Twitter Politics

In our society part of keeping up to date with political events includes receiving updates from social media platforms. The interesting thing about these forums, especially Twitter, is that they require short and concise messages. For younger followers like myself this is ideal. Everything is reduced to a soundbite and then if interested in more, the reader can seek out the full story or longer comments.

Upon reading this article however I began to question the use of social media by presidents and official dignitaries. Hugo Chavez is a most interesting politician in my personal opinion. I think it would almost be a great test to limit him to 140 words to express his various sentiments. However, he joins a group of other country leaders that try to get the message out using Twitter. While this reaches the masses and dispenses information quickly, I think it can also take away from these highly esteemed positions. It's good to remember that are leaders are among the citizens. But, on the other hand, I find the thought of President Obama updating his twitter status (I'm well aware he is not the one physically doing it, but for this image's sake...) a little trivial.

What are your thoughts? Is Twitter a yes or no for our leaders? Will you follow Hugo Chavez? Will he be able to limit his updates to 140 words?

Beyond Your Frommer's Guide

Everyone who has travelled has cringed at the culturally oblivious American family complete with fanny packs, comfortable walking shoes with white tube socks pulled up mid-calf, maps, and passport necklaces tucked underneath their t-shirts. When travelling they are not sensitive to the customs of the country they’re in, because they are too determined to satisfy their sightseeing agenda.

While most of us are not stereotypically rude American tourists, Frommer’s guides and all, just having a preconceived notion about we should experience in each country is limiting. If before arriving to Paris you are determined to see the Mona Lisa, take a picture in front of the Eiffel Tower, visit Notre Dame, and eat a croissant in two days, you probably will not have an authentic Parisian experience. The way to understand a country is to be comfortable not having a definitive plan. Let yourself be guided into the local restaurant by the smell of butter permeating the air. Follow the hustle and the bustle. If there are locals crowded in front of a restaurant waiting for it to open or all headed in the same direction towards an event, it’s probably because there’s something exciting happening that’s worth being at. Don’t be afraid of the locals. Despite cultural differences, there are nice and rude people everywhere, there’s not a greater chance you will encounter someone unwelcoming abroad than in America. People love to share themselves with others, including their culture and where they live. As long as you are genuinely interested in learning, they will most likely be eager to teach. If you do not speak the language, try to speak English to the locals. English is so prominent nowadays that most speak at least a little.

All of these tips are a result of one overarching way to get a local experience abroad- be observant. It is natural to become sensorially overwhelmed when in another country because the environment is so unfamiliar. You’re smelling new things, seeing new things, hearing new things, all while trying to get to your next sightseeing destination safely and smoothly. While trying to stay on your agenda you’re passing countless minute details that hold cultural significance. Every day destinations like grocery stores, gas stations, convenient stores, and pharmacies can teach you more about a country than the most famous statue or museum. In China, supermarkets are four or five stories with each floor the size of Costco. There is a whole aisle dedicated to different flavors of Ritz crackers: seaweed filled, lemon filled, chocolate filled, strawberry filled, etc. The seafood department has fish tanks with live fish, turtles, sharks, crabs; pretty much every form of marine life that will fit in a small tank. Spanish supermarkets on the other hand only have only carry the basics for the rare occasion that someone wants to make a quick one-stop shop. Usually the Spanish go to specialized stores (i.e. the bakery, the butcher, the fruit/vegetable shop, etc.).

The best way to ensure you pick up on the small things is to leave time to STOP so if you do see a pretty park or café that piques your interest while in Rome you can go without missing your 3:00 tour of Peter’s Basilica, your 4:00 tour of the Coliseum, and your 6:00 dinner reservation. Set aside at least a day in each city to just roam.

No matter what we do- as Americans- we will always be faced with the stereotype of “the rude American.” Regardless of whether or not it’s fair, it’s the reality. Be open-minded; don’t be afraid of places or people just because they’re different. Have a respect for difference. The American way isn’t necessarily the better way- it’s just a different way. Many criticize the Chinese for eating dog, but think about it- why shouldn’t they? Are dogs more worthy of life than pigs because we decided they were cute and domesticated them? Despite cartoon characters, pigs are actually very clean animals. They are more intelligent than dogs, do not oink more than dogs bark (by the way, side note: has anyone ever actually heard a dog say roof or pig say oink?), and can play games like catch! Try to understand why things are done differently in other countries, because maybe, it will allow you to consider a perspective you had not.

Trying national dishes, seeing world-famous tourist sights, and shopping is great fun and has value in and of itself- but there is so much more to be reaped from going abroad. You will begin to not only appreciate different kinds of people and places but also notice the similarities. Despite mentalities and cultural customs, in many ways, people are just people and life is just life, everywhere.

Language and Nationalism

According to Merriam Webster the definition of nationalism is the “loyalty and devotion to a nation; especially: a sense of national consciousness exalting one nation above all others and placing primary emphasis on promotion of its culture and interests as opposed to those of other nations or supranational groups.” How is this loyalty and devotion created though?

The Middle East has experienced multiple nationalist movements over its history. Historians often note that the preservation of Persian (Farsi) kept Iranian society connected. Iranian governments worked extra hard to make sure that classes were taught in Persian and that they protected their cultural heritage through preserving Persian in everyday life. Additionally, Turkish-speaking Ottomans controlled Arab lands. The Arabs retained their identity by continuing to use Arabic. According to Yasir Suleiman, author of The Arabic Language and National Identity, argues, “Formulations of Arab nationalism, whether embryonic or fully fledged in character, are invariably built around the potential and capacity of Arabic in its standard form to act as the linchpin of the identity of all those who share it as their common language. A positive and indissoluble link is therefore established between language and national identity in discourse of this type.” (224) Arabic unites each country individually, as well as the region as a whole. The connection of Arabic has helped many countries retain their territorial integrity besides increasing odds against it.

In America, we often discuss the need to make English our national language. According to this history it could be argued that not having English could be a threat to our nationalistic identity. But, the American connection to English goes beyond the question of legality and continues to be strong and lasting.

Americans: Always On the Go.

People around the world, including Americans, idealize the American dream; the ability Americans have to strive for better lives. People believe that while it may be easier for some to achieve financial success, that in America it is possible for everyone to do so. There is financial aid to help all American children go to college. There are young women who marry someone successful and live lives of luxury, because in America, we are socially permitted to marry whomever we want- regardless of “social” status. Even some of the wealthiest people in this country, like Bill Gates, did not graduate college. While all of the potential for success should make us happy- I argue that it does the opposite- it prevents us from ever being satisfied, because we’re always striving for more.

Americans set goals for themselves and as soon as they achieve them, create new ones. Americans focus on finishing high school to go to college to get an internship to go to graduate school to get a job to get married to have kids. Then, they get there. They’re married, and they have a job, and they have kids- and most of the time- still feel like something is missing. This is what we call a “mid-life crisis” and it is a result of continuously working towards something we’ve been told we should want, only to realize when we get there it’s not what we wanted at all.

There are two primary reasons why we are constantly striving for professional success and to find lifelong partners. The first, is because it is what American society has told us will make us happy- and we believe it. The second, is our pride. Everyone wants to be perceived by others as successful, and because American society measures success by one’s career and family situation people have a desire to achieve those things.

In other countries people do not believe their lives are perfect, but there is not the same anxiousness and discontent that resides over the present. For example, the Chinese and Japanese take a zen-like, meditative approach to the present. They accept and appreciate what the “now,” while striving for improvement. In Spanish and Latin America- everything moves just a little bit slower. In Spain, families take siesta every weekday in which all businesses close from two to five; adults return home from work and kids from school. Families eat a long home-cooked lunch together and then often take a nap. In Italy, people take walks through the piazzas (courtyards) after dinner. With no agenda, they stroll, talking with one another, and enjoying the night. In all of these countries, while the people have jobs- the emphasis is not on work, it is on the time that they’re not working. All of these traditions were borne out of a realization of the importance of stopping work to just live. In America, we feel we must always have a purpose for everything we do. We must walk to go somewhere. Eat to satisfy our hunger. We can never just exist.

My dad always use to say he prefers to eat the “European” way. Not just to eat, but to “dine.” Europeans don’t just eat and get the bill as soon as they’re done. Every meal, whether its lunch during a work day or dinner at night with the family is an experience.

America is one of the only countries with a Christian foundation in which almost all restaurants and clothing stores remain open on Sundays, with at least one 24 hour diner, fast-food restaurant, and drug store in every town. Businessmen are now expected to have phones with e-mail so that as they’re moving between places they can continue to work. We’re always on the go- always moving- and for what?

It’s not as though Americans don’t appreciate the ability to sit down and just relax, but that’s what we’ve designed vacation for. Our every day lives are for working and our vacations are for enjoying ourselves, excluding the few lucky ones who are fortunate enough to land themselves in a profession they enjoy. So while we say the purpose of life is to be happy, I find it ironic that we spend our lives doing things that prevent us from being so.

Maybe we should take a tip from the rest of the world. Instead of spending the present working, so that we can enjoy ourselves in the future. We should just stop- and enjoy ourselves now. Because we’ve learned that as soon as we meet a goal we just create a new one for ourselves. So what are we really striving for?

mmm...I could use a nap just about now. Siesta anyone?