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The Hindenburg as Self
History and myth: How do they come to be, and how can they be investigated and possibly changed? Is history not fixed, like 2+2? My purpose in these few words is not to answer these questions but to ask you to think about how the passage of time, when codified, becomes history. I want you to consider that our personal history is subject to the same forces as the history of the Hindenburg and that rewriting history when we find errors is essentially the same process.
Addison Bain, a persistent and great investigator, doubted that hydrogen caused the Hindenburg disaster. The Hindenburg, a dirigible that had made several voyages across the Atlantic as a passenger ship, was well-known from our school days. It was during the time of the Nazi regime in Germany, but World War II had not yet started. We have all seen the footage where the Hindenburg gently approaches its moor at the mast, and suddenly it bursts into flames. Almost everyone on board died. The investigation pointed to hydrogen, a highly flammable gas, as the cause. While I, like many others, have always believed this to be true, Addison Bain had doubts. He embarked on a quest to uncover the truth. I will share some details to create a sense of investigation and illustrate how the truth, once lost, is difficult to find.
There were 97 eyewitnesses to the tragedy: 95 on one side of the craft and only two on the other side, all on the ground. The accounts of the 95 witnesses supported the hydrogen theory, while the two other accounts, although they saw where the fire started, were discounted. Many inconsistencies emerged.
Hydrogen cannot be seen burning in daylight as it burns straight up and has a fine blue hue. However, the accident occurred in daylight.
Through the use of computers and colorization, it became evident that the fire was bright orange and red, not the characteristic flame of hydrogen. But you may wonder, weren't the ship materials burning, producing an orange flame? Yes, but here's another problem: the ship burned completely in just 84 seconds. Why did it ignite?
Addison Bain presented an elaborate model that demonstrated that if the hydrogen had burned first, it would have been seen in a different location. The spark would have been caused by electric static from thunderstorms that had just passed through. However, the mooring ropes should have grounded the ship.
His attention turned to the ship's coating. He hypothesized that the substance used to coat the Hindenburg might have been a good conductor of electricity. Additionally, he noted that the panels were attached to the frame with rope, which is a poor conductor.
Based on his reasoning, if the panels were good conductors, a high amount of electricity would have built up on them. The charge would discharge wherever it could, jumping the gap to the next panel and causing a spark. This spark would ignite the cloth. Why? Well, it turned out that the panels were indeed good conductors of electricity. The cloth was treated with aluminum and iron for specific engineering reasons, and both materials are excellent conductors. Addison Bain concluded that under such conditions, a spark like this would lead to the fire.
Two things further supported his theory. First, he obtained samples of the Hindenburg and subjected a small piece to a small static charge, causing it to burst into flame. It is worth noting that this material was 60 years old at the time. Second, he discovered a report in the German archives generated at the time of the accident that also proposed the same theory. This theory was not considered at the time, likely due to insurance reasons and the reputation of the Third Reich.
The consequences of all these findings were significant. Blimps and dirigibles were no longer used, and hydrogen became stigmatized. Based on this flawed belief, an entire lifetime has passed, and we have suffered the consequences. Society has been deprived of a highly efficient mode of transportation, and hydrogen has been unfairly condemned
So, what is the underlying point?
How does this relate to the human psyche? The point is that when we are young we are like hydrogen. We can be given the idea, believe the idea, that we are bad, and spend a lifetime trapped in that prison. Just as our therapist friend liberated hydrogen from its past, at least partially, because perceptions die hard, we too can transform our self-image.
Creating good history is an arduous task. What is the truth? However, good history is not impossible, and with advancements in science, it is becoming even more attainable. Our lives are similarly open to scrutiny. It seems that we have some understanding of how we function, enabling us to look back on our own lives with more objectivity and discern the true from the false.
Often, we discover that we have lived with a sense of poor self-worth and shame based on a lie, perpetuated by many people in our lives, including ourselves. Understanding how hurt is transformed into myth is the key to uncovering the true explanations of our lives. By doing so, we can ignite a new flame within ourselves, akin to hydrogen burning with a clean and translucent glow.
History and myth are intertwined, and investigating and potentially changing them requires critical thinking and a willingness to challenge established narratives. As we delve into our personal history, let us strive to seek the truth, release ourselves from false perceptions, and embrace our authentic selves. Only then can we truly soar, just like the Hindenburg could have, had its history not been marred by misconceptions
Brian Lynch
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