65° - 01.07.1968, Blaðsíða 4

Editorial
“H”DAY IN REYKJAVIK
Pronounced “How”-day, an abbreviation for
haegri which means “right”, occurred on May
26th and was noteworthy in many respects.
It marked the changing of auto and pedestrian
traffic from left to right-side in an attempt to
bring Iceland to the same side of traffic practised
in all European countries save Britain. Despite
continued difficulties of roads yet to be properly
marked, signs yet to be shifted, of cars and buses
having their steering mechanism on the right, not
to mention the confusion to all of having to watch
traffic from the right side instead of the left, “H”
traffic is being successfully established as a new
habit in Iceland.
Although pedestrians still walk to the left or
right or smack down the middle of sidewalks,
there was, nevertheless, a decided change in the
inhabitants of the capitol, at least, for “H”Day
became “Ha”Day as most Reykjavikans began
smiling in public.
During the week preceeding the changeover,
extensive advertising urged police and drivers
alike to “Smile in traffic — we’re all beginners”.
Such signs and pennants were everywhere and
still adorn the tops of taxis. Even the milk con-
tainers in stores and on kitchen tables were label-
led with the same admonition, admitting that Ice-
landers generally don’t smile in public, and that
it was expected that many would be highly em-
barrassed at making mistakes visible to all. The
Right-hand Traffic Commission knew its Ice-
-------------------------------------------
Although after only 3 issues our quar-
terly has gained a tidy number of sub-
scribers all over the world and even in Ice-
land, where it is much easier for many to
read Icelandic periodicals, high printing
costs, heretofore accounting for more than
two thirds of our expenses, force us to limit
our publication output.
Until further notice only subscribers can
be certain of receiving future copies of 65°.
Our supply of back issues is also dwind-
ling, so those new subscribers wishing a
complete set of the magazine must contact
us without delay.
___________________________________________^
lander when they devised that message and it has
been effective, for which the Commission deserves
even higher praise than the mere switchover in
driving. By urging each individual to start the
process rather than waiting for someone else to
initiate it, it seems that the reciprocity of cour-
tesies, always a part of Icelandic life, has received
powerful stimulation.
The old saw that “a smile provokes a smile”
is being tested now, thankfully, and despite an
absurdly funny TV play instructing policemen
how to smile according to varying situations,
more people, if not actually smiling, are on the
verge of smiles when addressing one another,
and, moreover, not finding it as much of an
ordeal as expected (with the possible exception
of the lone driver arrested for driving on the left
because, as he explained, he had never approved
of the changeover and was going to keep driving
on the left).
With this new evidence of meeting another
more than halfway, it may even be that in time
people who have always waited for others to ask
for assistance will offer it.
65° tardily compliments resident professional
artist, Frank Ponzi, who designed the past-present
theme for our cover, using, in the first three
issues, a reproduction of a 12th century illumina-
ted manuscript as the “past” inset. We compliment
him also on his ingenuity in providing for flexi-
bility in insets so that the 65° cover can be kept
both familiar and timely.
*
Svava Jakobsdottir, whose short story, The Stone-
Wall Party, appears in this issue is acclaimed by
critics as one of our outstanding modern authors.
A graduate of Smith College in 1952 she has pub-
lished many short stories, and is now writing a
novel which also deals with contemporary life.
*
As a result of a Supreme Court ruling in May,
1967, American citizens who passively acquired
Icelandic citizenship through marriage, may vote
in Icelandic presidential and congressional elec-
tions without losing their U.S. citizenship. Those
who have actively applied for Icelandic citizen-
ship or have used an Icelandic passport since
1952 are, however, in danger of having lost their
U.S. nationality rights.
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