Archive for May 2011

People in Russia are very proud of the wars they participated in, ‘cause they’ve won them all (or at least they like to think so). It’s like a sub-culture that hangs out in subways, you always spot them there with one leg, one arm, and a jar you can put your money in. My Russian great-grandmother always used to tell me stories about the terrible World War I and the awful World War II (yes, she’s that old!). Her whole house  was like one big monument, full of portraits of her dead husbands. Pretty scary actually.

Now I don’t live in Russia anymore, but apparently at one point there were complaints about a lack of contemporary Russian war literature. Today there are no poets like Lermontov (a hero of our time – is a must-read!) or prosers like Tolstoy to portray the Chechen War (both were war veterans). There are no serious fictional accounts of the Russian experience in Afghanistan and one can only find low-standard «superhero» action novels or pompous official propaganda works. Those were the complaints.

So than the Russian literary journal for veterans of recent wars Art of War decided to show that that’s not true, that Russia has a modern war literature. The concept of the journal is to publish creative works in prose, poetry and journalism written by veterans of recent and current wars, because they have a lot to share (for example Arkady Babchenko. The principal purpose underlying the foundation of this journal is the psychological rehabilitation of soldiers who have endured the losses and hardships of combat.

What amazes is me is that in the Netherlands, where I live now, the veterans are invisible.
Though I have to admit I don’t use the subway here that much. But really, where are all the stories about the Dutch boys and girls in Afghanistan? Why are they being kept on the background? Why isn’t there a veteran-subculture here? Why don’t we have a literary journal on war? Are the Dutch less proud? Are they shy? Or do they just don’t care? I know that’s a pretty provocative statement, so feel free to comment.

Paul Knieriem, May 3rd
The day of departure. Bin Laden is killed, they put a bullet through his head, threw his body in sea. I am preparing for my trip, and even though I had planned to have it all organized I am stressed during these last hours. When my girlfriend kissed me goodbye I felt her crying made me want to cry as well. Why would a human, voluntarily, stay without his beloved for two months and rather spend time in a conflict zone? A zone on top of it where I cannot understand a single word.

As always there’s much to do about Gaza, and in Gaza. Two weeks ago an Italian activist was murdered – he was too present so I’m told. Hamas and Fatah seem to have reached a peace agreement. As far as I understood it is due to the protests in Syria – now the government there has less interest in supporting Hamas here. Than the Arab Spring: A few weeks ago 200.000 Gazans took to the street. To protest. Against Hamas. Against Fatah. Against Israel. They are fed up with the standstill. I am wondering if the Arab Spring will ever flourish in Palestina?

This afternoon I also visited the rehearsal room. Muhammed Hissie, my Palestinian counterpart, has been busy for two months already. With what? That is yet unclear to me. Something with martial arts and screaming. … We also have some ideas on using a circus site. Two actors are known to juggle. That seems to be a good start.

Casper Vandeputte, May 5th
The biggest threat to our safety are the Israeli precision bombardments. They are not always that precise and cause collateral damage. When a bomb drops , windows break. Those splintering windows are very dangerous. So when one hears an explosion the one thing to do is get to a glassless room as soon as possible. Quick or dead. Simple.

“Do you have safety glass in your hotel?”
“What?”
“Safety Glass”
“Ehm. We don’t think so”
“Do you have sattelite phones?”
“No”
“Can you do first aid?”
“No”
A deep sight. Probably we’ll never make good soldiers. But if we write down the GPS coordinates of the spots we most frequent the UNWRA officer will pass those on to the Israelis so they’ll plan their bombardments around us. Dead Europeans are bad press. A truism which actually makes me feel safe here.

Paul Knieriem, May 8th
Slowly I gain some insight in the backgrounds of my actors. It turns out everybody lost a family member in a recent or less recent war. And with most of them that is just a start. More than half of my actors are the only ones bringing in money at home.
My Arabic is practically non-existent but we do try interpreting texts. I’ve phonetically written down the Arabic and after many hick ups am even able to form an opinion on it. Logically my pronunciation is bad so we laugh a lot. But than reality breaks in again. Our text contains the following sentences:
Where are we going? – Wen bidna nruwi? (my fonetic Arabic)
I’m Staying. – Ana beggi
This is where I live. -  Enna hin aish
We’ve discussed that one sentence ‘ana beggi’ on many occasions. Can we perform with that sentence which seems to imply a decision. A decision following a choice. A choice between staying and leaving. But that choice doesn’t exist for Gazans. Children of six years old already know they are locked up. We fly out in six weeks.