We
decided to name our worldwide stringer section after Graham
Greene's novel "Our Man in Havana," which is a
story about Jim Wormold, a British man who is the Havana
representative of a vacuum cleaner company. His daughter
Milly, 17, spends a lot of money, so he accepts a position
working for the British secret service, yet has no idea what
is wanted of him. He must send in reports, however; so he
fills them with inventions and fantasies.
Yup.
Sounds like us.
'The
other day I was offered money... to get information.'
'What
sort of information?'
'Secret
information.'
'You
are a lucky man, Mr. Wormold. That information is always
easy to give.'
'Easy?'
'If
it is secret enough, you alone know it. All you need is a
little imagination, Mr. Wormold.'
--
Graham Greene, Our Man in Havana
Our
Man In Moscow
Slava
Glazychev
The Chronotopics -- November
6, 1998
I hadn't been to Kiev for
ten years, so my eyes were hungry to check for signs of Change. The
Kreshatic (main street) walkways are covered by stones instead of
bitumen, and that has stressed its domesticity, inherent even to its
Stalinist decorum. The whole set of technical communications was
replaced too. All of it - 1500 yards - for $34 million US dollars
(compared to Moscow - next to nothing). Moscow prices at a redecorated
restaurant - now named Chateau de Fleurs. Michael the Archangel
on top of a modest column and a Classic Milestone with distances from
Kiev to other Capital Cities engraved, stand side by side at the former
October Square. A huge figure of Lenin that stood just opposite this
brand new Centricity Signum disappeared, so its empty base does not
close a beautiful lawn running down from the hotel that used to be named
after Moscow.
Вячеслав
Глазычев -- November
6 1998
Я не был в Киеве десять
лет и жадно ловил знаки перемен. Тротуары Крещатика вместо асфальта
выстелены бетонными плитами, что сразу подчеркнуло домашний оттенок,
всегда присущий его сталинскому архитектурному убранству. Заодно
переложили все коммуникации. Все вместе, на почти километре длины - за
34 миллиона долларов (по московским аппетитам - даром). В
редекорированном кафе - теперь Chateau de Fleurs - московские
цены. На бывшей Октябрьской площади не без забавности соседствуют
Архангел Михаил, водруженный на вершине невысокой колонны, и римской
модели круглая стойка, на цоколе которой помечены расстояния от Киева до
всех прочих столиц мира. Огромного вождя напротив новообозначенной
срединности нет, и опустевший постамент открыл за собой зеленый скат
газона, что и прежде круто опадал от гостиницы, ранее именовавшейся "Москва."
Gold everywhere -- October
17, 1998
Golden leaves, I mean, so in spite of daily
mishaps people just can’t take them to heart as much as they deserve.
Everybody knows that time runs faster in Russia - in only ten years we’ve
lived the equivalent of 25 years in other places. So now we are witnessing a
new phenomenon -- every other Young Professional, a Russian version of the
Yuppie, is now queuing to be registered as "unemployed."
The balloon burst, so all the accountants and
consultants and advertising people and sales managers who have felt on top,
have fallen hard on their muscular asses. Nothing good about that, as they are
taking with them a tenfold number of hairdressers and waiters and.... It is
not yet seen on the surface, but if this goes on for several months some of
the brand-new offices and bars are doomed for disregard and decay - and you
know that the most unlucky feature of high-tech architecture and design is the
fact that they just can’t grow old with dignity.
Hot and Cool -- October
7, 1998
I’ve just returned from Krakow,
Poland, where the Woodrow Wilson Alumni Association held its meeting under a
nice title: "Reconciliation in Europe." So, we’ve reconciled successfully, and
in the meantime I’ve had firsthand experience -- the last time I was in Poland
was in memorable 1981, two months prior to Jaruzelsky’s attempt to save
socialism from the Solidarity movement. I could hardly believe my eyes: our
Polish brothers have changed their affections from everything chic to a
blanket modesty, hard work and the accumulation of money. Shopping districts,
their windows and interiors are modest. A lot of new inexpensive cars, both
local Fiats and imported. Not many stupid "castles," but instead - new roofs,
and new fences, and new windows in old structures.
Too Quiet -- September
21, 1998
And so, people are trying to learn new/old
ways of life. It is already clear that the government is starting to print
more money - to pay old debts to pensioners, teachers, medics, the
military...just as much as it is already clear that the ruble will answer, and
overwhelming inflation will fall upon our collective necks like an ax. Prices
will climb 50% to 100% at best.
The worst of the things that are already
clear is that the banks are to use the damned process to "clear" their own
debts, picking our pockets as usual. This is felt immediately. Imported
cigarettes (mostly produced locally, in Petersburg) are sold for twice their
normal price. At least 2000 journalists have recently been thrown out into the
streets in Moscow - newspapers are being closed as paper and printing costs
are getting more expensive, while advertising is diminishing and the sponsors
are withdrawing. The number of long trucks on the roads has dropped tenfold.
Restaurants are empty.
Too Quiet (Greek version) -- September
21, 1998
Κι έτσι, οι άνθρωποι προσπαθούν να μάθουν νέους/παλιούς
τρόπους επιβίωσης. Είναι ήδη φανερό ότι η Κυβέρνηση άρχισε να τυπώνει νέα
χαρτονομίσματα - για να πληρώσει τα παλιά χρέη στους συνταξιούχους, τους
δασκάλους, τους γιατρούς, το στρατό … όπως είναι ήδη φανερό ότι το ρούβλι θα
απαντήσει και ο ολοένα αυξανόμενος πληθωρισμός θα πέσει επάνω στα λαιμούς μας
σαν τσεκούρι. Οι τιμές θα ανέβουν κατά 50% με 100% στην καλύτερη περίπτωση. Το
χειρότερο από όλα αυτά που είναι ήδη φανερά είναι ότι οι τράπεζες θα
χρησιμοποιήσουν την καταραμένη διαδικασία για να "καθαρίσουν" τα δικά τους
χρέη, σκαλίζοντας ως συνήθως τις τσέπες μας. Αυτό το καταλαβαίνουμε αμέσως. Τα
εισαγόμενα τσιγάρα (που τα περισσότερα παράγονται εδώ, στην Πετρούπολη)
πουλιούνται σε τιμή διπλάσια από την κανονική τους. Τουλάχιστον 2000
δημοσιογράφοι διώχτηκαν πρόσφατα στη Μόσχα - οι εφημερίδες κλείνουν, αφού το
χαρτί και η εκτύπωση ακριβαίνουν όλο και περισσότερο, ενώ οι διαφημίσεις
μειώνονται και οι χρηματοδότες απομακρύνονται. Ο αριθμός των νταλικών στους
δρόμους έχει μειωθεί κατά δέκα φορές. Τα εστιατόρια είναι άδεια.
Liian
Hiljaista
(Finnish version) -- Syyskuun 21.,
1998
Ja ihmiset
yrittävät oppia uusia/vanhoja tapoja elää. Se on jo selvää, että valtio alkaa
painaa lisää rahaa –maksaakseen vanhat velat eläkeläisille, opettajille,
lääkäreille, armeijalle…ihan niinkuin on jo selvää, että rupla vastaa ja
valtava inflaatio putoaa kollektiivikauloillemme kuin kirves. Hinnat nousevat
50%-100% parhaimmillaan.
Pahin niistä
asioista, jotka ovat jo selviä, on se, että pankkien pitää siinä pirun
prosessissa "selvittää" omat velkansa, kaivaen meidän taskujamme, kuten
tavallista. Tämä on heti nähtävissä. Maahantuodut savukkeet (enimmäkseen
paikallistuotantoa, Pietarista) myydään tuplahintaan normaaliin verrattuna.
Ainakin 2000 journalistia on potkaistu viime aikoina kadulle Moskovassa –
sanomalehtiä lopetetaan, kun paperi- ja painatuskulut kallistuvat ja
mainostaminen vähenee ja sponsorit perääntyvät. Pitkien rekkojen lukumäärä
teillä on pudonnut kymmenittäin. Ravintolat ovat tyhjillään.
The Bear has gotten old -- September
11, 1998
I am extremely satisfied that my
prognostics proved false. The old bear is like Akeela the Wolf from Kipling’s
Jungle Book. Yeltsin succumbed to pressure from the cautious inner circle,
sacrificed brutish Chernomyrdin for an armistice with the Parliament and pushed
forward a silent old-timer - Primakov, a clever man. You know that from the
media, we know it from the ruble/dollar relation (the dollar lost 10% again,
although the prices stand still). But the world does not know that Russia was on
the very verge of severe turbulence - because the federal government does not
possess either authority or strength, that one needs to risk the state of
emergency. Slowly but steadily we are heading to a kind of confederation as the
provincial governors strive for bigger autonomy, or rather they are pushed to it
by necessity.
Wheel of Fortune -- September
8, 1998
Living in Russia one gets used. Especially
when one is already 58 which means getting used many times everywhere, and
yet in Russia that was enough to:
- grow up fatherless (there were 4 fathers
for a high school class of 30)
- remember queuing for long hours at dawn
with a number drawn on my tiny hand - flour was "given" 3 pounds per
person
- remember Stalin’s funeral and Beria’s
famous amnesty when thousands of criminals were set loose in 1953.
Умение держать
паузу
-- September
8, 1998
Все же, если к
несчастью нашему, Ельцин после выборов 96-го - напрочь неадекватный
лидер нации, то к нашему восхищению он - действительно масштабный
режиссер политтеатра. Не удивляет, что Гос.Дума в самоослеплении напрочь
не в состоянии адекватно оценивать структуру психики президента, на
полном серьезе обсуждая кандидатов в премьеры (не озаботившись даже
узнать их мнение по этому поводу). Изумляет скорее легковерие
телекомментаторов, хотя иллюзорность их профессионализма являет собой
секрет разве что для них самих и вовсе наивных зрителей.
Our
Man In South Korea
Ed
Sloan
So Many Corn Dogs, So Little
Time
-- March 1998
At the beginning of October,
Korean students were studying into the early hours of the morning. They were
busy trying to do that last bit of 'cramming' before test time. A student's
grade comes from this test. There are no grades for homework, classroom, or
attitude. This test is sink or swim! And the competition is fierce! Students
have private teachers in English, Korean, math, etc... To go onto the next
level of education (middle school to high school, or high school to
university), a student must score in the top percentile. As they move up,
the competition gets tougher. The American idea of an equal education for
all students doesn't apply here. A great middle school means a great high
school, and this means a great university and a great job! The same can be
said for good, fair, and poor schools.
So Viele Corn Dogs, So Wenig
Zeit --
March 1998
Anfangs Oktober, Koreanische
Studenten studierten bis in die frühen Morgenstunden. Sie waren beschäftigt, im
letzten Moment noch vor der Prüfungszeit zu stucken. Die Note ‘A’ kommt von so
einem Test. Es gibt keine Noten für Hausarbeit, Arbeit im Klassenzimmer oder
Verhalten. Diese Prüfung bedeutet Sinken oder Schwimmen. Und die Kompetition ist
hart! Studenten haben Privatstunden in Englisch, Koreanisch, Mathematik, usw...
Um in die nächst höhere Schule eintreten su können (niedere Gymnasium ins höhere
Gymnasium, oder Gymansium auf die Universitat) ein Student muss zu den besten
Studenten zählen. Je höher die Schule, umso härter die Kompetition. Die
Amerikanische Einstellung für eine ebenbürdige Schulung für alle studenten kann
hier nicht angewendet wereden. Eine grossartige Mittelschule heisst ein
grossartiges Gymnasium heisst eine grossartige Universitat und einen
grossartigen Job. Das Gleiche kann Mann für gute, mittelmässige und schlechte
Schulen sagen.
EKSAMINASYON! -- March
1998
Ang mga estudiyante sa Korea
ay nagsisimula ng mag-aral kahit madaling araw pa lamang. Sila ay
naghahanda na ng mabuti para umasa. Karamihan sa mga estudiyanted ay
mayroon private na guro sa Ingles, Koreano, Math, at sa iba pa....para
makatungtong ng kolehiyo. Mahirap ang compentensiya habang tumataas ang
grado ng mga estudiyante. Sa America, pag-natapos ka ng high-shool at
kolehiyo ay makakakuha ka na ng trabaho.
Our
Woman In Italy
Maria
Lamkin
Unpredictable Italy -- January
2000
At the beginning of 1999
Roberto Benigni and his Oscar Prize called attention to and renewed the
interest in Italy’s actors and movie production. His “La Vita è Bella”
is an homage to those who suffered the atrocities of WWII. Roberto’s
enthusiasm on finding out about the award was typically Italian – witty,
contagious, unrestrainable. Thank you, Roberto.
Imprevedibile
Italia -- Gennaio
2000
Agli inizi del
1999, Roberto Benigni ed il suo Premio Oscar hanno suscitato attenzione
e rinnovato interesse verso gli attori e la produzione cinematografica
italiani. Il suo “La Vita è Bella” è un omaggio a quanti hanno subito
le atrocità della seconda guerra mondiale. L’entusiasmo di Roberto alla
notizia del premio era tipicamente italiano: spiritoso, contagioso,
irrefrenabile. Grazie, Roberto.
Italy is one of the
countries characterized by what Byron termed "hot sultry climate" (Don
Juan). Several things come to mind for those who visit this country in
summer. The first is a warning: Italy has some 55,000,000 inhabitants
and you may feel that they are all on the road as you are stuck in
traffic. If you plan on driving around, especially near any seaside
resort areas, give yourself plenty of time. Consider, too, that in the
past Italy was notorious for shutting down all activities for the month
of August. As the requirements and difficulties of economy and finances
have grown, this custom has lost most of its appeal. Nowadays, a good
number of factories or industries close during this month, but others do
not. The Italians now take turns for their summer holidays; they may
take shorter vacations or even decide to subdivide their annual leave
(which lasts an average of thirty days) into more than one period during
the year, so as to be able, for example, to go skiing in winter. This
new social phenomenon has also made life more enjoyable both for
tourists and for those who remain behind in big cities. Now, as a matter
of fact, you can rely on restaurants, bars, and all sorts of shops to
stay open throughout this season.
Pasqua di Resurrezione:
The Easter tradition in Italy
April
2000 (English version)
Easter derives from a
pagan festival devoted to the Anglo-Saxon goddess of springtime and
sunrise. This divinity was called Eostre, a denomination that
derived from the word east (where the sun rises). Every spring
northern European populations held this festival to honor the awakening
of life in nature, but the date on which it was celebrated differed from
place to place. With the beginning of the Christian era the rising of
the sun and the rebirth of nature were associated with the resurrection
of Jesus. For the early Christians Easter fell on the same date as
Passover, a traditional Jewish feast. Then in 325 A.D. a council of
churchmen decreed that this festivity should be celebrated on the Sunday
following the first full moon after March 21. Being as it is celebrated
on a Sunday that may fall anywhere between March 22 and April 25, Easter
is a “movable” feast. Each year it may consequently be labeled as “high”
or “low”, depending on the date on which it is due to land.
Carnevale: The Lent
tradition in Italy
March
2000 (English version)
A few hypotheses exist
that could explain the possible origin of this term. According to the
most widely accepted one, it could derive from the medieval Latin
definition carnem levare, "to remove the meat". This word is probably
connected to the Catholic prohibition to consume meat during the
imminent Lent, particularly on Fridays. The medieval Latin definition of
carnem laxare , "to leave the meat", is another element worthy of a
particular mention. It is the root of the adjective "carnasciale", from
which derives the fourteenth-century "canti carnascialeschi". This
literary term connotes songs characterized by a metrical structure akin
to the ballads once performed in Florence during Carnival masquerades.
Befana: The Epiphany
tradition in Italy
January
2000 (English
version)
As we have seen in the
previous articles, Babbo Natale brings some gifts at Christmas following
traditions that started in Italy soon after WWII. Ever since, however, it
has been the Befana who has brought most of the other gifts (and mostly to
children) on the day of Epiphany. This term comes from ancient Greek and
means “manifestation (or “appearance”) of a supernatural being or of a
divinity”, or “a moment of revelation”. Indeed this holiday commemorates
Baby Jesus’ manifestation to the three Magi which occurred on January 6th.
The term “Befana”, on the other hand, is of unknown origin and may be said
to be a popular derivation (through various linguistic routes) of the term
that indicates this holiday.
Capodanno: The New Years
tradition in Italy
December
1999 (English version)
A festival that derives from
ancestral traditions, New Year’s Day (or as the Italians say "Capodanno,"
meaning "head of the year") is celebrated with rites meant to propitiate
one’s fate in the year that is about to start. The most widely known among
such customs are the exchange of toasts, the drawing of the "sorti" or of
lots (nowadays replaced by the drawing of the numbers of "Tombola"), and the
study of omens (the place of which has been taken, as we all know, by the
feverish consultation of astrological forecasts).
Natale: The Christmas
tradition in Italy
December
1999 (English version)
In the cults and religion of
ancient Rome (often centered on the emperor) the function of the festivity
known as "natale" was to celebrate such major events as the foundation of a
city or the birth of a personality or a divinity. Rome celebrated its own on
April 21st; farther on, the "dies natalis" of the emperor became a public
festivity, its pomp being comparable to the "natale" of some divinities
whose date of birth was particularly meaningful. Chief among them was that
of Mithra: December 25th was the date on which to celebrate at the same time
its "natale" and the winter solstice. The date of birth of the Holy Child
(who came to the Earth to redeem man, thus illuminating his life) was
selected as to coincide with the period in which daylight hours start to
lengthen, that is soon after the winter solstice.
Pasqua di Resurrezione: The
Easter tradition in Italy
April
1999 (Italian version)
En la kultoj kaj religio de
antikva Romo (ofte centritaj al la imperiestro) la funkcio de la festo
nomita "natale" estis festi tiajn grandajn okazojn kiaj la fondiĝo de urbo
aŭ la naskiĝo de eminentulo aŭ diaĵo. Sian propran fondiĝon Romo festis je
la 21-a de aprilo; poste, la "dies natalis" de la imperiestro fariĝis
publika festo, kun pompo komparebla al la "natale" de iuj diaĵoj kies
naskiĝdato havis precipan signifon. Plej grava estis tiu de Mitrao: la 25-a
de decembro estis la dato je kiu oni festis samtempe ĝian "natale" kaj la
vintran solsticon. La naskiĝdaton de la Sankta Infano (kiu venis al la Tero
por elaĉeti la homaron, kaj tiel ilumini la homan vivon) oni elektis tiel,
ke ĝi koincidu kun la tempo je kiu taglumaj horoj eklongiĝas, tio estas
nelonge post la vintra solstico.
Carnevale: The Lent
tradition in Italy
February
1999 (Italian version)
Sulla possibile origine di
questo termine esistono molte ipotesi. Secondo le più accreditate esso
deriverebbe dal latino medievale carnem levare, "togliere la carne" dalla
dieta (una definizione, questa, probabilmente collegata al divieto imposto
dalla religione cattolica di consumare carne durante l'imminente quaresima,
in particolare il venerdì). E' poi da ricordare che dal termine latino
medievale carnem laxare, "lasciare la carne", deriva anche l'aggettivo "carnasciale",
da cui il termine del quattrocento letterario "canti carnascialeschi" (connotante
i canti di struttura metrica simile alla ballata eseguiti un tempo a Firenze
in occasione delle mascherate di Carnevale).
Befana: The Epiphany tradition
in Italy
January
1999 (Italian version)
La poetica figura della Befana
risale probabilmente a leggende contadine dell'epoca precristiana. Ella viene
descritta come una benefica vecchietta curva con naso adunco e mento aguzzo, che
nella notte tra il 5 e il 6 gennaio, con sulle spalle un sacco colmo di regali,
vola per i cieli cavalcando una scopa. Entrata poi nelle case, lascia doni e
dolciumi nelle calze dei bambini buoni, e del carbone (cioè dei pezzi di
zucchero di colore scuro) a quelli cattivi, i quali - si spera - impareranno in
tal modo una lezione per l'anno successivo.
Capodanno: The New Years
tradition in Italy
December
1998 (Italian version)
Poiché il Capodanno è frutto
di tradizioni ancestrali, esso è accompagnato da cerimoniali che, intesi a
propiziare il nuovo ciclo dell'esistenza umana, spesso si ricollegano anche
ai destini dell'anno che sta per iniziare. Fra i più noti sono i riti
augurali, l'estrazione delle "sorti"(oggi sostituita dall'estrazione dei
numeri della "Tombola"), e la ricerca dei presagi (il cui posto è stato
preso, come tutti sappiamo, dalla lettura febbrile e curiosa delle
previsioni astrologiche). Molto diffusa è inoltre l'usanza di regalare il
vischio. In parte, esso richiama alla mente antiche credenze druidiche e,
poiché alle sue bacche si attribuiscono ancora oggi poteri magici, lo si
dona per augurare felicità e prosperità per il nuovo anno. In tempi di
contingenza economica sarebbe una buona idea regalarne di più (anche se con
le riserve degli ecologisti….). Nei paesi anglosassoni, a baciarsi sotto il
vischio e l'agrifoglio sono solo gli innamorati; forse sarebbe il caso di
estendere le propiziazione fino al punto da scambiarsi sotto di esso alcuni
baci augurali anche con quegli antipatici vicini di casa con cui discutiamo
sempre alle riunioni di condominio….
Natale: The Christmas
tradition in Italy
December
1998 (Italian version)
Già nella religione romana (spesso
incentrata sull'imperatore), ricorrenze come la fondazione di una città
oppure la nascita di una personalità o di una divinità erano celebrate come
il "Natale". Roma festeggiava il suo il 21 aprile; più tardi, il "dies
natalis" dell'imperatore divenne una festa pubblica, con un fasto
paragonabile al giorno natale di talune divinità la cui "nascita" aveva un
significato particolare. L'esempio principale in tal senso era quello di
Mithra: il 25 dicembre si celebrava allo stesso tempo il suo giorno natale
ed il solstizio. All'arrivo del cristianesimo, la nascita del Bambino Gesù (il
quale viene per redimere l'uomo, illuminandone la vita) fu fatta coincidere
appunto con i giorni in cui il sole, oltrepassato il solstizio invernale,
comincia a brillare più a lungo. Ciò spiega perché a caratterizzare il
Natale sono prima di tutto un'immensa gioia, una abbondanza di luce, e canti
festosi. In particolare, durante i nove giorni che precedono la ricorrenza,
le strade principali di molti centri si riempiono delle melodie natalizie
eseguite da pastori provenienti dalle vicine zone di montagna. Essi vanno
sempre in coppia: l'uno suona il piffero, l'altro la cornamusa, che è un
lontano parente della zampogna scozzese.
Бефана:
Празднование Крещенья в Италии
January
1999 (Russian version)
Этот поэтический
персонаж пришел к нам из древних преданий. Согласно легенде, Бефана -
сгорбленная старушка с крючковатым носом и выдающимся вперед подбородком, но
обладающая при этом добрым сердцем. В ночь с 5 на 6 января она прилетает на
метле, неся за спиной мешок, полный подарков. В домах, которые Бефана
посещает, в чулочках хороших детей она оставляет подарки и сладости, а в
чулочках тех, которые себя плохо вели - угольки (так называют черный жженый
сахар), в надежде, что они обязательно исправятся на будущий год.
КАПОДАННО:
ПРАЗДНОВАНИЕ НОВОГО ГОДА В
ИТАЛИИ
December
1998 (Russian version)
Праздник, который
восходит своими истоками к древнейшим временам, Новый Год (или как его
называют итальянцы «Capodanno», что означает «голова года») сопровождается
обычаями, которые прежде всего нацелены на то, чтобы удача и расположение
судьбы не оставляли человека в начинающемся новом цикле жизни. Наиболее
широко распространенными из таких обычаев являются обмен тостами, участие в
лотереях (сегодня это в основном «Томбола») и изучение различных знамений (общеизвестно,
что в наши дни этот обычай принял форму изучения астрологических прогнозов).
Традиции
Празднования Рождества в Италии
December
1998 (Russian version)
Культовая традиция древнего Рима
(в центре которой находилась фигура императора) отводила празднику,
известному как «natale» («рождение»), празднование таких важных событий как
день основания города или дни рождения какого-либо героя или божества. Рим
праздновал день основания 21 апреля. В последующем "dies natalis" (дни
рождения) императора отмечались как общественные праздники, по
торжественности сопоставимые лишь с празднованиями, устраиваемыми в честь
некоторых божеств, даты рождений которых были особо значимыми. Одним из
главных божеств являлся Митра, чей день рождения («натале») отмечался 25
декабря в период зимнего солнцестояния. Дата рождения Сына Божьего (явившегося
на землю для спасения людей, осветив тем самым их жизни), была выбрана таким
образом, что совпала с моментом начала удлинения светового дня после зимнего
солнцестояния.
Pasko:
The Easter tradition in Italy
Aprilo
2000 (Esperanto version)
Pasko devenas de pagana
festo dediĉita al la anglosaksa diino de printempo kaj sunleviĝo. Ĉi tiu
diino nomiĝis Eostre, el la vorto "east" ("oriento" - kie
la suno leviĝas). Ĉiuprintempe nordeŭropaj popoloj okazigis ĉi tiun
feston honore al la vekiĝo de vivo en naturo, sed la dato de la festo
malsamis de loko al loko. Ekde la kristana epoko, oni ligis la
sunleviĝon kaj la renaskiĝon de naturo al la Resurekto de Jesuo. Por la
fruaj kristanoj Pasko okazis samdate kiel la Pasko hebrea, tradicia juda
festeno. Poste, en 325 p.K. koncilio de ekleziuloj dekretis, ke Paskon
oni festu je la dimanĉo post la unua plenluno post la 21-a de marto.
Kiel dimanĉa festo kiu povas okazi iam ajn inter la 22-a de marto kaj la
25-a de aprilo, pasko estas "movebla" festo. Sekve, en iu jaro oni povas
nomi ĝin aŭ "alta" aŭ "malalta", laŭ la okazodato
Carnevale
Marto 2000
(Esperanto version)
Estas kelkaj hipotezoj
kiuj povus klarigi la eblan originon de ĉi tiu termino. Laŭ la plej
akceptita, ĝi povus deveni de la mezepoka latinlingva frazo "carnem
levare", "forpreni la viandon". Ĉi tiu diro estas verŝajne ligita al la
katolika malpermeso manĝi viandon dum la tuj okazonta Karesmo, precipe
je vendredoj. La mezepoka latinlingva frazo de "carnem laxare", "lasi la
viandon", estas plua elemento aparte menciinda. Ĝi estas la radiko de la
adjektivo "carnasciale", de kiu devenas la "canti carnascialeschi" de la
dek-kvara jarcento. Ĉi tiu literatura termino indikas kantojn, kiujn
karakterizas metrika strukturo similanta la baladojn iam luditajn en
Florenco dum Karnavalaj maskeradoj.
Natale: Kristnaskaj
tradicioj en Italio
Decembro
1999 (Esperanto version)
En la kultoj kaj religio
de antikva Romo (ofte centritaj al la imperiestro) la funkcio de la
festo nomita "natale" estis festi tiajn grandajn okazojn kiaj la fondiĝo
de urbo aŭ la naskiĝo de eminentulo aŭ diaĵo. Sian propran fondiĝon Romo
festis je la 21-a de aprilo; poste, la "dies natalis" de la imperiestro
fariĝis publika festo, kun pompo komparebla al la "natale" de iuj diaĵoj
kies naskiĝdato havis precipan signifon. Plej grava estis tiu de Mitrao:
la 25-a de decembro estis la dato je kiu oni festis samtempe ĝian "natale"
kaj la vintran solsticon. La naskiĝdaton de la Sankta Infano (kiu venis
al la Tero por elaĉeti la homaron, kaj tiel ilumini la homan vivon) oni
elektis tiel, ke ĝi koincidu kun la tempo je kiu taglumaj horoj
eklongiĝas, tio estas nelonge post la vintra solstico.
Our
Man In Rome/Il Nostro Uomo a Roma/
Nuestro
Hombre En Roma/Unser Mann in Rom
Yves
Jaques
Art by
Fire: The
Museo delle Nave Romane -- November
1999
The Museo delle Nave
Romane is the emptiest museum in Italy.
Its two hangar-like rooms
could easily hold a pair of B-52 bombers. Though it has virtually no
collection, and contains almost nothing, its emptiness has more to teach
us about history than could any art-choked museum. Its echoing galleries
are among the largest in Europe, and they lie fallow, offering mute
testimony to the folly of empire.
On a night late in WWII,
retreating German soldiers burnt the museum's collection to ashes. What
did this collection consist of? Two enormous Roman boats, each over
seventy meters long. In the 1930's these unique artifacts were dredged
from the bottom of a small crater lake, their state of preservation
miraculous. But once awoken from their 1900 year slumber they were
destroyed in less than ten.
St.
Peter's Rock: An afternoon at the Vatican -- November 1999
My wife and I stand nervously
in the line of people waiting to enter Saint Peter's. We never seem to be
dressed quite right. You are Peter, and upon this rock I shall build my
church, and I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. So it is
writ in gilt above the tomb of St. Peter, but the keys won't work unless you
have your shoulders covered and your knees hidden.
As we wait, I notice a group of Filipino pilgrims in shorts. They slump
against a set of pillars. They look shattered, as if their belief is being
sorely tested. Perhaps this was their one chance to visit the very navel of
the Catholic world, and they didn't bring the right wardrobe. Ahead of us, a
group of older American women get by the gatekeepers, although two of them
have skirts above the knee. A moment later, an attractive blonde is turned
away, though her skirt is lower than the two women who only moments ago
passed muster. I, with my ghetto-boy shorts and T-shirt make the cut. My
wife pulls hard on her dress and hunches down, but she's barred entry by a
scowling guard. She's showing some knee.
La pietra di S.Pietro: Un pomeriggio nel Vaticano
scritto da Yves Jaques --
novembre 1999
Io
e mia moglie stiamo aspettando nervosamente in fila per poter entrare nella
Basilica di S.Pietro. Sembra che non siamo mai vestiti adeguatamente. "Tu
sei Pietro, e su questa pietra edificherò la mia chiesa... A te darò le
chiavi del regno dei cieli..."
Così è scritto sulla
tomba di S.Pietro, ma sembra che le chiavi funzionino solo se hai le spalle
coperte e le ginocchia nascoste.
Mentre aspettiamo, mi accorgo di un gruppo di pellegrini filippini che
portano degli shorts. Sono come incollati alle colonne. Hanno un'aria
distrutta, come se la loro fede fosse messa a dura prova. Magari per loro è
l'occasione che capita solo una volta nella vita per poter vedere l'ombelico
del mondo cattolico, ma loro non hanno portato il giusto guardaroba. Davanti
a noi, un gruppo di donne americane, non più giovani, passa accanto alle
guardie, sebbene due di loro portino la gonna sopra il ginocchio. Un attimo
più tardi, una bionda attraente è mandata via, nonostante la sua gonna sia
più lunga delle due che sono passate prima. Tocca a me con i miei bermuda da
periferia e maglietta. Mia moglie cerca di allungare i suoi vestiti e si
aggobba, ma viene fermata da una guardia dallo sguardo torvo. Si vedono un
po' le ginocchia.
La
Piedra de San Pedro: Una
tarde en el Vaticano
--
Noviembre
1999
Mi esposa
y yo esperamos nerviosos en la cola de visitantes que esperan entrar en San
Pedro. Tengo la impresión que nunca conseguimos elegir la ropa adecuada. “Tú
eres Pedro y sobre esta piedra edificaré mi Iglesia y Yo te daré las llaves
del Reino de los Cielos”. Así está escrito en letras doradas encima de la
tumba de San Pedro, pero las llaves no funcionarán a menos que cubras tus
hombros y tapes tus rodillas. Mientras esperamos, reparo en un grupo de
peregrinos filipinos que llevan pantalones cortos. Están tirados sobre una
hilera de columnas. Parecen abrumados, como si su fe fuese objeto de una
dolorosa prueba. Tal vez esta era su única posibilidad de visitar el ombligo
mismo del universo católico y no trajeron la vestimenta correcta. Delante de
nosotros los porteros dejan entrar a un grupo de americanas maduras, aunque
dos de ellas lleven falda por encima de la rodilla. Un momento más tarde se
le deniega la entrada a una rubia atractiva, a pesar de que su falda sea más
larga que la de aquellas dos señoras que pasaron la inspección minutos
atrás. Yo, con mis pantalones cortos de chico del gueto y mi camiseta,
consigo pasar. Mi esposa estira su vestido y se encoge pero un guardia
ceñudo no le deja pasar. Enseña un poco la rodilla.
Der
Felsen von St. Peter:
Ein
Nachmittag im Vatikan --
November 1999
Meine Frau und ich stehen nervös
in einer Menschenschlange und warten, den Petersdom zu betreten.
Irgendwie scheinen wir nie ganz
richtig angezogen zu sein.
Du bist Petrus, und auf diesem
Felsen will ich meine Kirche bauen, und ich werde dir die Schlüssel des
Himmelreiches geben. So
steht es in goldenen Lettern eingraviert über dem Grab des heiligen Petrus, aber
die Schlüssel werden nicht aufschließen, außer man hat seine Schultern bedeckt
und seine Knie verhüllt.
Während wir warten, bemerke ich eine Gruppe von philippinischen Pilgern in
kurzen Hosen. Sie drücken sich bei ein paar Säulen herum und schauen
niedergeschmettert aus, als ob ihr Glaube gerade hart geprüft würde. Vielleicht
war das ja ihre einzige Chance, den Nabel der katholischen Welt selbst zu
besuchen, und sie haben nicht die richtige Garderobe mitgebracht. Vor uns kommt
eine Gruppe älterer amerikanischer Frauen an den Torwachen vorbei, obwohl zwei
von ihnen kniefreie Röcke tragen. Einen Moment später wird eine attraktive
Blondine abgewiesen, obwohl ihr Rock tiefer hinunterreicht als bei den beiden
Frauen, die nur ein paar Momente zuvor gemustert worden waren. Ich schaffe es
mit meinen kurzen Hosen à la Ghettojunge und meinem T-Shirt. Meine Frau zerrt an
ihrem Kleid und zieht es nach unten, aber sie wird von einer schimpfenden Wache
zurückgehalten. Sie zeigt etwas Knie.
St.
Peter's Rock: An afternoon at the Vatican
(Greek version) -- November 1999
Η γυναίκα μου κι εγώ καθόμασταν νευρικά
στη σειρά περιμένοντας να μπούμε στον Άγιο Πέτρο. Ποτέ δεν μοιάζουμε να
είμαστε ντυμένοι όπως πρέπει. Είσαι ο Πέτρος, και επάνω σε αυτόν τον
βράχο θα χτίσω την εκκλησία μου, και θα σου παραδώσω τα κλειδιά του
βασιλείου των ουρανών. Αυτά είναι γραμμένα με χρυσό πάνω από τον τάφο
του Αγ. Πέτρου, αλλά τα κλειδιά δεν πιάνουν εκτός και αν οι ώμοι σου είναι
καλυμμένοι και τα γόνατά σου δεν φαίνονται.
Καθώς περιμένουμε, παρατηρώ ένα γκρουπ προσκυνητών από τις Φιλιππίνες με
σορτς. Ακουμπούν απηυδισμένοι πάνω στις κολώνες. Δείχνουν κλονισμένοι, σαν
να δοκιμάζεται έντονα η πίστη τους. Ίσως αυτή να ήταν η μοναδική ευκαιρία
τους να επισκεφτούν τον ομφαλό του καθολικού κόσμου, και αυτοί δεν είναι
σωστά ενδεδυμένοι. Μπροστά από μας, μια ομάδα από ηλικιωμένες Αμερικανίδες
περνούν από τους φύλακες της εισόδου, παρόλο που δύο από αυτές φορούν φούστα
πάνω από το γόνατο. Μια στιγμή αργότερα, διώχνουν μια ελκυστική ξανθιά,
παρόλο που η φούστα της είναι πιο μακριά από αυτές των δύο γυναικών που
κρίθηκαν ικανές να περάσουν μόλις πριν από λίγο. Εγώ, με το σορτς και το
φανελάκι μου, κάνω τη διαφορά. Η γυναίκα μου τραβάει προς τα κάτω το φόρεμά
της και καμπουριάζει, αλλά της απαγορεύεται η είσοδος από ένα συνοφρυωμένο
φύλακα. Φαίνεται λίγο η γάμπα. Οπισθοχωρούμε και ενωνόμαστε με την ομάδα των
συντριμμένων προσκυνητών. Η γυναίκα μου βράζει κυριολεκτικά. Δεν υπάρχει
τίποτε που να την εξοργίζει περισσότερο. Σαν ζωγράφος μεγαλωμένη από άθεους
χίπις γονείς, βλέπει το Βατικανό σαν μια πινακοθήκη. Ο κοινωνικός ρόλος του
ως το κέντρο της μεγαλύτερης θρησκείας στον κόσμο δεν σημαίνει τίποτε γι'
αυτήν.
St. Peter's Rock: An
afternoon at the Vatican (Romanian version) -- November 1999
Stau nervos la rând împreună
cu soţia mea, aşteptând să intrăm în Catedrala Sfântul Petru. Se pare că
veşnic suntem îmbrăcaţi nepotrivit. Tu eşti Petru şi pe această piatră
voi zidi biserica mea şi îţi voi da ţie cheile împărăţiei cerurilor. Aşa
stă scris cu litere aurite deasupra mormântului Sfântului Petru, dar cheile
nu se potrivesc numai dacă umerii îti sunt acoperiţi şi genunchii ascunşi.
În timp ce aşteptăm, un grup de pelerini filipinezi în pantaloni scurţi îmi
atrage atenţia. Stau prăbuşiţi, rezemaţi de nişte stâlpi. Arată
deznădăjduiţi, ca şi cum credinţa le e dureros încercată. A fost, poate,
unica lor şansă de a vizita chiar buricul lumii catolice, iar ei nu şi-au
adus garderoba cuvenită. În faţa noastră, un grup de americance vârstnice
trece de portari, deşi două dintre ele au fuste deasupra genunchiului. O
clipă mai târziu, o blondă atrăgătoare este expediată, cu toate că fusta îi
e mai lungă decât a celorlalte două care iesiseră bine la inspecţie
adineaori. Eu, cu şortul meu gen băiat de ghetou şi tricou, reuşesc să trec
repede. Nevastă-mea trage din greu de rochie şi se gheboşează, dar un paznic
încruntat îi barează intrarea. I se văd puţin genunchii.
Стена
Св. Петра
: Једно
послеподне у Ватикану
(Ив
Жак
) -- Новембар
1999
Моја жена и ја стојимо нервозно у реду
људи који чекају да уђу у цркву Светог Петра. Изгледа да се никада не обучемо
прописно. Ти си Петар, и на овој стени ћу подићи своју цркву, и даћу ти
кључеве царства небеског. Тако пише изнад гроба Светог Петра, али кључеви не
пасују док не покријете рамена и не сакријете колена.
Док чекамо, примећујем групу
филипинских ходочасника у шорцевима. Ослањају се на стубове. Изгледају сломљено,
као да неко жестоко искушава њихову веру. Можда је ово била њихова једина шанса
да посете сам центар католичког света, а они нису понели прописну одећу.
Испред нас, група старијих американки пролази крај чувара на
вратима, иако две жене у групи имају сукње изнад колена. Тренутак касније,
одбијају једну привлачну плавушу, иако је њезина сукња дужа него сукње оних
двеју жена које су пре пар тренутака прошле тест. Ја, у свом шорцу попут дечака
из гета и мајици са кратким рукавима пролазим. Моја жена натеже своју хаљину и
повија се, али јој мрки чувар не даје да прође. Провирује јој колено.
Szent Péter sziklája:
Egy délután a Vatikánban
Írta Yves Jaques
--
1999 november
Feleségemmel
együtt idegesen várakozunk a sorban, hogy beléphessünk a Szent Péter
bazilikába. Úgy tűnik, az ember sohasem lehet elég jól öltözött. “Te Péter
vagy és én erre a sziklára építem egyházamat... Neked adom a mennyek országa
kulcsait ..” Így szól a Péter sírja feletti felirat, de ezek a kulcsok csak
akkor működnek, ha a vállad és térded el van fedve.
Miközben várakozunk, figyelmem egy Fülöp-szigeti zarándokcsoportra
terelődik, akik sortot viselnek. Szinte rátapadnak az oszlopokra.
Megviseltnek látszanak, mintha hitük kemény próbára lenne téve. Talán ez
életükben az egyetlen alkalom arra, hogy a katolikus világ köldökét
megláthassák, és ők nem gondoltak a megfelelő öltözékre.
Előttünk idősebb amerikai nők csoportja halad el a kapuőrök előtt, annak
ellenére, hogy ketten közülük térd feletti szoknyát viselnek. Egy
pillanattal később egy csinos szőke nő lesz elutasítva, pedig szoknyája
hosszabb, mint az előbb említett két nőé. Rajtunk a sor, én külvárosi
bermudában és pólóban, míg feleségem megpróbálja lejjebb húzni a ruháját és
begörbíti a hátát. Mit sem ér igyekezete, az éber őr megállítja: kilátszik
egy kicsit a térde.
Tutt'a
Posto: The
used-car lots of Rome -- November
1999
There's one thing I
came to realize. There was virtually no difference between a used car lot
in the United States, and a used car lot in Italy. Well, there was one: in
Italy, at least the salesmen wore Italian suits. But otherwise, it was the
same. Every car priced double bluebook, or if not, you could sense that the
car had been through some secret hell at the hands of a brutal master. By
the beginning of the third week I felt I'd scoped the scene and it was time
to start test driving some cars. My first choice, a plush Peugeot station
wagon with leather seats and loads of options. The salesman brought out the
key and tried to start it but the battery was dead. He called a mechanic
over who pulled up a jumper battery. Now the car turned over, but still
wouldn't start. Before long there were the salesman and three mechanics all
busily combing over the car searching for the problem. Finally he hit me
with the most common word in Italy, 'Domani.'
Tutt'a
Posto: Los
centros de vehículos de ocasión de Roma
-- Noviembre
de 1999
Me di cuenta de
algo. No existe virtualmente ninguna diferencia entre un centro de coches de
segunda mano en los EE.UU. y otro en Italia. Bueno, había una, al menos en
Italia los vendedores llevaban trajes italianos. Aparte de esto, se trataba de
lo mismo. El precio de cada coche duplicaba al de una lista oficial y, en caso
contrario, podías notar que el coche había pasado por un infierno secreto a
manos de un amo brutal. Hacia el principio de la tercera semana, sentía que ya
tenía el asunto dominado y que era hora de probar algún coche. Mi primera
elección fue una elegante furgoneta Peugeot
con asientos de cuero y un montón de extras. El vendedor sacó la llave e
intentó arrancar pero la batería estaba descargada así que llamó a un
mecánico, quien trajo una batería de emergencia. Entonces el motor consiguió
hacer contacto pero, no obstante, seguía sin arrancar. En poco tiempo estaban
el vendedor y tres mecánicos enérgicamente verificando con minuciosidad el
coche intentando localizar el problema. Al final, me soltó la palabra más
corriente en Italia: “Domani”.
A Mighty Fine Chestnut
-- Good Friday at the Colosseum, 1999
Easter is always a time of spiritual
schizophrenia for Christians, the joy of the salvation tempered by Christ’s
sacrifice. But in Rome, with its mixed position as seat of the empire that
killed Christ, and of the denomination that has most furthered his name this
schizophrenia is compounded, for to mourn Christ’s death is to mourn in the
way of the executioner. The Pope, as head of what is essentially the last
fragment of the Roman empire, is symbolically both descendant and judge of
the executioner. His role at this holiday is amazingly disjunctive:
deliverer, mourner, pilgrim, penitent, murderer, king. He presides over
Easter with elaborate and regal purpose, and yet the layers of ceremony do
nothing more than highlight how delicate is this entire enterprise, this
structure by which the spirit and the unknown are mitigated.
Un Castagno Bello e
Potente -- Venerdi Santo al Colosseo, 1999
La Pasqua costituisce sempre un momento di
schizofrenia spirituale per i cristiani, la gioia della salvezza temperata
dal sacrificio di Cristo. Ma a Roma, con la posizione duale della città
quale sede dell’impero che uccise Cristo e contraddistinta dalla
denominazione di aver assiduamente perpetuato il suo nome, lo stato
schizofrenico si fa complesso, in quanto l’addolorarsi per la morte di
Cristo significa portare il lutto nel modo del carnefice.
Il Papa, in qualità di capo di ciò che è
essenzialmente l’ultimo frammento dell’impero romano, assurge simbolicamente
sia a discendente che a giudice del boia. Il suo ruolo in questa ricorrenza
è sorprendentemente disgiuntivo: liberatore, portatore di lutto, pellegrino,
penitente, assassino, re. Presiede la Pasqua con uno scopo elaborato e
regale eppure la stratificazione della cerimonia non fa altro che
evidenziare la fragilità dell’intera configurazione, una struttura
attraverso la quale lo spirito e l’ignoto sono mitigati.
Un
chiste viejo muy bueno -- Viernes
Santo en el Coliseo, 1999
Pascua es
siempre un período de esquizofrenia espiritual para los cristianos, la
alegría de la salvación matizada por el sacrificio de Jesucristo. Pero en
Roma, en su posición encontrada como sede del imperio que mató a Jesucristo
y de la confesión que más ha promovido su nombre, la esquizofrenia se ve
agravada, ya que lamentar la muerte de Jesucristo es ponerse en la piel del
verdugo. El Papa, cabeza de lo que constituye en esencia el último vestigio
del Imperio Romano, es simbólicamente descendiente y juez del verdugo. Su
papel en esta fiesta es sorprendentemente antagónico: salvador, doliente,
peregrino, penitente, asesino y rey. Él preside la Semana Santa con
resolución grandiosa y real, pero las fases del ceremonial sólo consiguen
subrayar la fragilidad de todo este asunto, esta estructura donde se moderan
el alma y lo desconocido.
Greetings from the
Ambassadors -- March
1999
Eccoci, siamo qui
seduti davanti al caminetto della nostra casa enorme; terribilmente
moderna! Che strano. Ci eravamo immaginati una qualche villa antica e
rustica con forse le stalle e degli stallieri, galline e pecore; tutto
questo. Ma che possiamo dire, abbiamo scoperto una splendida casa a
quattro piani con l’interno modellato come un grande pianoforte e
naturalmente un grande piano nel salotto; una casa musicale per la
nostra chiara compassione; un enorme seminterrato perfetto per uno
studio, e con una vista su tutti i Castelli Romani e la pianura romana
fin giù al Mediterraneo. Vi è perfino un terrazzo sul tetto dove si può
prendere il sole nudi. Ebbene, siamo andati fuori di testa e abbiamo
detto SI’.
Saluti dagli
Ambasciatori -- Marzo
1999
Eccoci, siamo qui
seduti davanti al caminetto della nostra casa enorme; terribilmente
moderna! Che strano. Ci eravamo immaginati una qualche villa antica e
rustica con forse le stalle e degli stallieri, galline e pecore; tutto
questo. Ma che possiamo dire, abbiamo scoperto una splendida casa a
quattro piani con l’interno modellato come un grande pianoforte e
naturalmente un grande piano nel salotto; una casa musicale per la
nostra chiara compassione; un enorme seminterrato perfetto per uno
studio, e con una vista su tutti i Castelli Romani e la pianura romana
fin giù al Mediterraneo. Vi è perfino un terrazzo sul tetto dove si può
prendere il sole nudi. Ebbene, siamo andati fuori di testa e abbiamo
detto SI’.
Our
Man In Cologne/Unser Mann In Koln/Nuestro
Hombre En Cologne
Thomas
Greuel
Talk like a Colognian -- June 1999
Inhabitants of Cologne are quite wordy. In
fact if ever you get to talk to someone from Cologne, it takes some effort
to actually get them to say something. Basically, people in Cologne like to
listen to themselves talking, which makes any sensible conversation
impossible. A person from Cologne will just start talking about whatever
comes into their minds, and they can hold up this monologue for quite some
time unless you stop them, which they appreciate only because it gives them
time to catch some breath.
To Live and Die In Cologne
(or Store Your Dead Grandpa In The Backyard) -- June
1999
When watching American TV, it
seems that the general idea about Germany is that all people here walk
around in Lederhosen or obnoxious dresses, eating Sauerkraut all day,
drinking large quantities of beer, beating up foreigners and being very
diligent and efficient in everything they do. This is obviously true (at
least in some areas). However, Germany is slightly more diverse than that.
In fact the cultural diversity of a country smaller in size than the State
of Texas is vast. And to talk about Germany means to talk about its regions.
Crystal
Night/Kristallnacht/Reichsprogromnacht -- November
1998
It is easy to imagine that
most Germans sitting in their living rooms that night felt very uneasy
about the occurrences outside their windows, if only because they were
afraid that the fires might catch on to their own houses. However, this
uneasiness did not result in any actions against the tyranny of the
Nazis. Many people realised that they had made a terrible mistake
putting Hitler into power. After the humiliation of the lost World War
I, the repercussions of the Versaille Treaty and the global economic
crisis, a loud, proud and demanding sovereign was needed. Hitler was the
perfect man for the job. He was determined and willing to get rid of the
loathed democracy that had been introduced after the First World War and
did never really work. Very soon Germany became aware that it had not
just elected a dog that would bark and retrieve some of the dignity and
respect Germany deserved in their eyes, but a mad pitbull who was not in
the least interested in anything else but his insane visions.
La
Noche de los cristales rotos /Kristallnacht/Reichsprogromnacht -- Noviembre
1998
Es fácil
imaginar que la mayoría de los alemanes sentados en su salón esa noche
se sintieron muy intranquilos por los incidentes más allá de sus
ventanas, aunque sólo fuera por el miedo a que el fuego se extendiera a
sus propias casas. No obstante, esta inseguridad no suscitó ninguna
acción contra la tiranía nazi. Mucha gente se dio cuenta del terrible
error cometido al elevar al poder a Hitler. Tras la humillación de la
pérdida de la Primera Guerra Mundial, las repercusiones del Tratado de
Versalles y la crisis económica global, era necesario un soberano
ruidoso, orgulloso y exigente. Hitler era el hombre perfecto para el
puesto. Era resuelto y estaba dispuesto a librarse de la odiosa
democracia que había sido instaurada tras la Primera Guerra Mundial y
que, en realidad, nunca funcionó. Muy pronto Alemania fue consciente que
no sólo había elegido a un perro que ladraría y recuperaría parte de la
dignidad y el respeto que a sus ojos Alemania merecía, sino a un pitbull
loco que no tenía interés alguno en otra cosa que sus dementes
visiones.
The King is dead, long
live the King -- October
1998
So what was so bad about current chancellor
Helmut Kohl? Nothing really. However, Helmut Kohl is one of those sovereigns
that receive more credit and respect abroad than within their own country.
Surely we appreciate his endeavours in bringing about the European Community
-- although we still haven't made up our mind whether we want it. Sure, we
equally appreciate his impact on bringing the Wall down and reuniting the
two parts of Germany -- although at times we might curse the costs. But
regardless of that, there is something more important. In the last few
years, namely after the reunification, unemployment has risen significantly.
Social welfare plays a very large role with public pension schemes and free
health care. All these services have become very expensive and are becoming
harder and harder to finance. There has been a staleness in politics, a lack
of bringing about the necessary changes. The reason for this is partly based
on the structure of the two houses of parliament. Both led by the two big
rivaling parties blocked each other and were afraid of compromises and maybe
even successes. Thus none of the crucial decisions required to shape the
nearest future were made. All this has changed with the Social Democrats now
in the majority in both houses. Although the new coalition has not yet taken
over, they have already proposed significant changes.
Der Konig ist tot, lang lebe
der Konig --
Oktober 1998
Was war denn nun so schlimm an
Helmut Kohl? Eigentlich nichts. Aber Helmut Kohl gehört zu den Staatsmännern,
die im Ausland ein höheres Ansehen als im eigenen Land genießen. Natürlich
schätzen wir seine Bemühungen um die europäische Union, obwohl wir uns noch
nicht entschieden haben, ob wir sie auch wollen. Ebenso anerkennen wir
seinen Einfluß auf die deutsche Wiedervereinigung, obwohl wir manchmal über
die Kosten stöhnen. Doch nach dem Fall der Mauer ist die Arbeitslosigkeit
stark angestiegen. Soziale Sicherungssysteme (wie Kranken- und
Rentenversicherung) spielen eine bedeutende Rolle in Deutschland. Diese sind
in der letzten Zeit sehr teuer geworden und können nur noch schwer
finanziert werden. Die Politik konnte in den letzten Jahren die notwendigen
Veränderungen der Systeme nicht nicht in Gang setzen. Der Grund dafür liegt
zum Teil im Aufbau der beiden politischen Organe Bundestag und Bundesrat. Da
sie jeweils von den beiden großen rivalisierenden Parteien geführt wurden,
trat eine Pattsituation ein, bei der die Häuser sich gegenseitig blockierten,
Kompromisse verhinderten und fast schon eine Angst vor dem politischen
Erfolg von Erfolgen herrschte. So wurden alle notwendigen Veränderungen der
näheren Zukunft blockiert. Doch mit der neuen Regierung wird sich dies
ändern, denn nun haben die Sozialdemokraten die Mehrheit in beiden
Parlamenten, und obwohl die neue Regierung noch nicht im Amt ist, hat sie
schon bedeutende Veränderungen angekündigt.
The King is dead, long
live the King (Greek version) -- October
1998
Τι έκανε όμως ο
τωρινός Καγκελάριος Helmut Kohl; Τίποτα. Ωστόσο, ο Helmut Kohl είναι
ένας από εκείνους τους ηγέτες που τους τιμούν και τους εκτιμούν
περισσότερο στο εξωτερικό, παρά στην ίδια τους τη χώρα. Σίγουρα
εκτιμούμε τις έντονες προσπάθειές του να φτιάξει την Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση, αν
και δεν έχουμε αποφασίσει ακόμη αν το θέλουμε ή όχι. Οπωσδήποτε,
εκτιμούμε το ίδιο την συνεισφορά του στην πτώση του Τοίχους και στην
επανένωση των δύο Γερμανιών, αν και κατά διαστήματα καταριόμαστε τις
συνέπειες. Αλλά, πέρα από όλα αυτά, υπάρχει κάτι πιο σημαντικό. Τα
τελευταία χρόνια μετά την επανένωση, η ανεργία σημείωσε αξιοσημείωτη
άνοδο. Η κοινωνική πρόνοια παίζει ένα σημαντικό ρόλο στα προγράμματα της
περίθαλψης και της δωρεάν φροντίδας της υγείας. Όλες αυτές οι υπηρεσίες
έγιναν πολύ ακριβές και γίνεται όλο και πιο δύσκολο να χρηματοδοτηθούν.
Υπήρξε ένα τέλμα στην πολιτική, μια έλλειψη απαραίτητων αλλαγών. Η αιτία
για αυτό βασίζεται κατά ένα μέρος στους δύο συνασπισμούς του
Κοινοβουλίου. Καθοδηγούμενοι και οι δύο από τα δύο μεγάλα αντίπαλα
κόμματα, μπλόκαραν το ένα το άλλο και φοβήθηκαν να κάνουν συμβιβασμούς
ακόμη και να επιτύχουν. Έτσι, δεν λήφθηκε καμιά από τις καθοριστικές για
το μέλλον αποφάσεις. Αυτά όλα άλλαξαν με την πλειοψηφία των
Σοσιαλδημοκρατών. Παρόλο που ο νέος συνασπισμός δεν ανέλαβε ακόμη τα
καθήκοντά του, πρότεινε ήδη αξιοσημείωτες αλλαγές.
Our
Man In Puebla/Nuestro Hombre en Puebla
James
L. Fidelholtz
When I was young, in the
last Millennium... -- May 1998
This preoccupation with the end of the
second millennium (of course it’s an arbitrary date, but that doesn’t change
its iconicity for us) is in fact quite normal and understandable, given
human nature. Note that the Mayas had a calendar even more complicated than
ours in some ways, and more precise than ours is by .02 days/year. For them,
the end of a long cycle of approximately 1000 years was a really big deal,
and they expected cataclysms, etc., much like our trepidation at the
supposed predictions of Nostradamus, etc. But the Mayans didn’t wait for the
actual end of the cycle – this anticipation and fear in fact helped bring
about the downfall of their civilization a little more that one millennium
ago, and AROUND the time of the end of their cycle (at different
archaeological sites in lower Mesoamerica, the dissolution of the
civilization occurred on different dates, but always somewhere around the
end of the cycle as they calculated it). Given my analysis, and taking the
Mayans as a historical precedent, I feel supported and vindicated in my
decision.
When I was young, in the
last Millennium... (Greek version) -- May
1998
Αυτή η συνεχής ενασχόληση με το τέλος
της δεύτερης χιλιετίας (οπωσδήποτε είναι μια αυθαίρετη ημερομηνία, αλλά αυτό
δεν αλλάζει το τι συμβολίζει για μας) είναι στην πραγματικότητα αρκετά
φυσιολογική και κατανοητή, δεδομένης της ανθρώπινης φύσης. Ας σημειωθεί ότι
οι Μάγια είχαν ένα ημερολόγιο αρκετά πιο πολύπλοκο από το δικό μας και πιο
ακριβές κατά .02 ημέρες/χρόνο. Για αυτούς, το τέλος ενός μεγάλου κύκλου 1000
περίπου χρόνων ήταν κάτι πραγματικά σημαντικό και περίμεναν κατακλυσμούς,
κλπ, κάτι σαν τον δικό μας τρόμο μπροστά στις προφητείες του Νοστράδαμου,
κλπ. Αλλά, οι Μάγια δεν περίμεναν το πραγματικό τέλος του κύκλου - αυτή η
προσδοκία και ο φόβος βοήθησαν στην πραγματικότητα να επέλθει η κατάρρευση
του πολιτισμού τους, κάτι περισσότερο από μια χιλιετία πριν και ΣΧΕΔΟΝ τη
στιγμή του τέλους του κύκλου τους (σε διάφορους αρχαιολογικούς χώρους στην
κάτω Κεντρική Αμερική, βρέθηκε ότι η διάλυση του πολιτισμού συνέβη σε
διάφορες ημερομηνίες, αλλά πάντα προς το τέλος του κύκλου, όπως το
υπολόγισαν). Λαμβάνοντας υπόψη την ανάλυσή μου και παίρνοντας ως ιστορικό
δεδικασμένο τους Μάγια, αισθάνομαι ενισχυμένος και δικαιωμένος για την
απόφασή μου.
Cuando era joven, en el
milenio pasado... -- Mayo 1998
Esta preocupación con el final
del segundo milenio (por supuesto, la fecha es arbitraria, pero eso no
cambia su iconicidad para nosotros) de hecho es totalmente normal y
entendible, dada la naturaleza humana. Date cuenta que los maya tenían un
calendario aún más complicado que el nuestro en algunos sentidos, y más
preciso que el nuestro, en la medida de .02 días por año. Para ellos, el fin
de un ciclo largo de aproximadamente 1000 años realmente era una cosa
importante y temible, y esperaban muchos cambios, cataclismos, etc., en
forma muy similar a nuestra trepidación frente a las supuestas predicciones
de Nostradamo, y cosas del estilo. Pero los mayas no esperaban siempre el
fin real del ciclo –esta anticipación y temor de hecho ayudó en crear el fin
de su civilización, hace poco más que un milenio, y APROXIMADAMENTE al fin
de su ciclo (en diversos sitios arqueológicos in baja Mesoamérica la
disolución de la civilización tuvo lugar en fechas distintas, pero siempre
cerca del fin del ciclo como calculado por ellos). Dado el análisis mío, y
tomando a los mayas como un precedente histórico, me siento apoyado y hasta
vindicado en mi decisión.
Our
Man In Guatemala
Brian
Miguel Foley
Politics, Prices and
Processions in Guatemala -- April 1999
About a mile away we found
them, about 400 guys dressed in black hoods ala the KKK with revolutionary
slogans on their t-shirts or images of Che Guevara, or simply black plastic
garbage bags keeping the paint from soiling their clothes. They were
accompanied by 3 or 4 cargo trucks which carried the oildrums full of
"paint", plus a beat-up Japanese stationwagon with a big loudspeaker on the
top, blasting away slogans and instructions to the mob. We witnessed the
defacing of a storefront, rags and brooms being used as brushes, and spray
cans being used for the graffiti details. (Unfortunately, Joe had a bit of
dyslexia operating the video camera, and I have at least two or three shots
of the lens cap being put on and only audio being recorded. But he did get
some good footage, just not all that was available that night.)
Hola desde Quetzaltenango,
Guatemala
-- March 1999
The family I'm staying with is
really sweet - Santiago is the father, a weaver, and works with his son
Manuel making intricate, ornate blouses and tops. Felicia is the mother and
laughs easily. She is quite taken by my digital video camera that puts
pictures into my laptop so quickly. We'll get her some prints yet. Within a
couple of weeks I'll get my new domain up and running so y'all can see the
pics yourselves. I'll send an announcement when it is up and alive. At this
point I'm still in image collection mode.
Our
Man From China
Phil
Shen
The Model Minority Myth -- September
1998