When travelling physically or speaking online, don't mention the war

Luxembourg flag

I heard a diplomatic speech about Luxembourg. A lady promoting her country to us said:
'Luxembourg is called the Gibraltar of the North. At its heart is a fortress. Unfortunately it was overcome and we were invaded in WW2. However, the European Union has brought 60 years of peace and a voice to this small country. Our people speak lots of French and German as well as a local language.'

After hearing this speech, I realised how diplomatic it was. A few hours later I heard a speech about  Gandhi's speech to the salt workers.

Mahatma Gandhi

Several times the speaker reporting Gandhi's speech said, 'And this is how we got our independence - from the British.'

I was the only British person in the audience, but by the time the speaker had finished I felt most uncomfortable. I felt that the speaker must constantly hear anti-British sentiments, and that British visitors to India would not be welcome. I felt that I should consider deleting any posts recommending trips to India, for fear that British visitors would blame me for misleading them if they met with surly looks, hostility or worse.

Now, there are good reasons for a speaker from India to quote Gandhi. He is widely quoted and revered by many people who are not Indian, in England and worldwide. I often quote Gandhi.

It would be perfectly reasonable and inoffensive to say that his speech moved millions of people, and changed the course of history. The speaker did say the Gandhi advocated non-violence. She could have gone further and said this policy protected both the Indians and the British at that time. She could have pointed out that many ordinary British people then, as now, knew nothing about the salt tax or how it affected the Indians, and when Gandhi visited Brtain he had widespread support amongst the workers in the North of England.

She could have mentioned that now most of the people alive then have passed on, and India is proud to be a member of the Commonwealth.

She could have said that many Indians regard Britain highly or fondly, for leaving some fine historic buildings, the railways, the legal system, the language.

She might have said that mixed in with memories of the struggle for independence, are memories of friendship. She might have admitted that not everybody wanted India partitioned before the partitions, and that after the deaths, Gandhi was killed by an assassin who blamed Gandhi for the loss of life.

And today there is still a strong bond bwetween India and Indians and Britain and British people.

We have a bust honouring Gandhi in London. The British regard India with fondness. The British are high on the list of countries sending tourists to India. Every high street in England has at least one restaurant serving Indian food and curry is often called the national dish, and is voted the favourite dish.

I thought about how, as a travel writer, I went  to the World Travel Market in London. Most of the people whose livelihoods depend on tourism, know their governments have spent enormous amounts of money wooing tourists to see fine buildings and try foreign food and buy ethnic clothes and save for souvenirs.

As diplomats for their country, the tourism representatives are very careful. The organizers may try to keep apart the stands for Israel and the Palestinians, Greece and Turkey, but the sales people on the floor are there to promote their own country, not to risk alienating the organizers or potential customers by mentioning any hint of past conflicts. In fact, some of them try to create two-country trips, with new friends in the same business, across the border, a win-win situation.

But what about the media, the man in the street, and the public speakers.

A poular joke goes, 'Don't mention the war!' This is said frequently in the sixth and last episode of Fawlty Towers, where Basil has a series of mishaps which end with the Germans shaking their heads in disbelief, and themselves bringing up the taboo subject by asking, 'How did the British win the war!'

Fawlty Towers, TV comedy series

On a serious note, if you are running tours of battlefields.you must mention the war. But if it's a WWII field, you can speak of the Nazis and not the Germans. You can talk about the particular squadron on each side which was involved in a battle. You can leave out any mention of nationality and speak of a particular long-dead battle leader on each side, and his troops.

You can tell the story of the Christmas truce on the battlefields in WWI. You can show pictures of soldiers from both sides shaking hands at Celebrations of Peace, decades later.

What about Asia?

I speak French. I am not French. But I was most uncomfortable going around some of the museums in  Hanoi. Admittedly there was a display in one room about French and American protests against the Vietnam war. At the end was a room about reconciliation. If I had been French, and sensitive, I would have left long before reaching the last room. I wanted to leave. I had to stay because i was with a group including one who wanted to stay.

You can promote the museum on the site of the Burma railway and promote the book about the Burma railway and the Japanese translator who sought to be reconciled after the end of WWII.

A traveller is a diplomat, who should speak well of his own country, and that of his host. When in Rome, do what the Romans do.

I cannot imagine many tourists from the UK visiting Rome and telling Italians that Romans were a bloodthirstly lot and thank goodness the Romans left the UK. No.

Tourists to Italy will talk about what brings them to the country, their love of Italian food, ice cream, espresso, pasta, Roman ruins, learning Latin at school, the influence of Latin on romance languages, opera, favourite Italians from Fellini to Sophia Loren.

Equally, I would expect visitors to the UK to seek to speak about only what they loved and admired about the country and the language.

So, what about Churchill's speech, "We will fight them on the beaches ... we will never surrender."

Churchill statue. Parliament Square. London. England.

It would not be approporiate to say that to a German audience, or an audience which might include Germans. You would have to be very careful to end with words to the effect that we are lucky to live in a world where war is over, the visitors are friends, the Germans on our shores are tourists keen to see our country, and our shopkeepers, mostly born after the war, are keen to welcome the Germans.

You only need to add one sentence, sometimes only one word, to be sure that every person in your audience remains your friend.

Useful Websites
INDIA
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahatma_Gandhi

WWII Humour
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Germans

Author, Author! About the Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. (Not related to the actress.)
Author of twenty books including: Quick Quotations; Who Said What When.
See books and profiles on Lulu.com and Amazon, such as Wedding Speeches & Toasts. Also watch videos on YouTube.
See other posts on singers and statues and languages and destinations.

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