Day 2 of my Washington Adventure-Newseum and the National Mueseum of the American Indian

I set my alarm this morning in order to have enough time to hit two museums today. First up was the "Newseum", a relatively new museum which was absolutely amazing! As a Mass Communication Instructor and just a pop-culture nut, there was a lot of items that attracted my attention. Which made the experience really exciting as it has soooo much to offer.

Even before entering, get an idea of the scope of their commitment. Lining the entrance were front pages from newspapers from each state. Star and Tribune's headlines today: "Mpls. Favors Metrodome Site for Vikings Stadium", "U.S. foreign policy to emphasize gay rights", "3M chemicals down sharply in east metro residents", "Futures soar for Rep. Walz's STOCK Act" and a common theme across most state's newspapers today, the anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor; "Opening up 70 years after Pearl Harbor". The Newseum even tracks this online for you. But through their site online you can track 883 pages from 86 countries.

Once in side, you finally get the magnitude of this 6 story (7 floors if you count the concourse floor) museum as the entry way is an open atrium to the top floor. A large helicopter hovers above you and a large satellite also lingers in the air. Some of my favorite parts of the museum included the Pulitzer Prize Photograph Exhibit which not only included every single photograph that has won this prestigious award, but also displayed the background story of most of them (maybe even all); the 4D movie "I-Witness" that made journalism look and feel cool; G-Men and Journalist Exhibit with cool FBI and crime artifacts (Dillanger's, the Unabomber, Lindberg kidnapping, Patty Hearst, spy artifacts, Hoover's desk, Oklahoma City bombing, 9/11, KKK robes and mafia artifacts) the News History Gallery with front page archives displaying such historic day documents as JFK's assassination, the Man on the Moon, and the Sinking of the Titanic; the 9-11 Gallery of archives and special artifacts, the Berlin Wall Gallery with the largest wall display outside of Germany and an actual watchtower from near Checkpoint Charley; and the Journalists Memorial honoring those that lost their lives in the pursuit of news.

There was a large scale map that identified every country and the classification of freedom of speech found there (free, partly free, not free). There were vehicles from actual journalist attacks (ie car bombings, warfare, including Bod Woodruff's body armor from when he was attacked). Many displays were interactive requiring you to touch, listen, move, or take part in news creation. You could even tape record yourself doing a live newsreport.

I wish we lived closer because I would bring my students here for sure. I could easily have spent the whole day here as I only took in one of the numerous films and videos that were continuously running. This museum was not free, but was well worth the money. If you are an educator, don't forget to ask for the educator discount.

After about 4 hours I decided I better move on to the next item on my agenda--the National Museum of the American Indian. This museum was beautiful! Here too, there was just so much to see.I again wished that I had more time in order to devote solely to this museum. It is the 18th building under the Smithsonian name which means it is also free. This too was a relatively new museum having been opened just in 2004.

I started by catching up with a tour that had started a few minutes earlier (the only one of the day according. We proceeded to the special exhibit titled "Our Universes" which was 8 "cultural philosophies" that as I understood it, were created by the selected communities. As described by the NMAI, "

Our Universes focuses on indigenous cosmologies—worldviews and philosophies related to the creation and order of the universe—and the spiritual relationship between humankind and the natural world. Organized around the solar year, the exhibition introduces visitors to indigenous peoples from across the Western Hemisphere who continue to express the wisdom of their ancestors in celebration, language, art, spirituality, and daily life." Another cool area was the "Our Lives" exhibit. "The main section of Our Lives centers on various layers of identity. For Native people, identity—who you are, how you dress, what you think, where you fit in, and how you see yourself in the world—has been shaped by language, place, community membership, social and political consciousness, and customs and beliefs. But Native identity has also been influenced by a legacy of legal policies that have sought to determine who is Indian and who is not. The issue of Native identity continues to resonate today, as Native people across the Americas seek to claim the future on their own terms." But one of the most memorable parts of this museum which I'll carry with me, is the architecture and design elements. It was truly amazing and visceral in its reflection of Native philosophy. There were no rectangles or straight walls. Displays flowed and moved through the use of circular and non-linear elements. The large entry was circular. Embedded in the wall were crystals which would cast rainbow prisms against the white interior walls. These also corresponded with the seasonal equinoxes. The space was truly a major element of my experience there. I was tweeting as much as I could here like I had also done at the previous museums today and yesterday. But before I knew it, they were announcing the museum's closing over the PA system. I'm glad that I was able to at least see most of both these tremendous Museums today. Watch for future blog posts with the tweet archives from each museum.

Our Universes focuses on indigenous cosmologies—worldviews and philosophies related to the creation and order of the universe—and the spiritual relationship between humankind and the natural world. Organized around the solar year, the exhibition introduces visitors to indigenous peoples from across the Western Hemisphere who continue to express the wisdom of their ancestors in celebration, language, art, spirituality, and daily life." Another cool area was the "Our Lives" exhibit. "The main section of Our Lives centers on various layers of identity. For Native people, identity—who you are, how you dress, what you think, where you fit in, and how you see yourself in the world—has been shaped by language, place, community membership, social and political consciousness, and customs and beliefs. But Native identity has also been influenced by a legacy of legal policies that have sought to determine who is Indian and who is not. The issue of Native identity continues to resonate today, as Native people across the Americas seek to claim the future on their own terms." But one of the most memorable parts of this museum which I'll carry with me, is the architecture and design elements. It was truly amazing and visceral in its reflection of Native philosophy. There were no rectangles or straight walls. Displays flowed and moved through the use of circular and non-linear elements. The large entry was circular. Embedded in the wall were crystals which would cast rainbow prisms against the white interior walls. These also corresponded with the seasonal equinoxes. The space was truly a major element of my experience there. I was tweeting as much as I could here like I had also done at the previous museums today and yesterday. But before I knew it, they were announcing the museum's closing over the PA system. I'm glad that I was able to at least see most of both these tremendous Museums today. Watch for future blog posts with the tweet archives from each museum.

DC Day 1 Tweet Archive including those from US Holocaust Memorial Museum

DAY ONE of Tweets from 7:27 pm 12-6-11 backwards to 12-5-11

kfrisch kfrisch

My final message from Holocaust Museum is the quote behind the eternal flame. Deuteronomy 4:9

2 hours ago

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In memorium twitgoo.com/521l3n

2 hours ago

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#challenge. What famous quote by Martin Niemoller lines the exiting wall of the Holocaust self guided tour?

2 hours ago

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"Never will I forget that night, the first night in camp, which had turned my life into one long night, 7 times cursed and 7 times sealed"EW

2 hours ago

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I cannot adequately describe the emotions and thoughts experienced, looking at the extensive pile of victims' shoes

2 hours ago

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The persistence of educational, religious, cultural, and political activity within the ghettos in itself constituted defiance.

3 hours ago

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"...in spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart." Anne Frank

3 hours ago

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"Physically and mentally disabled persons were the first victims of systematic murder by the Nazis." Operation T4

3 hours ago

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The US Emergency Visitor's Visa program was designed to save "persons of exceptional merit"

3 hours ago

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40,000 German Jews found sanctuary in US, "a fraction of those that sought to enter."

3 hours ago

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Hitler had homosexual men imprisoned in concentration camps and sometimes castrated. Lesbians were persecuted but to a lesser extent perhaps

3 hours ago

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Nazi Germany was not the first or only country to sterilize people considered "abnormal". Before Hitler, the US held the record #of policies

3 hours ago

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More from the Holocaust Museum. "Where books are burned, in the end people will be burned". Heinrich Heine

3 hours ago

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Using cell phones to make museum digitally interactive and engaging for the wired generation. Cool! twitgoo.com/521c0k

4 hours ago

kfrisch kfrisch

That ends my tweets from the special exhibit guided tour at the Holocaust Museum... twitgoo.com/521bvt

5 hours ago

kfrisch kfrisch

"Propaganda" in general is not all bad, nor is it all good, but it is all biased.

5 hours ago

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Nuremberg trials really were deciding if "words can kill"

5 hours ago

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Owning any Nazi item in Germany is illegal

5 hours ago

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Purposeful misleading comunication used, someone "evacuated" when really "deported" or worse killed

5 hours ago

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Der Sturmer by Streicher, a tabloid purely against Jews displayed publicly to read to alter perceptions

5 hours ago

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All teachers had to belong to the Nazi party. History rewriten and taught in school, new books and games, Hitler Youth program.

5 hours ago

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Hitler appointef Goebbels who basically controlled"culture". Free radios which then controlled air/nationalism

5 hours ago

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Black white and red were chosen by Naxis to represent old Germany

5 hours ago

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Some of Nazi propaganda was also anti African German

5 hours ago

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Nazi's were one of the first political parties to design a party banner.

5 hours ago

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"All great, world-shaking events have been brought about by ...the spoken word. Adolf Hitler, 1924

5 hours ago

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Nazis propaganda specifically used black and white vs color in the 30's on purpose when other groups were

5 hours ago

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"Propaganda is a truly terrible weapon in the hands of an expert"-Adolf Hitler 1924

5 hours ago

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About to start a tour with Sam twitgoo.com/5218qx

6 hours ago

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First museum stop. twitgoo.com/52185s

6 hours ago

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Dorothy we aren't in Litte Falls anymore. Check out my lunch. Can you name these foods? #challenge #DCbound twitgoo.com/5214yb

7 hours ago

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Unlimited #oops

8 hours ago

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Metro lines make traveling easy #DCbound, well so far so good. #transfer coming up. Thank you unlited pass.

8 hours ago

kfrisch kfrisch

Ok you know your flight time is #early when the #CarribouCoffee isn't even open yet.

13 hours ago

DalaiLama Dalai Lama

It is my hope that the twenty-first century will be a century when a more caring, responsible, and compassionate humanity will emerge.

14 hours ago

Retweeted by kfrisch

kfrisch kfrisch

First tweet I read. #Fitting. It's from D.L. Check it out. #DCbound

14 hours ago

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#confirmed 3:45am is not a natural time for the body to get up #DCbound

14 hours ago

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Less than two hours and my adventure to Washington, DC will be underway. I will also try to blog as I can at: serviceforclc.blogspot.com

5 Dec

Holocaust Memorial Museum

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum http://www.ushmm.org/

If I believed in reincarnation, I’d bet money that I was somehow involved in the Holocaust. I’ve always been emotionally attached to that subject. In fact, in Junior High I even wrote a short story titled “The Red Scarf” which dealt with a young girl’s perspective of being imprisoned in a concentration camp. A few years later I visited the former Dachau camp in Germany.

Three years ago, I asked for “In Memory's Kitchen” for Christmas and was thrilled when I got it. As an Amazon.com review details, “Of all the documents of the Holocaust, this cookbook compiled from memory by the female prisoners at Terezin, a way station to Auschwitz, may be the most remarkable. The Terezin prisoners recalled and wrote down their recipes for chocolate torte, breast of goose, plum strudel, and other traditional dishes not because they thought they might ever need them--they were surviving on scraps and potato peels at the time--but as a testament to the future, so that their grandchildren might receive a fragment of their inheritance. The manuscript found its way in 1969 to Anny Stern, the daughter of Mina Pachter, whose poems on barracks life are also included.” (Citation: http://www.amazon.com/Memorys-Kitchen-Legacy-Women-Terezin/dp/1568219024)

But the one event that will forever be ingrained in my memory is my visit to Auschwitz. Words cannot describe that experience. All these years later and I can still bring forward specific images, smells, and overwhelming sadness. The camp had obviously not been used as a concentration camp for almost half a century, yet I could still feel the darkness that still hangs in that place.

So I guess it was fitting that my first museum stop would be here. It’s done well and seems somewhat inclusive. Although anti-Semitism is rightfully predominant in the museum there are sections that identify several cultural groups that were targeted including African Germans, Homosexuals, Gypsies, Masons, mentally and physically challenged. At the end they also have a part of the museum designated for other world crimes of genocide, like that occurring in Darfur.

I sent out several tweets from my self-guided tour as well as a guided tour of their special exhibit, “State of Deception: The Power of Nazi Propaganda”. Check out the tweet history archive also saved at this blog site. I also participated in a cool interactive SMS (text messaging) feature which guided you through the Special Exhibit by sending a text message with a question for you to respond to and then it would send back a new response and ask you to move to the next check in point. What a neat way to connect with the digital generation.

It was a lot to take in emotionally on day one, and one 4 hours of sleep, but I’m still glad I went. I spent some time at the end in the Hall of Remembrance—a gorgeous, airy room for reflecting on all that was and still is the Holocaust. I lit a candle underneath Auschwitz – Birkenau only because I felt a deeper call to do so.

The Museum has a lot to offer, both in person and online. Those of you close by can borrow the CD-Rom I received for educators titled “Teaching About the Holocaust” or you might want to check out their educator website at http://www.ushmm.org/education/foreducators/ for many other resources, lessons, and professional development opportunities including a free online workshop.

Early Morning Ramblings and I mean ramblings!

Being a night owl in general, my 3:45 am wake up call seemed unnaturally early. Thank goodness I decided against trying to drive down this morning or that would have been even two hours earlier! However, because one never knows what a Minnesota winter morning may bring, I thought it best just to get down here and have less of a distance to go. Good call.

This also gave me the opportunity to have a great meal with some good friends in Bloomington. They introduced me to a wonderful Italian place called Ciao Bella. Thanks to Ezra and David our dining experience was topped with complimentary desserts. At the end of the evening we were gleefully “drunk from good food”. The satisfying meal, loads of laughter and time with friends created the perfect recipe for a good night’s sleep.

Ok, “good” is relative here. “Short” would probably be more accurate. By the time I checked back into my classes and answered more email the hours were dwindling. Being that the flight was so early I opted for setting the alarm and getting a wake-up call. And before I knew it, they were both going off.

A pleasant shuttle ride over to HHH, now known as “Terminal 2” reminded me that for some people, 3:45 wasn’t so bad. My friendly shuttle driver started his shift at 1:30 am. Wow.

Check in at the airport went relatively smoothly. Not very long lines and I upgraded to a window seat. However, I was once again reminded just how early it was when my much anticipated coffee and oatmeal from Carribou was thwarted by the fact the coffee shop wasn’t even open yet! Bou you let me down!

Traveling in a digital age coupled with the fact that I’m still conducting my classes while in DC I am forced to carry much of my “office” with me. All the electronics with their cords, and my various batteries and chargers confused the extra machine. But after a quick search I was cleared and allowed to head to my gate filled with the sounds of a screaming toddler that I hoped I wouldn’t be sitting near on the plane. (Come on, I know you've been there with this thought!)

Airport terminals are their own little world and have their own rules and regulations, although sometimes I think it’s a matter of who’s working and what kind of mood they’re in. This particular morning, they were following all the rules. I watched as two desk associates commandeered a carry-on marked Fragile from one of the awaiting passengers. They claimed that it was not regulation size and would have to be checked. Although the item seemed perhaps an inch or two longer than their little white plastic bin of shame, it certainly made up for it in width. My first thought was that perhaps the carrier held an expensive ukulele, but then perhaps I’m biased. A more educated guess I suppose would be that the case held an expensive violin.

Not to appear to have singled her out, they then proceeded to take a bag from a second passenger, the mother of the screaming boy. Let’s just say be the end of the measuring, the begging, the explaining, the pleading, the removal of the bag, and what appeared to be the charging of the now “checked bag”, there was someone else crying. I looked at my carry-on and hoped I wouldn’t be victim number 3. But alas boarding calls were made and I was allowed, with my luggage to board the plane.

Normally I try to take direct flights when at all possible, but I ended up booking a package deal and that deal included a stop in Lansing Michigan. I have to say, I might start considering more 1-stop flights as long as I don’t have to change planes. There were so many extra seats on this first leg that I had the enter row to myself. I can’t remember the last time I’ve had the option of laying across three seats. I’m sure it was decades ago…you know, in the “good ol’ days” when flights didn’t fly at capacity. Of course that was also the time when there was no such thing as a non-smoking flight, just a non-smoking section, that any nonsmoker who ever flew would tell you was still smoke-filled.

The pilot announced that our plane had reached its cruising altitude, which meant I was free to take advantage of the spare seats. So there I was, stretched out across the row preparing to take a snooze to help make up for the lack of sleep I’d been running on the past two nights (well I don’t know if you can count it a full night when you have to get up at 3:45 am) when another announcement fills the air. Flight attendants would be coming around with their regular beverage fare and complimentary breakfast sandwiches would be available.

What???? Complimentary sandwiches? Talk about the old days, food hasn’t been complimentary since I was in high school! Now here’s where my new quandary became fueled. I was thinking I’d forgo the coffee in lieu of sleep, but now they had to throw in the word “Free”. I have a strange addiction to things that are free. I mean, after all, they are free! Here’s how bad it is, I don’t even eat breakfast, in fact, I kind of dislike breakfast, yet here I was, now willing to forgo sleep (which I love) all because some little breakfast sandwich was available, to me, for free! It’s a sickness I know.

Had I known they were going to offer the free breakfast sandwich on the second leg too, and not just to this space-privileged first leggers, I’m sure I would have opted for sleep. But my muddled morning mind (“MMM” for short) didn’t even think of asking that question when they came around with their little bundle of smelly freeness this morning.

Most of the seats were filled after our stop in Lansing and again, the whole trip went very fast. In fact, by the time we reached our cruising destination and I got out my laptop, had a cup of coffee and starting adding blog notes, we were descending again. I actually finished this about 7 hours later than I thought. And there concludes my early morning ramblings from Day 1 of my great DC adventure!

Exciting Opportunities

I recently completed an intensive online course sponsored by the ONE Campaign, the World Food Programme and World Food Program USA, I would like to congratulate you on your completion of the course "Growing Solutions to End Hunger: The Hunger and Agriculture Griot Project." During the last week of class, we received some exciting news, "The White House has extended a unique opportunity to us through their White House leadership series to brief our leaders (YOU) on subjects relating to foreign assistance. The day would also include a tour of the East Wing and an opportunity to ask Administration officials questions on eradicating poverty for the world’s poorest people."

The White House Community Leadership series was started in the summer of 2011. Our class and the One organizers responded with enthusiasm. As part of this coming together of grassroots leaders interested in global hunger initiatives, our organizers also arranged for a Lobbying Day on Capitol Hill. In a recent email I received regarding this week, it was noted that over 115 people from 30 different states were going to be coming together (most of us for the first time seeing each other in person) to participate in our democracy at the highest level.

Over the course of this week, I am going to try and share some of my experiences in Washington through this blog. As I am still teaching completely online I will do my best to blog each day, and if I can't, I'll be sure to post some information after the fact. As there are security restrictions on what we can bring into the White House, I will not be allowed to have my computer and cell phone use is restricted (White House Information). I will also try to tweet as I can. Follow me on Twitter: @kfrisch for updates and photos.

Although time is limited with class obligations (mine as a student and mine as an instructor), I do hope to get to a few museums in order to gather some information for my classes next semester. Time and energy permitting, I hope to get to the National Museum of the American Indian, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and the Newseum.

I hope you enjoy taking this journey with me through my short time in our Nation's capitol. Stay tuned!!

GRIOT COURSE COMPLETION Letter I received

1 December 2011

Dear Kari Frisch,
On behalf of the ONE Campaign, the World Food Programme and World Food Program USA, I would like to congratulate you on your completion of the course Growing Solutions to End Hunger: The Hunger and Agriculture Griot Project. In six weeks, you completed a minimum of 48 hours of coursework related to hunger issues, international development policy, and advocacy skill-building.

Over the course of this intensive six week course, you have been committed to learning new skills and absorbing new knowledge. You have learned about hunger, agriculture and the global food system, sustainable solutions to hunger, and the international institutions designed to address hunger. You have reached out to policy makers, honed your persuasive writing and speaking skills, and mobilized your community; but more importantly, you have taken up the torch of hunger and agriculture issues as a personal cause. We at ONE, WFP, and WFP-USA are impressed with the passion, creativity and dedication you showed throughout the course.

Thanks to your contribution, letters have been sent and calls have been made to Members of the United States Congress, urging them to continue funding international aid programs in the FY 2012 budget. You should be proud of your accomplishments.
As a griot, you now have the privilege and responsibility to mobilize others and continue working for change through advocacy.

Sincerely,
ONE.ORG | 1400 EYE STREET NW SUITE 600 WASHINGTON DC 20005
J. Mark Brinkmoeller Senior External Engagement Advisor, ONE
Rene McGuffin U.S. Relations Office, WFP