The first real day of Festival started early in the morning with a brisk walk to the Limelight Lodge. At half past 7 in the morning; the usual hour of traffic jam in Bucharest is in Aspen quiet and peaceful, hardly any cars or people.
The topic of the first discussion, with Kurt Andersen nonetheless, is the way the crisis alters national values, evidently in reference to the American way. Main ideas: there is too much supersizing in the dreams of wishes of the American, therefore leading to an unrealistic and exuberant approach to life. Too much Carpe Diem hurts. I cannot say that I totally agree with him. To me, dreams are supposed to be grand and unrealistic, that's why they are dreams. We must strive to make them happen, obviously with the grain of salt of reality checking in from time to time. The stark reality that Andersen proposes to the "American grasshoppers" comes unnatural to a non-American, especially one coming from a post-Communist, post-transitional, current in recession country. The bleak reality of savings, limiting to your own possibilities, not being able to wish for anything, the stifling of dreams is too much of a recent history to me to agree to Andersen that this is the way to go.
Second discussion: a plenary session on counterinsurgency with Mike McConnell, Michael Chertoff, Jack Keane and Jane Harman. A few ideas of the most interesting discussion: weak states are more dangerous to the world than strong states, there are groups that have currently the same capacity for destruction as states did, therefore the wars cannot be led primarily between states, the need for cooperation between various agencies and, the need for intelligence, in spite of the fact that "America hates spies". Btw, a brief figure on the table: the intelligence "industry" is costing, according to Mike McConnell, close to 40 billion $ per year and employs close to 100.000 people....
Moving on into the third discussion for the day: Consequences of the Bailout with Felix Rohatyn, Ranji Nagaswami, Raghuram Rajan and Roger Ferguson. A dry discussion, at least for me. However, lots of the non-financial specialists in the audience, therefore, the relatively "talk show" -ish discussion had an impact. I should try more topics that are at an angle with my specialization.
Lunch time. Finally I get to meet some of the people behind the scenes at the festival. It is hard to even begin to imagine the effort put a like event. So, congrats for a job wonderfully done!
After lunch, an Afternoon of Conversion starts in the Music Tent with a discussion with the Israeli Ambassador to the US, Michael Oren. Quote:"Israel has all the means to protect itself", take of that what you may. Next guy on the list: Stephen Breyer. A powerful recollection of some important cases, including the case connected to Little Rock Nine, with its disturbing images of change by force, if necessary. I absolutely loved the speech of Biologist Eric Lander on the timeline of the human genome: the passion, the ability to put huge issues into normal, easy, basic words, the realistic approach to the entire project, while maintaining an optimistic view of things. We need teachers like that, still enthusiastic about their work, and able to see their own wrong ways. Inspiring, and probably, weirdly, the highlight of the day for me, considering the next discussion was moderated by Andrea Mitchell (whose husband was in the room... OMG....) and brought to attention a project involving Madeleine Albright and Hernando de Soto. The focus on property as a panacea by two more than highly intelligent and knowledgeable people is laudable. Disappointment: unilateral view of the issue and a lack of a clear practical solution for acknowledging property: what do you use as criteria to acknowledge property? on what grounds? why do people refuse to have a "proper" identity (ID card, address, ownership). Inspiring, but leaving too many questions open....perhaps it was meant to be like that...
Poet Elizabeth Alexander on Obama and Michael Jackson. Highlight of the discussion: the inaugural poem.
The last talk of the day on America and the world with Madeleine Albright and James Baker. Listening to a Republican like baker acknowledging that Obama did the right thing was mind opening about a type of politics where you can respect and admire your adversaries and strive with them for a better future for the country, not just personal praise and gain. I am not too bitter, am I?
Different approach to the discussions: Damian Woetzel and his success into turning the entire audience in the Music Tent into ballet dancers. A graceful interlude....
The Scholars reception was moved inside, due to rain... Humbling... I need to do more, try more, succeed more....
That pretty much concluded the first "real" day in Aspen. Inspiring in some many ways, and sometimes, just by being in the same room with these people that are shaping the world is changing things...
Looking forward for tomorrow.
On another note: British Airways continues to disappoint....
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