Not a native speaker here. Nevertheless, I am often gripped with laughter when someone spots “sins against English”.
Time I added one myself: This page talks about a need to explain the “symbology”. This was addressed far better than I could ever do it below:
Woohoo! It is 9:00 right now, and I did my sports for today already! Running went especially okay — well, the first 45-50 minutes at least. Since I ran for an hour (as planned), that is really perfect! Am forcing myself right now to have breakfast. After the exertion, my body is not really in the mood for digestion, but it does seem unwise to hazard starting the day without sustenance.
Got a potential holiday / long weekend coming up too, will check on that today. All in all: things could’ve been worse :)
Now playing: Super Paper Mario (Chap 2-4).
Now reading: Walter Moers – Die 13½ Leben des Käpt’n's Blaubär
For the last couple of months, the Netherlands (or at least media attention there) has been enthralled by the announcement of one politician to become a movie director. What makes a good politician is a highly debatable and subjective topic. But let’s ‘fess up to facts: Wilders’ public statements, however much they may be frowned upon by part of the populace, reach into the hearts of another part of that populace.
(note for the sarcastically challenged: this part with an extra left margin, is a blatant, albeit haphazard, attempt at witticisms and entertainment, having little to do with reality.)
It’s realisations like that which do evoke feelings of detachement with my previous nation of residence after having displaced myself sufficiently far away. Unfortunately, the world is not populated by people who have the good taste to share my opinion. To add insult to injury, for some reason not all of them are dutifully dismayed by their lack of decent opinions. And a vocal minority — in the reality I inhabit, this is by necessity a minority — even portrays the audacity of speaking out the deviating and worrisome products of their non-conformant minds.
Undeniably, Wilders has found an audience to which he caters well. This alone indicates his proficiency in a certain area — whether or not to label this as ‘politics’ is a topic I shall not dwell on now. What I will address, is his dabbling into directing. Or, more specifically: his alleged, hypothetical dabbling into directing.
So, for those of you who have been living under a rock or in America (which might amount to the same thing, but that’s a topic for another post :), or both, a short synopsis of the events that are unfolding. Mr. Geert Wilders is a Dutch politician, formerly part of the Democratic Party. He parted ways with that party after repeated remarks on his side that the party deemed inappropriate. Most of these remarks involved immigrant policy. He then began his own party, and come election time, garnered quite a number of votes. Ever since his departure from the Democratic party, his remarks on immigrants steadily progressed to a point where he now is the Netherlands foremost anti-islamic activist. To further his views, he took it upon himself to create a movie which would unveil the Koran for the fascistic work he holds it to be.
His plans became public knowledge (as I understand it, through no plan of his own, but because the Dutch Prime minister leaked them. In my view, this underlines (once again) the fact that the Dutch Prime minister is unfit for this job). This resulted in a hype which makes the hype surrounding Episode 1 seem like another news report of the 100th birthday of some old geezer.
And, as if the resulting media storm in the Netherlands and in Europe is not sufficient, the news has made its way to Islamic countries. To be sure there are no misunderstandings: the news that a movie will be made. This news resulted in riots in islamic countries, outrage by islamic politicians, diplomatic pressure on the Netherlands to ban the movie before it exists, strained relations with several islamic countries, talks at the highest level in NATO, top-meetings with Australians (as their military aid is working in close proximity to the Dutch military aid to Afghanistan), etc. etc. etc.
All this turmoil and upheaval. All for a movie that does not exist yet. George Lucas must be green with envy.
Let’s take a moment to make my position clear on this: I wholeheartedly disagree with mr. Wilders’ public statements on ethnics and the islam. I find them rather abhorrent, and they leave an ill impression of his character with me. Be that as it may, this does not rob him of his right to make abhorrent statements — as far as allowed by the law.I will not address whether the law is insufficient in this case.
The hype has so far produced two questionable results: first, in the “western” world, discussions are on-going on whether or not to forbid this movie — which is still a hypothetical piece! Pro-active, a priori censorship is something I do not equate with a free, tolerant and open democracy.
Secondly, in the islamic world, the reactions have been equally heavy-handed. People adhering to Islamic faith are wonderfully complementing the dire message of mr. Wilders by rioting, threats, diplomacy issues, etc. They seem to be going out of their way to outline, emphasize and shout mr. Wilders’ point. It hilariously saddens me to perceive that the best way mr. Wilders can attempt to illustrate his case is to let the general outrage over his movie run its course, occasionally feed it with another scrap, and never have an actual movie.
I fear less a society where I am confronted with views deviating strongly from my own, than fearing a society which suppresses the inception of a potentially deviating view. Do not fear Wilders, his movie or his message. Fear ignorance unhampered by restraint, untempered by deliberation.
Update: Not the best movie about the Quran ever made is online now.
Finally, I managed to get my sporty rhythm back. Or at least, the barest remnants of it were uncovered once more in the deep cavities of my memories. In the beginning, I discovered a flaw (do not drink fruit juice prior to running), and an obstacle (moderate counter wind has a far stronger influence than previously anticipated). Thankfully, the latter was mitigated by altering the course from the open fields to running into the residential area. This also had an ameliorating effect on the former. Stark ignorance of the issue complemented the remedial approach applied towards the former. On the whole, this proved to be sufficient, if not totally satisfactory. Upon arriving at my abode, the complete absence of wind made me feel ballsy, and I decided to prolong the endeavour a bit further. However, upon completing extension one (the possibility of a further extension was present), I happened upon a co-inhabitant of my residence, waiting for the bus. I stopped for a short talk and discovered my co-inhabitant was in the process of moving out, so instead of swiftly continuing, I called an end to my route and waved her off.
All in all, a 34 minute run. Could’ve been slightly better, but given the feeling after 14 minutes, slightly amazing I made it further. The new knee support might have had a positive influence here too :)
It was — nay, it is and remains! — beyond credibility. There has to exist a bound upon the amount of de-facilitisations that can occur within any given time frame. The incessant continuity of the deprivations stretches the mind that attempts to encompass its totality. Taken individually, the events masquerade as mere inconveniences. However, upon investigation their mundanity is as elusive as an ivory-billed woodpecker. The only conclusion remaining is that these events rely upon a steady expenditure of black magic, fueled by Dark Forces, no doubt as parts of an overarching plan involving multiple layers, if not several dimensions, of Hell itself.
What commences as a seemingly innocent power outage, rapidly outgrows this nomenclature as it develops into an incredulity. The henchman of the Dark Forces, who in English goes under the misnomer guise of Super, fulfills his Master’s dark desires and compounds the situation — by his non-presence. Where this in a brighter world would have been cause for joy, if not outright celebration, in the confines of our convent, undoubtedly built using cold-riveted girders with selenium cores, the impact of this plays on a different level altogether.
His ability to ignore pleas for help from various damsels in distress (and may I remind you, attentive reader, that I am describing an abode whose populace is virtually solely comprised of youthful, female students — the word luscious needs to be redefined to capture the merest hint of seductive allure present), after the progressive stages of the disease that plagues the residents had to lead to a breaking point. No mere landlord-alike occupying functionary sufficed — the issue at hand (an unabating fire alarm, going strongly (very strongly) for already over an hour) was taken to the penultimate overarching lordness of lords: the rector magnificus. The response of the Dark Ones was as predictable as it was perfectly timed: no sooner had the delegates left the region subject to the ever-protruding, hateful tones of the alarm, or the alarm ceased.
Nevertheless, admiration is due to any force able to squeeze two full-night power outages, a weekend of no connectivity, a breakdown in hot water and the previous mentions pleasure within a period lasting a mere seven days. While the situation seems to have settled in a state previously described as “normal”, I will take my leave of this and wonder what I shall find upon my return, a fortnight and then some hence.