I
entered Auditorium D in Angell
Hall on an otherwise unremarkable
Monday afternoon. Well, it would be
unremarkable if it wasn’t the first day
of class. Might I add, it was the first
day of in-person classes in over a year.
I found my seat and prepared myself
for another long ride, but hopefully a
refreshing one after a year of Zoom
University. I got out my notebook,
opened my laptop and was ready to
jot down every word. As the professor
began talking, going over introductions
and so forth, I found myself starry-eyed
for a moment. I truly believed this was
going to be a good year. As time ticked
on, and the class progressed, I was
increasingly drawn in and enthralled
by the subject.
My professor was discussing how
we were going to be studying power
in politics and Congress. He discussed
the topics we would be covering, the
details of congressional functions and
power dynamics on Capitol Hill as
well as some of the issues Congress
faces. Then, he started to talk about
the kinds of people we were going to
be learning from. At that moment, my
starry eyes were sharply drawn open,
alert and aware. I felt as if I had been
slapped in the face. It wasn’t a hand
that slapped me awake, but rather a
string of words woven together in a
sentence that in essence conveyed this:
we are going to disregard what these
people did, whether they were good or
evil, whether they were right or wrong,
and learn from them nonetheless
because they knew something about
power that you ought to know.
My professor continued this
sentiment by stating, “We are not here
to separate good from evil, or judge
these people for their actions. We are
here to learn from them, regardless
of how bad they are. We are going
to learn from segregationists, from
people who supported slavery.”
A puzzled expression crept onto my
face, not that anyone could see it under
my mask, as my professor continued
to talk about how we were going to
be learning from Al Franken, who
notoriously resigned after allegations
of sexual misconduct. The professor
quickly
moved
on,
disregarding
an opportunity to have a serious
discussion about a controversial figure,
and class ended soon after.
G
rowing up, my parents frequently
discussed taking me and my sister
to Italy. I heard many stories about an
almost mythical land — the country that
my family is from, where fashionable
people floated from cafes to museums and
priceless art stood at every turn. Above all,
we sought a world so different from our
own, craving its unparalleled uniqueness.
That vacation was their dream for us, so
during Christmas of 2018, after over a
year of planning, my sister and I left the
country for the first time to finally visit
this magical land.
We started in Rome, at the same hotel
my parents stayed in 20 years before. The
72 hours spent in the city occurred in an
unending rush of activity, bouncing from
the Vatican to the Trevi Fountain to the
Colosseum. As we went about, I noticed
some familiar names of stores in the U.S.,
but they were far from the main sites of the
city, and especially far from the Vatican.
From the tours through the ancient
ruins and the lengthy dinners spent in
restaurants my parents remembered
fondly, I felt the magic of a new world we
had dreamed of for so long.
But the novelty of traveling dissipated
after we arrived in Florence. I had
expected it to be calmer than
Rome. The
latter was filled with endless sounds of
chatter, honking taxis and bells in the air.
Florence has world-renowned landmarks
too — The Ponte Vecchio, Italian Galleria
dell’Accademia featuring The David,
The Uffizi, The Duomo, Michaelangelo’s
tomb — but it had a quaint taste, at least in
theory.
But what truly amazed us was not
the throngs of people waiting with us for
the same major attractions, but the lack
of culture right outside of them. Local
businesses that once lined the streets
were replaced by department stores and
luxury shopping: H&M, Zara, Gucci,
Versace, Prada and more. It had the
same atmosphere as a mall I could find
40 minutes from my small town. It was
too familiar. On this of the Arno river,
where the tourists mainly frequented, the
Florentine-ness, as I refer to it, felt diluted.
Tourism, more specifically how to be
an ethical tourist, has been a growing
topic, especially in activist spaces.
Shopping, specifically department stores
and malls, offers us familiarity in a foreign
place. While shopping itself isn’t immoral,
the standardization of these industries
in catering toward tourists tramples the
local businesses, and therefore the city’s
unique culture. It was close to impossible
to find any native Florentine businesses.
Perhaps it is selfish of me, desiring the
roots and labors of this complex city, but
I would like to believe my desires also
reflect an appreciation for them as well.
This means of consumerism goes
beyond Florence and Europe in general.
Mass tourism to Hawaii has negatively
impacted its culture and environment,
draining these resources away from the
Native inhabitants. Unlike the situation
in Florence, a study of Hawaii and other
locations
involves
conversations
of
racism and ecotourism. Limited by my
own experiences and knowledge, I won’t
discuss these intersectional factors, but
bear them in mind as you travel outside
of the mainland United States. This
is to say these critiques aren’t focused
solely on Florence. Negative effects of
tourism across the world take root in this
globalization.
Part of being a good tourist is like being
a good guest; you know the customs and
rules and you respect the host and take
part in their lifestyle. Relating to the idea
of escapism when traveling, one should
maintain a certain level of awareness as
they go about. Who and what are you
engaging with, and what is that doing for
your host city?
Most importantly, recognize that
your experience is not solely tied to
tickets and tours. Some of my favorite
moments had nothing to do with the
major attractions surrounding us. They
came in many forms; laughing at the
British tourist who nearly trampled
us in Raphael’s room of the Vatican
museum; a picture from Christmas
day that had a beam of light shooting
into my hands, as if it could be a sign
from my grandpa; linking arms as we
wandered down cobblestone streets
and happened upon cafes; making a
brief friendship with a waiter who
remembered us when we returned two
days later because the food was too
good to not have again before we left
for home.
Opinion
The local, the wayfarer
and the worldliness: why
ethical tourism matters
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Wednesday, October 27, 2021 — 7
ELIZABETH WOLFE
Opinion Columnist
I don’t know how to tell you to care
about other people
SAM SCHMITZ
Opinion Columnist
Design by Kristina Miesel
R
ecently, it has come to my
attention that more and more
openly gay men are joining fraternities.
As a first-generation, gay student from
the rural North, I understand the
appeal of joining a fraternity. I’ll be
honest, I even tried — to no avail — to
rush as a sophomore. Finally being
accepted by a group of masculine
straight men would be a dream come
true to a young gay kid who never fit
in. Gay people throughout time have
had to make their own families, and
I understand the appeal of wanting
a group of friends you can call your
“brothers.” But that is the same
reason I am glad I did not receive a
bid. I realized that I was trying to
reach a sense of hyper-masculinity or
aggressively male behavior that I felt I
lacked for being gay. This internalized
homophobia is a struggle for many
younger gay men. It is also why I
believe so many younger white gay
men are joining fraternities now.
But, is that sense of validation worth
contributing to a system with a history
of violent racism, homophobia and
misogyny? The other day I watched
a TikTok where an openly gay white
fraternity brother joked about how he
has to make sure that girls know that
they are “safe” around him because
he is not straight. In a sense, he knows
that fraternities are infamous for being
a dangerous place for women, but for
some reason being gay absolves him
from that part of the fraternity? Gay
people are no strangers to violence,
especially sexual violence, so why
would you as a gay person contribute
to a culture that perpetuates it?
A lot of people like to argue that
by being gay in a fraternity, a person
can help dismantle the institutional
homophobia of Greek life. To
that, I ask: Why are there so many
closeted men in fraternities? In my
experience, a fraternity — no matter
how progressive the school they
are at is — is going to be completely
unwilling to accept a pledge if they
are not heterosexual passing. In fact,
I was told by a member of one of the
fraternities I tried to rush that “they
probably wouldn’t bid a member if
they knew that he was gay.” So then,
what exactly is a gay person gaining
from their fraternity other than
validation from their straight peers?
I’ve heard arguments that some gay
guys might want the recognition that
comes with certain fraternity letters
or just guys to drink with. However,
there are plenty of organizations
on campus that provide a sense of
community without the toxicity
of a fraternity. White gay men
especially are criticized for their
lack of social awareness. We may
be gay, but we still benefit from
the privilege of our skin color
and the fact that it is fairly easy
to pass as straight. This comes
with a responsibility to fight against
systems
that
oppress
LGBTQ+
people of color, not join them. If you
have the privilege of passing enough
to join a fraternity, you should use it to
help your community, not contribute
to systems that hurt it.
You’re not breaking barriers by
being gay in a fraternity
JACOB FENLON
Opinion Columnist
T
om Ford suit, Omega watch,
Crockett
&
Jones
shoes.
Aston Martin for the car, Walther
for the gun and Bollinger for the
champagne. During the last 15 years,
class was spelled “C-R-A-I-G.” For
nearly the same timeframe, the
name “Merkel” was synonymous
with leadership. Now, I’m struggling
to say goodbye to both of them.
I was three when Angela Merkel
became chancellor of Germany
and four when Daniel Craig first
embodied the role of Britain’s finest
spy. I grew up watching Merkel be
the only responsible adult in a room
full of world leaders and Craig’s
embodiment of James Bond saving
that world time and time again. They
remind me of an epoch that’s gone,
never to return.
Both Bond and Merkel are
products of the Cold War; perhaps
too dated and archaic for this era of
populism and galactic heroes. As
much as I enjoy watching Marvel
put out another entry into its cosmic
saga, the simplicity of the man with
the three-number name makes my
heart race. Also, as engrossing as the
Trump-era of television can be, now
when I watch channels like CNN
and Fox News I long for the days
of Truman and Eisenhower, when
politics was about making prudent
choices. I never got to be a part of
that generation, but Angela Merkel
made me feel like I did.
Sometimes I wish the world
were more comprehensible, that its
battles could be resolved through
suave spies. Sometimes I wish global
politics were still seemingly divided
into two ideological camps. At least
then we’d know who the enemy
was. That’s not the case anymore.
Today, we see insurrections on
American soil. We see vaccines
being politicized. We see nutjobs
and extremists becoming members
of Congress. So I wonder: Is there a
place for the Bonds and Merkels of
the world nowadays?
Chancellor
Merkel
was
a
pragmatist. Even as a conservative,
she opened the borders of her
country to all refugees searching
for a home. She found a way to
solve the Euro-zone debt crisis.
And she prevented the EU’s demise
after the tragedy that was (and is)
“Brexit.” Merkel holds the highest
approval rating of any world leader
16 years after stepping into office.
Her party, the Christian Democratic
Union, is struggling to find a worthy
successor. Their choice for this
general election, Armin Laschet,
has almost certainly lost his bid for
the chancellorship. Two years ago,
Merkel’s heir apparent, Annegret
Kramp-Karrenbauer, lost her place
as the CDU’s leader following a
political scandal. All of this isn’t
surprising: the shadow of Merkel
would loom large over anyone. And
guess what — whether it’s Henry
Cavill, Idris Elba, Tom Hiddleston,
Michael Fassbender or someone
else, they will all flounder in trying
to replace Daniel Craig as he leaves
the character that made him famous.
It took several generations of
middling Bonds to find a sterling
inheritor for Sir Sean Connery.
None of them were terrible. Most
incorporated the main aspects
that characterize Bond into their
roles. Yet Craig (with some help
from Dame Judi Dench, Ralph
Fiennes,
Ben
Whishaw
and
Naomi Harris, along with Mads
Mikkelsen’s and Javier Bardem’s
stellar villains) brought back the
perfect Bond combination of craggy
and debonair. In contrast, Merkel
had a standard to meet when she
became chancellor. Phenomenal,
transformational
leaders
like
Konrad Adenauer, Willy Brandt
and Helmut Kohl occupied the
office before her. In fact, Merkel’s
political
ascent
began
during
Kohl’s administration, as Minister
for Women and Youth. Hence, the
Merkel-Craig pair had tough jobs
ahead, but both outperformed
expectations.
Craig’s Bond and Merkel’s chancellorship
MIGUEL CALLE
Opinion Columnist
puzzle by sudokusnydictation.com
By Craig Stowe
©2021 Tribune Content Agency, LLC
10/27/21
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle
Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis
10/27/21
ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE:
Release Date: Wednesday, October 27, 2021
ACROSS
1 Like many a
basement
5 Hold dear
10 Breakfast
companion?
13 __ vaccine
14 As a companion
15 Soup du __
16 Big name in plant
food
18 Reverse
19 Also
20 G.I. entertainment
often featuring
Bob Hope
22 Through street
26 Hollywood Walk
of Fame symbols
27 Get duded up
28 “Despite my best
attempts ... ”
30 Bladed tool
31 Enjoyed the buffet
32 [as per the
original]
33 First section
of the “Divine
Comedy”
36 “That makes
more sense”
40 Witticism
41 Big bang letters?
42 Keep __ distance
43 Kitchen gadget
47 Greek wraps
49 Take the floor
50 Unlike bikinis
52 Handicraft worker
54 Something up
one’s sleeve
55 Jackson family
musician born
Toriano
56 Home with a
between-floors
entrance ... and
what can be
found on puzzle
rows 3, 6, 8 and
10?
62 Smooth (out)
63 Events with kings
and queens
64 Shade of blue
65 “__
Rosenkavalier”
66 Lathered up
67 Slush Puppie
parent company
DOWN
1 __ Pérignon
2 “Hereditary”
director Aster
3 Deface
4 Missouri River
feeder
5 Heroism
6 Blonde
beverage
7 Part of a cord
8 Like a mob
scene
9 They might clash
on stage
10 Actress Helena
__ Carter
11 Email program
named after
writer Welty
12 Half-asleep
15 Supreme Court
figure
17 Filmmaker Ethan
or Joel
21 Davis of “Do the
Right Thing”
22 “East of Eden”
brother
23 Sailing hazard
24 “Leave __ me”
25 Exist
27 Letter after
upsilon
29 Helper: Abbr.
31 Payment before
a deal
34 Sentiment
35 Lures (in)
36 Concerning
37 Snitch (on)
38 Chiwere speaker
39 Used to be
41 Royal flush card
43 Like many
candies
44 Get in
45 Ramble on and
on
46 Amateur
47 Birth
announcement
word
48 Sana’a native
51 One taking a
fall
53 Egyptian
slitherers
57 Mauna __
58 Little devil
59 Device that
may be wet
or dry, briefly
60 End of the
day
61 Cleaning
ingredient
SUDOKU
“THANK YOU
DAILY STAFF”
“Hi Mom!”
WHISPER
10/20/21
ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE:
Thompson is its
longest-tenured
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