Thursday, December 31, 2009
Same procedure as every year
Very strange folks, the Germans.
Well, judge for yourself.
Tiny tip-off: Be absolutely determined not to laugh.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Ah ... now ... I see ...
There are very many people who read simply
to prevent themselves from thinking.
Georg Christoph Lichtenberg (1742-1799)
Friday, December 25, 2009
Thursday, December 24, 2009
I am sure! Am I?
Yes, to the question I have sometimes been asked.
This agnostic will be enjoying the days to come.
Given Christ would be the very one he is said to be;
and given you believe what you have been told:
Are you sure he would our preparations for what we call Christmas not call Christmess?
We do not need any god to know that it is go(o)d to be go(o)d to one another.
Yes. We bought a (killed) tree.
Ah, and again having the privilege to do the washing up when the ladies of the house are baking all those most delicious cookies!
Talking we are, joking we are, listening to one another we are, washing up I am. :)
And not seldom I would hear: Ah, Sean/Popoye, why would you think to need reminding us of so drastically of what happens in this world?
And, despite feeling guilty for spoiling their happiness, I'd say: 'Just to remind us of that we are very lucky.'
Not always - and how good I can understand - they would appreciate my words.
But for sure: I do appreciate their (hands') work.
Yes!
I do like - almost I had written: I love - our annual rituals.
And still, like last year: My 'Merry Christmas' post will not fill your hearts with joy.
It would not be my intention, anyway.
Having written this: Enjoy the togetherness with those you love. Be kind to one another. Very probably, any sign of kindness - may it be some sparkling eyes, a (very) kiss, a tender hug - well, you know what I mean, hm? :) - will be appreciated; more than any (expensive) present.
I am sure!
Am I?
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
That's not enough!
The thoughts are free, who's able to guess them?
They fly by like nocturnal shadows.
No man can know them, no hunter can shoot them,
with powder and lead: The thoughts are free!
I think what I want, and what does delight me,
yet always in stillness, and as it's complying.
My wish and desire can no one deny me
and so it will be: The thoughts are free!
And if I am thrown into darksome a dungeon,
all this would be but vain an endeavour,
because my thoughts tear the gates
and walls apart. The thoughts are free!
So I will renounce my sorrows forever,
and never again with whims will plague me.
One can in one's heart always laugh and banter
and think thereby: Die Gedanken sind frei!
(translation in progress :) sj)
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Universal dialogue
Universe: ...
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Pain(t)ing history or: Human's got talent
A touching story it was; a story in which - as a commenter stated - she 'united a grief of our people [i.e. the Ukrainian people], and also glory and pride, especially the victory over fascism'; a touching patriotic story that won her the contest "Ukraine's got talent".
Now is her specific talent such great that the sand-paintress could have painted any story in the sand to win the equivalent of 125,000 dollar, would you agree?
Any story?
Would she have enthusiastically been awarded the winner, had she told a story about those Ukrainian countrymen who enthusiastically welcomed the invaders and joined them? Those Ukrainian countrymen who helped to humanly, i.e. not (!) bestialically* kill Jews and Sinti and other human beings they obviously also considered subhuman?
Do I hear anybody say this would not have been clever an idea?
Well, such kind of (hi)story would not fit to any nations glory, hm?
Human's got talent to repress certain unpleasant details.
Some human's got even talent to deny certain unpleasant details.
End of the beforegoing.
And now to the opening question. As for Patrick Desbois, just follow this link, and - in case you speak English, French and/or German you will understand why I came to think of him. You won't find anything in Russian and Ukrainian, though.
As for Péter Esterhazy: I felt reminded of one sentence in his aureate speech when in 2004 he was awarded the Peace Price of the German Book Trade. Basically he said: All European nations do love the Germans. Blaiming them does spare us to deal with our own history.
The peace of the night.
* I decided to spare you details; at least for now.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Sharing responsibility with Liu Xiaobo
One year after his detention, yesterday Liu Xiaobo was formally indicted by the Beijing Municipal Procuratorate. Liu is charged with "inciting subversion of state power", a provision regularly used to silence writers in China. If convicted, Liu Xiaobo could face up to 15 years in prison.
The case will be heard by the Beijing No. 1 Intermediate People’s Court; and why would I not be surprised if injustice were dispensed while people like me are supposed to celebrate the so-called 'feast of love'.
Now do I know that clenching fists and wishing that all those Bastards of Beijing may lose their teeth except of one for permanent toothache does have about the same effect like a cucumber glass detonating in Caracas.
And I do ask myself, if - in case I were a Chinese living in China - I would have been amongst those 10,000 who signed Charter 08, of which Liu Xiaobo was one main architect, and: if I would have the courage to sign the following:
We Are Willing to Share Responsibility with Liu Xiaobo
Author:The cosigners of Charter 08
(December 10, 2009)
We, the Chinese citizens who have co-drafted or signed Charter 08 with, that Mr. Liu Xiaobo, have learnt that he is to face prosecution and be subjected to penalties, and so reaffirm our attitude once again:1) We have always believed that China's development and progress must be based on the conditions that the human rights are fully protected, and that the justice can be fully realized, and that the rule of law tends to be completed, and the system turns to democracy. Otherwise, the society will only continue to result in abnormal prosperity, and the social wealth gap will be widening, and serious injustice will bring about the social conflicts. On this point of view, we have upheld the same ideas and pursuits as Mr. Liu Xiaobo has;
2) We are ready to sign Charter 08 and agree with its concepts, which is based on our concerns on the nation’s current and future situations, and also the performance of our civic responsibilities in accordance with the rights affirmed by the Constitution, and which we have never considered to be contrary to any of the existing laws and regulations;
3) If Mr. Liu Xiaobo is to be prosecuted for those above, then each of us is an integral part of his case, and the indictment of Mr. Liu Xiaobo is to put each of us on trial; if Mr. Liu Xiaobo is convicted, it is equivalent to condemn everyone of us as being guilty. We have no choice but bear punishment with Liu Xiaobo.
Well, so far 164 domestic co-signers of Charter 08 have signed to share responsibilities with Liu Xiaobo, and 41 overseas co-signers (see the list here).
Will ... ?
Ah!
The peace of the night.