The Little Girl and the Sea

If you’ve paid attention to European news during the last couple of days, you’ll have taken notice of 13-year-old Laura Dekker from the Netherlands who wants to take two years off from school and sail around the world. Perhaps people would just kind of coo and say something admiring, if she weren’t planning on doing it alone. Laura wants to beat the world record for the youngest person to circumnavigate the Earth solo. Her parents firmly support her wish. The Dutch government, however, has pointed out that she is obligated to attend school, since she is a minor, and has threatened to take her away from her parents. The enraged parents, in turn, have stated that if their home country attempts to prevent Laura from sailing, they will leave and go to New Zealand, where the girl was born (incidentally, on a boat).

Opinions are pretty much split down the middle. One half of all comments calls the parents idiots and unrealistic dreamers, point out how dangerous it is for someone that young to just gallavant off by themselves for two years, and more along those lines. The other half adopts the rather American attitude that individual freedom should weigh more than the supposed needs and wants of a government that should rather keep its nose out of people’s private business.

If I were a parent and this were my daughter, I’d be supportive too. But I’d also be scared. 13 is very young. Girls (and boys, for that matter) at that age are still children, no matter how mature or knowledgeable they may appear. However, I am not familiar with the rules and regulations of this kind of adventure. Perhaps “alone” wouldn’t really be “alone”. Laura would need supplies, for example. At some intervals, she would have to have contact with other people, seafarers or otherwise.

I’m not convinced that something like a solo trip around the world gets any less dangerous the older you get. Perhaps it also depends on the route you take, but as we know, Amelia Earhardt, Roald Amundsen and a host of other famous explorers disappeared, despite their experience.

It’s also not true that Laura would simply abandon school for two years. With the help of satellite connections, she apparently has developed a plan for remote instruction. So schooling and homework remain part of her life. She would not necessarily fall behind on anything. Here, it is merely the rigidity of the Dutch school system that is keeping her from a more flexible way of getting her education – somewhat ironic in a world that makes the demand of flexibility of adult employees.

Someone mentioned in a comment that rescue, should it become necessary, would be expensive. Who should pay for it? This somewhat caustically assumes that a teenager will most definitely get herself into trouble, whereas an adult (or an older teenager) would not. I’m quite certain that whatever insurance Laura’s parents have will have something to say about that, and that her parents, experienced sailors themselves, have considered this extensively. Whatever the cost would be, it would be the same for any other sailor in distress and is therefore, in my opinion, not an argument against this trip.

Despite all this, though, there are only two arguments for Laura’s cause: first, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, truly. She will never be 13 again, and the chance of beating this particular record will never come again for her. Second, sailing is in her blood. It is her passion. I believe that even with 24/7 supervision, taking her away from her parents and locking her up in a home will damage this girl or turn her into a juvenile delinquent.

Still, forming a valid opinion is nearly impossible. Of course, the media only represent the barest of facts in the case. No side is being argued out but in hints here and remarks there. The decision on what will happen to Laura is scheduled to be made tomorrow.

A new Day, a new President

To be sure, it is no great surprise that Barack Obama was elected the 44th president of the United States yesterday. He knows how to move a crowd. And even the German newspapers are celebrating by parroting the most overused platitude of this year: “Change!”

Certainly, there is reason for hope. The great distinguishing quality between America’s two parties is, after all, that one always aims to do the opposite of the other. I suppose one might call that change. But let’s not forget that our system is one of checks and balances, which could be loosely translated as “a great way to prevent change from actually happening.” Let’s also remember that now the election is over and in the White House, it’s back to business as soon as Mr. Obama has settled in. I’ll be curious to reevaluate the situation in a year and see what has changed. And whether the German press will still be so full of praise. I rather imagine that there, too, it’ll soon be back to business. Since criticizing the US is high on the list of frontpage headliners, I figure the attitude will be the same, only the face of the president will have changed.

But then, as one of my friends said with such pathos online this morning, hope and change are two things we all need right now.

About News

There are two kinds of news, personal and public. If I post my news here, does it become public? Well, yes and no. But really, I’m not trying to confuse anyone, merely make an introduction to this post about personal news: the piggie is still sick. Ten more days of antibiotics (from the doctor) and lots of cuddling (from me). I’m also trying a homeopathic remedy for respiratory distress. At least he’s still eating. He is also very adamant about not wanting to take his probiotics. I give them to him when I can and weigh the benefit against the stress I cause him when I force the issue.

Claudia is out sick again, as well. I wish her a speedy recovery. Today, this means I can go shopping during lunch and then enjoy our next lunch meal together. Kind of bizarre, but somehow, this is working out. She needs the rest, anyway.

And in public news: yesterday, the late great actor Jeremy Brett – my ultimate Sherlock Holmes- would have celebrated his 75th birthday, putting him up there with the fictional, yet very much alive Denny Crane, played by William Shatner. I have long had a somewhat odd crush on Jeremy Brett which I entirely attribute to the virility and vigor he brought to his character. So, despite everything: happy birthday.

Finally, there’s the ultimate eco car: it runs on compressed air or a variety of gasoline types and replacements, from regular to diesel to biodiesel, ethanol and vegetable oil, as it states in this article. French carmaker MDI Inc. hopes to begin rolling out this little wonder by 2011 – once it passes the stringent crash tests.

Mutu’s New Record

Adrian Mutu, captain of the Romanian national football team and recognized enfant terrible, has been fined 17,000 euros in penalties after getting caught on coke four years ago. This is the highest fine ever given by the FIFA. Naturally, Mutu’s lawyer will appeal the decision.

Watch Romania!

Yeah, ok, I get excited about stupid stuff. Like, this afternoon I received the newsletter from the Filmmuseum Munich and found out that for one week at the end of October, they will be running a series of Romanian movies! No, I don’t know why my interest in Romania and its culture has survived my ill-fated non-romance, but hell, I might as well enjoy it while it’s fun, nu? So, yay, movies!!

Lazy Linking

I have noticed this before, this lazy journalism that CNN displays online. They will present a hot-item article, but not link to any of the source material, instead providing more internal links to other CNN reports. How difficult would it have been to insert a pointer to the Vanity Fair article by Todd Purdum after putting a long piece on the home page in which Purdum defends said article? I mean, presumably someone actually read it, right?

Let them eat paperwork

I’ve filled out a lot of lengthy paperwork in my time, so really, the German Einbürgerungsantrag is not that scary. Actually, I’m more terrified of talking to those people at the Bürgeramt…