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World-famous?
Without questioning Heyerdahl's certain claim to fame, this, surely, depends on what is meant by world-famous? Many music-lovers would sing out for Grieg, a few would even bow to Ole Bull, theater fans would shout for Ibsen, the declining mass of mathematicians would add their voices for Abel and, who knows, after the recent Olympics, maybe Stein Eriksen would schuss in with a vote or two? Or is this just wishful thinking? Is any Norwegian world famous? Is Norway world-famous for anything? From my own experience, representing a Norwegian company in different parts of the world, I know that Norway is not exactly the center of the Universe. Many a time, when introducing myself to a potential client as being from Oslo, I would see a glazed, uncomprehending look in his eyes. (This is a long time ago - potential clients were invariable male - unfortunately.) When 'potential' became an actual client, it was not unusual for us to receive letters addressed to 'Oslo, Sweden' or even 'Norway, Sweden'. These letters were a disappointment to us because, we had been brought up to be so proud of Roosevelt's "Look to Norway" exhortation. Little did we know that the majority of his listeners didn't have a clue as to which direction they should look. Similarly, many years later, our tourist office coined what they thought was a brilliant slogan to encourage travel from the United States to Norway. Based on Ford Motor Company's original truly brilliant slogan, Norway's version, 'There's a Fjord in your Future', was no great success. Few readers had any idea of what, or who a fjord was, let alone where they might fine one. Most readers simply thought that the copywriter couldn't spell. On the other hand, we shouldn't really have been surprised by the lack of recognition in the United States. In Longman's 'History of the United States', Norway is mentioned twice, Finland four times, and Sweden six times. All but two of these entries are concerned with immigration but there is one consolation - Denmark isn't mentioned at all. In the fifties and early sixties, Norway, a modest land with tight budgets, low incomes, and few prospects, trod lightly on the world's stage. Our Scandinavian neighbors had more presence: Danmark wowed the world with its elegant 'Danish Furniture', Sweden's technology and the films of Ingmar Bergman drew rave reports and Finnish architect Eero Saarinen reached a new high with his Gateway Arch in St. Louis. The fact that Norwegian Trygve Lie became the first Secretary-General of the United Nations, that Norwegians 'invented' the cruise business in Miami, and even that Norway chose the Nobel Peace Prize winner, didn't seem to make much impression anywhere. But all this was BOFIN, that is, 'Before Oil was Found in Norway'. From a modest land with tight budgets, low incomes and few prospects the country began to wonder what to do with its surplus cash, its citizens became blue-eyed sheiks and the world became its oyster. Or rather its salmon, as the produce from the new salmon-farming projects came on stream and conquered markets around the world. Traditional Norwegian companies began to expand abroad, Norwegian capital became seed money for embryo dot-coms in the United States and Norwegian entrepreneurs, with a new-found confidence and new ideas, headed for challenging spots in foreign climes. Even politicians got into the act, as Norway became the favored Nation for helping to settle disputes for overseeing agreements and exporting expertise. The greatest accolade came with the Israel - Palestinian crisis when Norwegian diplomatic initiatives led to the Oslo accords, Camp David and the supposed key to peace in the Middle East. No report on this part of the world would be complete without a mention (now increasingly negative) of the Oslo accords. Fame at last - or was it? On Sunday, April 28, 2002, the Norway's national newspaper, 'Aftenposten' published an article by Simen Tveitereid titled: 'Typically Norwegian to be World-Famous' It's perhaps the best articles of its type I've read and it couldn't have come at a more appropriate time. Based on interviews with leaders of magazines, newspapers, travel guide books, book-stores, theaters, and 'ordinary people' around the world, the article exposed a mountain of ignorance about Norway and Norwegians. In essence, the conclusion was, as illustrated by a discussion with an Assistant Director of a 'World Famous' New York magazine:
On the same page, journalist Magne Johansen claims that the most famous living Norwegian abroad is Manchester United's striker Ole Gunnar Solskjær. He certainly appears on television more than any other Norwegian - and probably earns more money than most. He's young, friendly, modest, and active as one of five Norwegian Unicef ambassadors. Yes, a worthy world-famous - but he'll never have a museum dedicated to his life like Thor Heyerdahl's 'Kon Tiki'. Geoffrey K. Ward
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On Friday Thor Heyerdahl was honored with a State Funeral in Oslo before his final journey to Italy for interment in his beloved, adopted village. In the weeks since Heyerdahl's death his exploits, accomplishments, and theories were the focus of thousands of words in newspapers, magazines and on the radio. Television showed a recently recorded interview. Book and film re-issues will follow. One commentator wrote that Thor Heyerdahl was Norway's only world-famous man.  |
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