Somali pirates, says Jacob Stolt-Nielsen, founder of Stolt-Nielsen Ltd., one of Norway's biggest shipping companies, should be executed on the spot. Not arrested, not tried, simply sunk on their boats with all hands on board. Since articulating this opinion in the op-ed of a Norwegian financial newspaper a couple of days ago, Stolt-Nielsen has endured intense criticism. His view has been denounced as "barbaric." Business associates have taken pains to disassociate themselves from him. Norway, like most of Europe, does not even have the death penalty.
In my own opinion, fighting and killing an armed assailant is certainly justifiable--but once he's got cuffs around his wrists and cannot harm you, the moral rules have very obviously changed. The friend of mine who brought this story to my attention disagrees. Pirates should be killed so as to discourage others from undertaking piracy. He even urged me to consider Jacob Stolt-Nielsen for the Scandinavian 78.
Jacob Stolt-Nielsen's petition for acceptance on the Scandinavian 78 is declined. Gods help us if he ever belongs there!
Friday, February 18, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Uncle Kjostal
In 1885 my great, great, great uncle, Kjostal Larsen, a shipwright, launched the Samson. This vessel had an interesting history. In 1914, the Samson was one of two ships that saw but failed to respond to the Titanic's distress flares. The captain absconded rather than investigate, on account of hull-full of seal his crew had just poached in Canadian territorial waters. The truth did not come out until the 1960s.
Two years later, the Samson was involved in a less ignominious episode. She rescued Ernest Shackleton and the crew of the Endurance from South Georgia island.
Roald Amundsen, the Norwegian explorer (and Scandinavian 78 luminary), sailed on the Samson in 1927. Impressed by her sturdiness, he recommend her to Admiral Byrd, who refurbished the hull, rechristened her City of New York, and sailed her on his 1929 voyage to the south pole.
In 1933, City of New York was exhibited at the World's Fair.
Great uncle Kjostal's ship finally ended her career Nova Scotia, where she ran aground and burned in 1952. Several houses in nearby Yarmouth were reputed built from her remains.
The wheel, bell and other items related to the Samson were auctioned in 09 in Dallas Texas. Not among these, unfortunately, was the figurehead (?), which was carved by my grandfather's grandfather, Aanon Abrahamsen. It "might well be sitting at the bottom of the sea."
I have all this information from my mother, who tells the story better than me. So far, the only detail I have verified is that a ship called the Samson did indeed fail its opportunity to save the lives of any of the doomed passengers of the Titanic.
I'm still staggering from the surreality of all this. That I could have lived 40 years without knowing about these details of family history. That not one, but two of my distant relatives were connected to this historic ship. That none of this seems to be as well known as it seems it ought to be. Surely this late discovery is synchronicity--the universe informing me that I'm on a good path, and must continue, and pick up the pace.
I wonder if, when the Scandinavian 78 is published abroad, I'll discover fourth and fifth cousins in Norway. The fantasy is both pleasant and oddly unsettling.
I believe "Kjostal," by the way, is pronounced something like "hew-stel."
"The only shame that [the crew of the Samson] should feel," quipped a co-worker, on hearing the story, "is for the movie Titanic."
Amen.
Two years later, the Samson was involved in a less ignominious episode. She rescued Ernest Shackleton and the crew of the Endurance from South Georgia island.
Roald Amundsen, the Norwegian explorer (and Scandinavian 78 luminary), sailed on the Samson in 1927. Impressed by her sturdiness, he recommend her to Admiral Byrd, who refurbished the hull, rechristened her City of New York, and sailed her on his 1929 voyage to the south pole.
In 1933, City of New York was exhibited at the World's Fair.
Great uncle Kjostal's ship finally ended her career Nova Scotia, where she ran aground and burned in 1952. Several houses in nearby Yarmouth were reputed built from her remains.
The wheel, bell and other items related to the Samson were auctioned in 09 in Dallas Texas. Not among these, unfortunately, was the figurehead (?), which was carved by my grandfather's grandfather, Aanon Abrahamsen. It "might well be sitting at the bottom of the sea."
I have all this information from my mother, who tells the story better than me. So far, the only detail I have verified is that a ship called the Samson did indeed fail its opportunity to save the lives of any of the doomed passengers of the Titanic.
I'm still staggering from the surreality of all this. That I could have lived 40 years without knowing about these details of family history. That not one, but two of my distant relatives were connected to this historic ship. That none of this seems to be as well known as it seems it ought to be. Surely this late discovery is synchronicity--the universe informing me that I'm on a good path, and must continue, and pick up the pace.
I wonder if, when the Scandinavian 78 is published abroad, I'll discover fourth and fifth cousins in Norway. The fantasy is both pleasant and oddly unsettling.
I believe "Kjostal," by the way, is pronounced something like "hew-stel."
"The only shame that [the crew of the Samson] should feel," quipped a co-worker, on hearing the story, "is for the movie Titanic."
Amen.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
the Jewish 100
I revisited the Jewish 100 by Michael Shapiro. My memory was good, but not perfect. Marx is all the way down at #7. Moses, Jesus, Einstein, Freud, Abraham, and Paul are all held, by Shapiro, to have been more historically influential than Marx. He views Marx quite negatively, which probably partially explains his "low" ranking.
Myself, I would rate Jesus over Moses, Marx over Freud, and would argue that Abraham, as the inventor of monotheism, deserves serious consideration for number one. But half the fun of such lists is disagreeing with them. For example, the author of the Jewish 100 places Anne Frank at #12. If I were compiling this list I would certainly include Miss Frank, but placing her as high as #12, in my opinion, is sheer sentimentality. (As is, no doubt, my own very high estimation of Gunnar Sonsteby.)
Of more immediate interest is Niels Bohr. Bohr's mother was Jewish, so according to the rules of Judaism, he counts (though whether he was at any point in his life in any sense I practicing Jew, I have not yet discovered.) I believe Bohr is the only individual who will appear in both the Jewish 100 and in the Scandinavian 78. Shapiro puts him at #16.
History's most influential Scandinavian is only its sixteenth most influential Jew! What are the odds?
In all seriousness, Shapiro clearly unappreciates Niels Bohr.
Myself, I would rate Jesus over Moses, Marx over Freud, and would argue that Abraham, as the inventor of monotheism, deserves serious consideration for number one. But half the fun of such lists is disagreeing with them. For example, the author of the Jewish 100 places Anne Frank at #12. If I were compiling this list I would certainly include Miss Frank, but placing her as high as #12, in my opinion, is sheer sentimentality. (As is, no doubt, my own very high estimation of Gunnar Sonsteby.)
Of more immediate interest is Niels Bohr. Bohr's mother was Jewish, so according to the rules of Judaism, he counts (though whether he was at any point in his life in any sense I practicing Jew, I have not yet discovered.) I believe Bohr is the only individual who will appear in both the Jewish 100 and in the Scandinavian 78. Shapiro puts him at #16.
History's most influential Scandinavian is only its sixteenth most influential Jew! What are the odds?
In all seriousness, Shapiro clearly unappreciates Niels Bohr.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Young Vikings
Attention drifted from the 78 there for a few days. Other distractions are fighting for my attention.
At a cafe where I sometimes write, this guy I know noticed a book I was reading on the Vikings. "The thing about the Vikings," he remarked, "is that they were so young." I asked him to explain. "Leif Ericson was like eighteen when he crossed the ocean to North America," he replied. "Wasn't he?"
I did not know. "But it would make sense," I said. "I obviously don't have balls like Leif. But the closest I ever could have come to willingly venturing out into the North Atlantic, in what amounts to a big canoe, would have been at about the age of eighteen. The lure of adventure probably strongest about then. And eighteen year olds combine young energy with adult muscular coordination. They're probably better suited than anyone for such adventures." I might have added that eighteen year olds, while they might not believe they're immortal, know it, deep down.
I'm still not much more knowledgeable about westward Viking exploration than I was twenty years ago. So much to read, so much to learn.
A friend of mine helped change the template on this blog to something more suitable for the time being. He also tried to help me set up a Wiki account so I can do the 78 right. It didn't work. But I've got two people looking into it now. It shouldn't be long.
At a cafe where I sometimes write, this guy I know noticed a book I was reading on the Vikings. "The thing about the Vikings," he remarked, "is that they were so young." I asked him to explain. "Leif Ericson was like eighteen when he crossed the ocean to North America," he replied. "Wasn't he?"
I did not know. "But it would make sense," I said. "I obviously don't have balls like Leif. But the closest I ever could have come to willingly venturing out into the North Atlantic, in what amounts to a big canoe, would have been at about the age of eighteen. The lure of adventure probably strongest about then. And eighteen year olds combine young energy with adult muscular coordination. They're probably better suited than anyone for such adventures." I might have added that eighteen year olds, while they might not believe they're immortal, know it, deep down.
I'm still not much more knowledgeable about westward Viking exploration than I was twenty years ago. So much to read, so much to learn.
A friend of mine helped change the template on this blog to something more suitable for the time being. He also tried to help me set up a Wiki account so I can do the 78 right. It didn't work. But I've got two people looking into it now. It shouldn't be long.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Thorstein Veblen
I have considered and rejected Thorstein Veblen, author of the famous and influential "Theory of the Liesure Class," on the same grounds as Roald Dahl, Carl Sandburg, and especially, Ole Rolvaage. I will, however, find a way to honorablly mention all these first generation immigrants of note.
newcomers
Today the Scandinavian 78 welcomes two new candidates.
(1) Raoul Wallenberg, Swedish humanitarian who saved tens of thousands of Jews from the Holocaust (more than Schindler, if what I've heard is accurate). He joins a growing list of eminent 20th century Scandinavian humanitarians. I believe he will rank high in the 78.
(2) Peter Christen Asbjornsen & Jorgen Moe seem to have worked mostly in close collaboration, therefore feel justified for including the partnership as a single entry. They traveled throughout Norway collecting every bit on folklore they could find, and preserved it in writing in a landmark and highly influential book.
Asbjornsen & Moe are particularly exciting since the suggestion came from a real live Norwegian (albeit through an intermediary).
Since starting this project, I have discovered red hairs in my beard. True story.
(1) Raoul Wallenberg, Swedish humanitarian who saved tens of thousands of Jews from the Holocaust (more than Schindler, if what I've heard is accurate). He joins a growing list of eminent 20th century Scandinavian humanitarians. I believe he will rank high in the 78.
(2) Peter Christen Asbjornsen & Jorgen Moe seem to have worked mostly in close collaboration, therefore feel justified for including the partnership as a single entry. They traveled throughout Norway collecting every bit on folklore they could find, and preserved it in writing in a landmark and highly influential book.
Asbjornsen & Moe are particularly exciting since the suggestion came from a real live Norwegian (albeit through an intermediary).
Since starting this project, I have discovered red hairs in my beard. True story.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
13 minutes to close
I'm pleased to say that at least two people have found this blog. But there's a downside. I'm going to have to straighten up. Guests might now start dropping in at any moment.
A week or two ago I asked a friend of mine, a guy whose knowledge of history deeply impresses me (which is saying something) how much he knew about Scandinavian history. This was his response almost verbatim: "Some people lived in the cold, then they were Vikings, then Lutherans, then made furniture." A brilliant summation on the spur! Well done!
I was at Alki beach with another friend of mine recently, on a blustery freezing Sunday. The water and weather brought the Vikings to my mind. I confessed that the more Viking history I read, the more like I feel I owe the Irish reparations. I'm half Norwegian: it was the Norwegian Vikings who especially despoiled Ireland, and they did it for a very, very long time.
She let me buy her a Guiness and we called it even.
A week or two ago I asked a friend of mine, a guy whose knowledge of history deeply impresses me (which is saying something) how much he knew about Scandinavian history. This was his response almost verbatim: "Some people lived in the cold, then they were Vikings, then Lutherans, then made furniture." A brilliant summation on the spur! Well done!
I was at Alki beach with another friend of mine recently, on a blustery freezing Sunday. The water and weather brought the Vikings to my mind. I confessed that the more Viking history I read, the more like I feel I owe the Irish reparations. I'm half Norwegian: it was the Norwegian Vikings who especially despoiled Ireland, and they did it for a very, very long time.
She let me buy her a Guiness and we called it even.
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