"We have about 60% of the world's wealth but only 6.3% of its population. In this situation we cannot fail to be the object of envy and resentment. Our real task in the coming period is to devise a pattern of relationships which will permit us to maintain this position of disparity. We need not deceive ourselves that we can afford today the luxury of altruism and world benefaction. We should cease to talk about such vague and unreal objectives as human rights, the raising of living standards and democratisation. The day is not far off when we are going to have to deal in straight power concepts. The less we are then hampered by idealistic slogans, the better." - George Kennan, Former Head of the US State Department Policy Planning Staff, excerpts from Document PPS23, 24th February 1948.
This is one of many, many chilling quotes from The Fire This Time, which I hold out to you as an antidote to the war-soap stuff being pumped endlessly at us from our mass media at the moment.
It's a double CD set, an aural doucumentary of the 1991 Gulf War, with a stunning soundtrack featuring many of today's cutting-edge electronic artists, describing its purpose as "Deconstructing the Gulf War: a permanent record of the fate of Iraq and a guide to the language of mass media propaganda". It's astonishing, uneasy, truthful listening. This, I guess, is an unashamed advert, but I'd highly recommend turning off your TV and soaking in TFTT instead.
“Where do you come from?” I asked
“Iraq” he said
Dining Room, YMCA, another evening meal.
Another cafeteria tray from the tray slide. Where do I sit? I sat.
It is with two young men – one from Kosova, one from Iraq, I discovered ‘as above’ a few minutes into the meal.
Sensitively I ask questions. I want to know – if he is willing to share
Q. Where were you born?
A. Baghdad
Q. What does itfeel liketo say you come from Iraq – right now?
A. It is the poorest who are killed – not the powerful. I am ashamed of all the slaughter there. My brother was tortured by Saddam Hussein.
Q. Was he killed?
A. Tortured and killed
Q. How many of the population will genuinely be pleased if Saddam Hussein is removed from power?
A. The vast majority will be pleased so they can live a better life.
Q. During these coming days, will Saddam either:
· Take his own life like Hitler did?
· Flee the country?
· Fight to his death?
A. He will flee to save his own life
I feel I have been on a ‘learning journey’ – I only know what the media tells me – and I try to read widely, not just T.V.
Here was a new insight from one person. Here at the YMCA. Training to be a bricklayer and living with his nationality in a country at war.
Lord have mercy.
After a lovely Sunday afternoon up in the Pennines I met up with my old literature group friends last night for a reunion drink. It was great to catch up with what everyone has been up to since the course finished last year and learn what they have chosen to read in the absence of the novel-a-week set reading that we ‘enjoyed’ for the previous three years!
On the non-fiction front, our discussions included Michael Moore’s Stupid White Men and his excellent film Bowling For Columbine; so it was interesting to come home to his Oscar acceptance speech.
Yes I know that this was hellishly late but a) I’m a night-time person and b) I was frantically finalising the Greenbelt stuff to email it to the office.
Speaking to Rachel in the office today, it seems that much of the Greenbelt world is notably frantic for this time of year – which begs the question, how mad will things get by July?
The good stuff just keeps pouring in and the plans are absolutely packed full of amazing material (didn’t the latest publicity mailing make you salivate?) so I guess it bodes well for August!
Anyway time to wrap up another late night Greenbelt email session – time for bed…goodnight.