THE REAL TRUTH REISMAN BROUGHT TO CROATIA

Judith Reisman’s recent visit to Zagreb reminded me why, maybe, Americans shouldn’t be allowed to travel abroad.

When I lived in Singapore, I loved watching the US reality TV show The Amazing Race. The show is a modern, dumbed-down version of Mark Twain’s The Innocents Abroad. In it, 11 two-person teams follow clues that lead them around the world. Going from country to country, they do silly stunts, eat outlandish foods, rub elbows with the locals, and try not to be last to the finish line at the end of the episode, which usually means elimination and no chance at the million-dollar prize. The producers are smart, only US citizens are allowed to compete, which means that although there is the occasional charming team to root for, usually you just watch to see how stupid Americans can be when faced with other cultures.

In one show, contestants must find a disco. One lost team confidently went to ask directions from a woman who looked to be dressed for a night out, only to find she was a working girl. Camera in tow, they persisted in asking for directions anyway and were surprised that she didn’t appreciate the attention. In another episode, a team motivated young villagers helping them with their task by yelling over and over, “More money!” A recurring theme is that although teams are in the middle of Thailand or Brazil or Ethiopia, they are astounded that no one speaks English and can direct them to their next clue. A few, dear to my heart, bother to learn “thank you” the local language, which actually offers a good-will advantage. One team, breezing toward victory, and was derided by a rival as, “Those hippies, and their damned language knowing.”

And of course last year, during the amazing US presidential race, Republican Mitt Romney packed his bags and went to London, where he was promptly labeled “Mitt the Twit” by local tabloids after insulting the London Olympics organizers, breaking diplomatic protocol, and picking random titles for his hosts.

Reisman’s visit rekindled all these memories. Spurred by personal tragedy, Reisman has become a crusader against pornography and all things linked to Alfred Kinsey and his work on human sexuality. Unfortunately she has become a distorted caricature of herself, squeezing as much fame and honoraria from her extreme opinions as possible. Inviting her here as part of an informed discussion on sex education in schools is like inviting Florida pastor Terry Jones to discuss religious tolerance. Whatever valid points she might have are lost in the cacophony and hyperbola.

But, as long as she not calling for armed revolt or shouting “fire” in a crowded theater, the right of free speech dictates that she be able to say what she wants. Free speech also allows hecklers to heckle before being escorted out of the hall, questioners to be critical, and TV stations to decide whether her ideas or the circus she generates is more newsworthy. Like most freedoms, it doesn’t just apply to the things you agree with, which can be a tough pill to swallow.

One remark by Reisman struck a familiar chord. Talking to her audience—including one co-ed who will undoubtedly have little trouble getting dates in the future, at least not for movies—the over-hyped writer noted, “You are from a communist environment, so it doesn’t surprise me to see indoctrination.” Really? As Dean Nenad Zakošek pointed out, most of the students present were born in free and capitalist Croatia.

American ignorance of most things foreign and almost anything Croatian is sad, but not surprising. Nobel laureate and NY Times columnist Paul Krugman—unquestionably smarter and more worldly than Romney, Reisman or Amazing Race contestants—spoke in Rovinj in  October and acknowledged knowing very little about Croatia’s situation. It was disappointing because Krugman really does know a lot about a lot of things.

This is all symptomatic of a greater truth: since the war, the world cares little about Croatia. No one is burning the midnight oil studying Croatian at Harvard to complement an MBA and take south central Europe by storm. No venture capitalist in Silicon Valley is plotting an economic coup that starts in Varaždin.

In July, Croatia should take a huge step into the global economy by joining the European Union. Croatia needs to take advantage of this by aggressively going out and conducting business. It needs to forget the whining in the run-up to EU entry about how local companies can’t compete with the big boys, as though there is something in the water here that dulls capabilities. It needs to encourage and expand English-language programs, like the International Baccalaureate initiatives at the Matije Gupec School and the XVI Gymnasium.

And most of all, the country needs to find a way to welcome the few foreign business people who do understand Croatia’s true potential and are interested in setting up shop here. This does not mean giving them carte blanche to pillage the countryside or destroy the environment. But rather offering a transparent, stable business climate that allows them to weigh properly the risks and rewards of investing their money in Croatia.

And, speaking of Croatia’s EU entry reminds me of another comment from Reisman: “I’ve never seen so many bullies in my life as I’ve met here in Croatia.” Well, obviously, she has yet to visit Slovenia.

(Originally published in Croatian in 21. Stoljece, on Feb. 9, 2013.)