Nå er det klart for nummer to av serien av reisebrev om hvordan det er å være nordmann i Amerika.
I have but one fear in my life. The fear of watching too much reality TV and that it would blow my mind out, literarily speaking. Let us now travel far away from Jersey Shore, as you remember I mentioned in my last article. Everybody knows that history is the best reality show you can get (haven’t you seen the HBO/BBC-production about ancient Rome?). But what is Rome compared to America?
Rome doesn’t compare to the US of A, because Rome wasn’t built in a day. In less than 200 years you’ve achieved a democracy, managed to become the world’s greatest superpower, and you have Hollywood – The place that contains by far the most power of the masses. A modern Marx would argue that capitalism no longer represents a threat to the proletariat, but people involved in movie production that enforces so much power over the man on the floor (that is to be the average working class hero that actually pays to see his/hers favorite movie on DVD, in movie theatres or what not). He would also argue that massive piracy and sharing files on the internet is the only way to fight the ruling class.
It took you less than a hundred years to achieve independence from the UK. It took Norway over four hundred years to achieve freedom from Denmark, and wouldn’t you know – the moment we formed our constitution (in 1814), being on the losing side during the Napoleon Wars we were handed over to the Swedes by the British (we all know the fate of Napoleon). Our army of two peasants and a delusional Danish Prince with royal ambitions couldn’t stand a chance. That’s nothing compared to the Boston Tea Party throwing crates of tea on the British Crown and gaining independence.
I guess that’s why there are more people of Norwegian origin in the US than there are Norwegians in Norway. Do you know what that leads to? Yes, you’re right. It creates another reality TV concept. In this show people are brought back to their forefathers’ country to live as Norwegians did during the late 19th century. No need to say that the price is a meeting with distant relatives which creates reason for laughing cruelly at those who’d pull cartloads of shit to win a competition for something that would have cost you a little less than 1000 USD and some research (international calls excluded).
Now, that is American history Z for you. Feel free to tell me if you ever want to discuss history down at the D-House.
Coming up next on ShR #3: Boston “Tea” Party
