January 2002 - Nr. 1
Letter from the Editor
Dear Reader
This last year, the year that was to propel us into a miraculous future and a new millennium, came in – and quite unexpectedly so, one might say - like a lamb, despite the doomsday sayers, and left us like a lion. Everyone was prepared for major problems but nothing happened, and anything suspected was arrested in the bud. And we were relieved and continued with our lives as though there never was any danger. Innocently we trotted along, celebrating our festivities, planning for a future we still saw in a rosy light despite economic trouble.
In
our German Canadian community we even celebrated a German Heritage day at
the CNE (Canadian National Exhibition), something we had not done for a few
years; and we had help from south of the boarder, from where some of our
German American friends helped us with a big contribution by bringing two
German bands on tour to us. Gabi Schick arranged and produced it all over 8
month, many groups and dozens of performers from far and near participated
gladly and I myself emceed for the day.
And when the weather was a bit stormy no one remotely thought that this might be an omen for things to come our way. How could we? How could we have known that out there in the world are forces that do not like our way of life?
And let’s face it; the American way of life is not that far from ours. We like the same things like FREEDOM, that’s right, in capitol letters, and more freedom, and the pursuit of happiness in the way we see fit. We like the freedom to live were we choose and how we chose and can afford it. We like the ability to shop for whatever we need or want, we like the ability to travel wherever we want to, we enjoy our freedom of speech, of not having to hide our faces or hang our heads in shame, we like to play our music, follow our customs and rituals, no matter of background, colour or religion. And for these the free western world is supposed to pay a price now, and we should have seen it coming, according to some of the so-called experts. And we shake our heads and ask why?
These freedoms were hard won liberties, with battles in many different lands, overcoming tyrants of the past who would not have us be free. We carefully bandaged our wounds and hid them from everyday sight with fancy trappings and illusions of security, thinking that a new age had dawned for mankind, that we all were civilized and cultured. We forgot that the appearance was just a thin layer, like a veneer. Underneath lurks the ugly truth, the fact that we are not nearly as civilized as we pretend to be.
By definition the word civilisation indicates that one has risen from barbarism into a higher form of culture, has raised the human condition to a higher than a savage state where politeness and courtesy are common. This would mean that compassion and charity are the common denominators in such societies.
Let’s be brutally honest: we need a bit of help in that department. No matter were we look in the world, here at home, or overseas in the Near East, or Middle East, there are pockets of civilisation and then there are pockets of barbarism. And each side claims to fight or act for the side of the truth, each side claims god on their side and each side thinks to be the only correct source or defender of justice.
Have a look in your own family: Does harmony prevail? In your neighbourhood: No disputes? Among your business associations: No differences of opinions strongly voiced?
In the groups you belong to: No signs of dissent?
Well? The answer is NO in most cases I tested and observed. Of course there is not only harmony; of course there are disputes; of course business partners don’t agree; of course there is infighting! We have road rage, sky rage, neighbourhood rage, family rage and any kind of other rage, you name it. Is that civilized? Certainly not, yet we are made to believe that this is normal. If it is normal than insanity is normal, because from where I am looking this scenario is nuts.
So I would like to take this opportunity to remind all of us that is up to us how the future looks. Each one of our actions contributes to the whole of the society we live in. If we behave civilized or not is up to us, not someone else. This of course starts at home and after the events of September 11 quite a few people have told me that turning towards the family has become a major focus for them. This is an important decision and could lead to all sorts of pleasant changes in our lives.
It has been said that the current me-generation has no values and no manners and some of us might on occasion agree because of our observations in traffic and during other human interactive activities. We also must note that it has become harder to teach children good manners. The demands on adults to make enough money to sustain a lifestyle are great. The schools do not teach good manners; as we know they do not even teach enough writing skills to our children so they could read up on it themselves. But after our wake-up-call it is of vital importance that we show each other some compassion and understanding, that we treat each other with more respect, that we generally display more concern for our fellow man, and that we start with some good manners.
And
it starts at home, where we show and teach our children what is important.
Being courteous and helpful form the basis of good togetherness, grease the
wheels of our entire social machinery. The old adage that charity begins at
home is totally true. If we cannot practise it at home, how could it
possibly work somewhere else?
So before we all run out to join the girl and boy scouts,
why don’t we do a little bit more good where it counts the most?! Once that
is accomplished it is going to be also so much easier to be nice to others
without even trying hard. It becomes a natural way of life.
And while I am talking about that I wish to thank everyone who is contributing to Echo Germanica, to our many loyal readers, to our advertisers and suppliers, and to our writers, who give so generously of themselves. Every contribution is important and we might call it a civilizing activity, since it celebrates those things that make the difference between barbarism and a culturally advanced society.
Have
a truly happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!
Sybille Forster-Rentmeister
Comments to: editor@echoworld.com
