Syria One Year Later

Me (Kristian Hansen) at the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, Syria - July 2010

It was exactly one year ago that I was in the Republic of Syria. The question I have on my mind is: Have things changed and if so, to what degree?

During my trip to Lebanon and Syria last summer with Jessica we came across a number of amazing and beautiful sites (and sights). There were the ancient water wheels of Hama, the giant ferris wheel in Beirut, the blue Mediterranean Sea, the deserted Oasis of Palmyra, the Crusaders Castle of Krak des Chevaliers and a multitude of majestic destinations…

One thing lacking in this trip was the ability for us to have an honest conversation with locals about their government and its politics. Here we were a world away from the United States, we wanted to explore everything that is different from the Western World, but we were slighted by language barriers and a society that is still trying to understand the intentions of United States travelers (and US Govt).

Now we have had a full year of civil unrest in the region. The Syrian government is cracking down on demonstrators and the internet has been severed from many citizens grasps. The timing for our trip was impeccable. Had we attempted to venture there today it would have not been possible.

Hacker groups are jumping in to aid the citizens and are attempting to route out the injustices that the idea of “freedom of speech” encapsulate. The world sits idly, wondering what the next appropriate steps may be in order to rectify the unjust killings of demonstrators. In my conversations with a citizen of Hamas (who I met during my trip) I only hear that the demonstrators are “crazy people”. Now I can either side with a local or I can listen to the NY Times, CNN and United Nations to see what is really happening on the ground.

It was my hope in traveling to the Middle East that I would have a firmer grasp of society on the whole. I wished to ingratiate myself in a foreign culture and receive a glimpse of their heritage and normalcy. Although it was my hope that international travel to the region would be opening up, it appears with current hostilities that we are in fact stepping back in time to an arena of intolerance, hatred, and misinformation.

Let us all hope that Syria conquers their fears, opens up to democracy and allows a great flow of information to its citizens.

Some Things Don’t Change

Sitting at one of my old coffee house haunts today a thought came across regarding change vs status quo. Right now, sitting in the same chair, at the same table, at the same cafe I worked out of two and three years ago I see the same faces and the same employees.

In one sense it is reassuring to go to a local joint. For a long time I strove to seek out “community oriented” locales, think of it most like the show Friends or Cheers - where everyone knows your name. Having people around you who share in your daily ups and downs can be surprisingly great. This is especially true when you first join a new city. It is a sense of ownership over something that makes us feel good.

This becomes acutely true when you are faced with the hyper-local, know too much about your shit - side of things. I feel like I know many of these people and have seen them through the years. But today I think its time for some change. It actually depressed me to think that everyone here at the cafe is still working here. This is not an artisan coffee shop where people come for the coffee. I always came for the laid-back atmosphere, never for the beans. If you want good coffee head over to Four Barrel, Ritual or Blue Bottle. Three years ago when I first met many of these people they had grandiose plans of becoming artist, stand-up comedians, actors, writers, etc. But here they are now doing the same old shit.

This got me thinking about my inability to hold down a job. Its not that I am fired for not working hard - far from it. Its actually that I get bored or unhappy with the set of pace at the companies I have worked at in the past. When we are not moving forward, when we become complacent, that is when its time for me to move on.

Modernity has taught a young generation of entrepreneurs and tradespeople that if you don’t like the situation - change it. Don’t waste your time on a failed concept, move on to the next great deal. Unfortunately I am living in an era where nothing is certain and nothing is sacred. I do not have a pension lined up or social security to look forward to. We have a debt ceiling that is only expanding. Government and government assisted programs are not dissipating but growing each year. Entitlements and alimony towards public officials (police, fire, senators, judges, city officials, etc) is in growth mode. Meanwhile our economy is shrinking and yesterday the stock market fell back to 2008 levels.

In summation, seeing the same people doing the same things, not taking risks; makes me sad. There are a million ways we can be spending our time. I came here (to this cafe) because it gives me comfort, I know the internet is free, there are numerous power outlets, the coffee is cheap and its close to my dwelling. But I think if I have learned one thing from this tirade it is that staying in the same situation can be equally uncomfortable. There are better cafes to mind my time at, better coffee, free internetz everywhere and new baristas to meet/harass.

Change is good. Change is great.