Two Continents- One Humanity

Although 3,000 miles away, I felt like I was home. Our Sister City, Wexford, had just completed a new fire station. Firemen were unhappy with the station’s amenities. Others were complaining about the location. The local paper asserted that "after what seemed to be a lifetime in its construction ... even after all the time in planning and development... There are already several teething problems emerging." Letters to the editor complained, cast aspersions, and played the blame game.

As the mayors and I talked about the challenges we face for providing public service, the similarities between us emerged.

Most mayors are concerned about the long-term sustainability of their cities. They are concerned that as young people move away to find a job and the population ages, the pressure will increase on small businesses to close shop.

Real estate values have escalated. Affordable housing emerged at the #1 concern in every city. Budgets for museums, historic renovation, and points of interest that would attract visitors – one of the top three industries on the globe, are strained.

This was particularly true for the John Paul Jones home and Hermione and to a certain extent Dunbrody and Kiplin Hall. All are linked with U.S. history and had received initial funding from foundations in America.

But it was also hard to find strategic and coordinated marketing plans to tackle concerns. Mayors are generally appointed by the Council for one year. They lead many ceremonial functions. In the UK and Ireland the symbols of ermine coats and gold chains are worn on all official occasions. Municipal government is dependent on provincial, borough or county government for funding to accomplish local initiatives. Citizen participation on advisory boards and commissions is rare. The lack of space in Council meeting rooms closes out public participation as we know it in Annapolis.

There were some things that surprised me. Of all the people I talked with, no one liked retired Prime Minister Tony Blair. Universally they believed him to have abused his power and lied to the public. Interest and talk about politics is ever present. The other surprise was the abandonment of reference to England substituting U.K. – United Kingdom, in its place. Given the thousands of years of battles on this tiny island, and England’s victories over Scots and Welsh perhaps U.K. is a safer term.

"How does it feel to be without a nationality?"

A curious question posed to me in a bookstore by 3 residents of Cardigan, Wales. Thousands of years of wars have established the loyalties to clan and countries and family heritage that is so important to natives of the U.K. and Ireland. Americans don’t have that experience. We are a nationality of immigrants from many countries who fled to America to survive harsh conditions at home. Our family heritage is a mixture of many cultures. I can trace mine back to Holland, France, Scotland and England. America is our nationality.

Attention to the environment and meeting green goals seems a standard way of life. Hotels boast of having a green rating based on recycling, energy efficiency and use of organic foods.
Climate change is discussed freely. This year -the rainiest on record in the British Isles and the resulting floods in England - raised questions of infrastructure capacity and other environmental concerns.

In Scotland there was excitement over the return of the Osprey and the success of the re-population effort. The Park Service published brochures on the otter, the red squirrel and the Osprey’s return.

Newspapers in England headlined perceived increase in crime. The BBC prepared a 10 year analysis – was crime up, down, different?

We all share similar concerns and we are all more alike than we are different.
Our hosts were generous and gracious and eager to share "their" home – 12 hours a day. I learned about Scottish folk dancing, toured museums and industries and participated in viewing a parade of troops on Bastille Day in France. I noted that Public Housing was indistinguishable from owner occupied homes. How do they do it? I was introduced to many dignitaries who are now eager to visit Annapolis for our Charter celebration in 2008. Everywhere a framework for cultural exchange was set. Annapolis could also gain from business links in the hospitality industry and a revitalized oyster industry. Fountaine Pajot Maritime manufacturers from La Rochelle will be sailing across the Atlantic to come to the Annapolis Boat Show.

I sailed on the Queen Mary II. 1,500 miles from land the Captain announced we were turning around to inspect something he had seen in the water. The rescue boat was lowered, and a wreck of an overturned catamaran, no people, was discovered.

I was on a ship with 14 decks and great stability in rough seas. When there is no land in sight, and fog envelopes you, it can be scary. The ocean is vast, covering 71% of the globe. Dolphins play, so do flying fish. Whales larger than a sailboat surfaced.

I thought of the famine ships, tossed by the seas and the clipper ships racing goods around the world. I imagined the vessels outfitted for war as the Hermione that brought Lafayette to help in our struggle for independence and of the modern day leisure sailors such as those in the Volvo and our ambassador ship Pride – driven by the power of the wind. I thought of those that didn’t make it to a "promised land", and I am humbled and in awe of their courage.

Next year I hope you too will have the opportunity to meet and greet and host our friends from the other side of the Atlantic Ocean.