace the people who have been and gone by not assuming I can understand what life was like in that time and assuming I can relate to it is the perpetuation of racism.
This was hard for me, to refuse this tour, it seems like so many want to make it part of thier visit,... the strange person in front of them, that doesn't need this to feel as he experienced Germany.
She said she found my attitude refreshing .I find it the only way I can voice my position on such matters, if people stop talking and making elegance in, suffering for the future generations, only then can we move forward.
I was a simple traveler who recieved kindness and hospitality from people I... had never met before,.. a pipe dream made real.
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