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 

Read more at MichiganDaily.com

Read more at MichiganDaily.com

Read more at MichiganDaily.com

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