Generational change

For my father, a child of the Great Depression who served in World War II, Austria fell under Germany literally at first, as part of the enemy. His experiences in the Pacific left gaps, filled later with scores of cinematic Nazis. As the Cold War developed West Germany became a key U.S. ally and Austria a bridge to lands eastward. I benefited from the results of the Marshall Plan, the language abilities supported by America Houses, and the camaraderie of shared capitalist culture. To identify myself as an American brought good will in most settings when I first made my way to German-speaking lands, a time after Vietnam, before the wall fell. My European connections deepened as borders opened. In the wake of the Cold War I brought my father to visit, a chance to appreciate the older joint heritage of music and literature, food and drink. For my son, coming to Austria today, good will remains. Yet skepticism shows itself more often. To current and future history teachers here, flag-waving patriotism, so prominent in the U.S., echoes back to a past they clearly reject. Though we share more in our consumer lives, other paths seem to diverge. Skepticism with the use of superpower status rises. Cultural capital changes over time for individuals, and for nations.