Cultural Aspects

Positive International Exposure - An Unexpected journey

During 2003 my wife and I were introduced to individuals who were internationally seasoned and interested in the cultural aspects of areas they visited. These individuals became enamored with West Virginia''s beauty and the generosity of the people they had encountered during their time within this American state. 

An enamoring that grew...

During 2005 we were invited to attend an event in Italy by our new friends. During this visit we'd listen as our friends vividly described West Virginia's beauty, its favorable cultural aspects, its friendly people and it's hidden potential.

 

2006 marked an excursion to a vintage automotive event in the country of Austria. The impressions that began in 2005 solidified even more. The Europeans were showcasing a coal miner's daughter and a individual of pure Italian descent from the American state of West Virginia.

 

"Virginia" in itself has historical connotations in regard to the European views of the American experience. This advertised mixture stoked European interest and a doorway was opening. We again viewed representative of our state, our home's geographical location a subject of interest.

During this event I was informed of an event that was scheduled for 2007 in the Central European Country of Hungary.

We were informed...

Hungary's rule of law, property rights and the investor protections that had improved considerably. So, much so foreign investors had taken notice. The Hungarians were turning out to be quite the capitalists and were enjoying their new found freedom. We were told we needed to experience it where we were then regestered in said event.

At Home...

We had put forth great personal efforts physically and financially in a scenario of plans to accommodate our budding International interest in West Virginia. We realized the foundations were being laid that would need to be handed off to capable representatives in West Virginia to build on.

The Handoff Never Materialized...

By February of 2007 we were immersed in another partner created vexing episode.  An episode that forced us to cancel our participation in the aforementioned September 2007 Hungarian event.
 

Vexations & Negative International Exposure

Again in 2003 another timeline materialized which was covered within wvcountryroads. Another timeline was alos running congruent represented by www.trigoot.com

We were dealing with the most inexplicable geo-political realties. We were given no quarter as devastating forces  were repeatedly unleashed upon us and our home's geographical location. A proverbial anchor of duress that eventually turned into a hunkered down matter of survival.

The 2007 Vexing Episode occurred. I was strained but put on a smiling face where we were still the "unofficial ambassadors" that were presenting a false political image of West Virginia. Again we had to cancel our 2007 participation in the Hungarian event.

Our Europeans flew to West Virginia to visit us instead. At which time the reasons for our cancellation was explained. The distressed areas were visible, striking and quite easily observed.  

2007  Unfortunate Observations - An End

A former World Wide Sales Chief for Daimler Mercedes Corporation in Stuttgart Germany could not believe the developer's current repair attempts were even allowed, yet alone the original construction

"In Germany when someone wants to build a structure, they first get approval from the adjoining landowners".

"Once construction begins if something is wrong the local authority would stop work until it is corrected and if something like this occurred a judge would order the building torn down and the fill removed".

The role of attorneys within the geo-political arena was mentioned.

"Germany also has attorneys where attorneys would not matter in such a situation. This is something that could occur in an Eastern European country, ( Pre-1990), not in America. This is America. This is not proper behavior".

The contradictions were too great and the promotion of West Virginia's hidden, (business), potential ended with a thud.

In addition to the unmentionables all the time work and finances we put forth to accommodate this said potential was adrift and likely over.

Nevertheless, we were still urged to attend the annual Hungarian event the following year.  

2008: You Have Represented Your Country Well

 

During September of 2008 we presented a 1959 Imperial (An American automobile  epitomizing America at its highest points in history), at an event in Eger, Hungary. An event where our names and their home state of West Virginia was broadcast over radio / television on multiple occasions.

The Hungarian people we were greatly appreciative of the fact that an American couple in a 1959 Imperial and it's proudly displayed American flag was in their event. My wife placing one of her many American Flag lapel pins on the shirt of a Hungarian citizen. The man's genuinely appreciative eyes tearing up.

We were given an introduction of Hungary's pre -1990 government and it's current post -1990 government. Hungary's current government stressed democracy and a drive towards capitalism. This drive and its firm hand in regard to the protection of property rights had indeed garnered foreign investment.

Summary Video:

Through letters and words expressions of appreciation were forwarded from some of the most wonderful people we had met:

"I would have to make a list of the people who send their regards"

"They want to know when the Americans are coming back."

"Some have never seen Americans before", (Eastern Europe).

"You have represented your country well, they love you. You are from America, so they love America" (Eastern Europe).

"They were pleased by the respect shown towards the historic and cultural aspects of their country."

The above made possible by a number of average West Virginians who extended aid to visiting foreign travelers in 2003. A respect for West Virginia that grew and in the process a broadened affinity for America was created. rare opportunities that involved visits to areas few Americans had visited before.  

Difficult Aspects

We attended, participated in, and in some cases represented our country in events that were held in Italy, San-Marino, Austria, Germany and Hungary.

However, Hungary possessed unique aspects. We learned what the Hungarians endured under previous (1990) forms of government/s. Human Rights Violations and the manipulation of or lack of property rights and the embedded results.

On the flip side we were dealing with the most intense of Geopolitical pressures that were very similar to Hungary's past Pre-1990 Government. In some areas these pressures likely exceeded aspects of Hungary's previous Governmental forms. Embarrassed that our rights to life, liberty and property in America had been greatly diminished and subverted.

The tolls were heavy:

The balancing of our careers along with construction interests and implementations coupled to the now phrased "West Virginia Bavarian Connection".

The assistance to an elderly widower with their pre-2008 drainage issues and a widow with their post-2007 drainage issues.

Concerns for other citizens were discarded as opinions and became unfortunate and avoidable realities with a vengeance.

Situations viewed as crimes in modern democracies were managed toward an end with the most unnatural persistence by vested interests.

Distraction, fatigue; obligations cancelled, etc... More is not within the scope of this presentation.  

Copyright 2011