Nuremberg Tour 8

Two weeks later, the other shoe drops. Letter from the chief in charge of the radar tech training program. I am informed certain inaccuracies have been conveyed to me. The MP officer had exceeded his authority; having none over their program.
A review of my high school marks and aptitude testing has been done. I am reinstated as an acceptable person for the radar program. Though of course there is not a draft obligation, as long as I am resident outside of Israel.
Helpful, you bet. States that if travel costs are what is holding me back, I should cease to worry. The program has sent a Journal Voucher to the Israeli Embassy in Ottawa, authorizing funds for an air ticket.
The Col phones, "well now, got the latest letter?"
"Nathan, I've lost track. By now, who knows what is the latest word on anything?"
"You didn't hear? Dad's cancer is in remission, back on duty. Can you imagine some MP Lt with enough nerve to cross him?"
I chuckle.
"So when are you leaving?"
"Nathan, I'm not really Jewish."
He sighs, "you really must get a grip. Do some serious reading instead of always just having knee jerk prejudiced reactions to everything. You will discover there is a huge crowd of secular Jews, people for whom religion is minor, some even non-existent. If you haven't caught on yet, it's a culture more so than a religion."
"I see."
"Take your time reading; there is no expiry date on the JV."
Farzana reads the radar chief's letter, sighs, "you do see the problem?"
I nod.
"Your dad has gone a mile out on a limb for you. Don't leave him hanging."
I groan.
"Your math and physics marks, no question you'll pass. Gets dad off the hook."
Nathan is ecstatic hearing I will sit the exam. Next weekend, I am invigilated at JCC.
Days later, a proud phone call from Nathan, "dad will be so proud of you."
During all this time the clanking Israeli juggernaut and I were duking it out, life still goes on.
I still have coffee with Ariel on a regular basis and no, I don't get to do much talking.
At first, it's all just an anthropologist's eye view of his life. At some point, I cross over a line. He ignites a passion in me and I don't mean physical.
He's a history prof, writes historical novels for sale. I'm bitten by the bug, drawn in by his obvious enthusiasm. I realize he doesn't really live in the here and now, but in history.
The gentle reader groans, not another Jew obsessed with Jewish history. Actually not, I find Jewish history tedious.
What interests me is Canadian and Guyanese history.
You gasp. You laugh. You protest, "but they don't have history."
Bingo, hit the nail on the head. Both have been at peace internationally and at home for centuries now.
Both are a contradiction in terms. Complete mishmash of cultures, yet peaceful life. Most of the world has taken the opposite track.
I find myself curious, wishing to understand the mechanism. What makes both so spectacularly successful in this one arena, yet failures in many other aspects of governance?