supblog

Sometimes anger is good

supsie — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 15:54:00 +0000

There you have all these philosophical approaches talking about how we need to control our emotions – at least the negative ones. So the stoics talk about apatheia. Now, for some reason I thought that this would be a pretty boring life anyway. Or as I read in an article on Buddhist monks where they made tests showing that those monks really didn`t get startled when when hit unexpectedly: “Isn`t there something good in getting startled too?”
So I always thought giving into strong “good” emotions is a good thing as it intensifies life. But to be honest, I think there are times when letting negative emotions show is a good thing too – to make the others aware that they are pushing it.

So maybe we shouldn`t always hide them but give them direction and purpose in order to continue with our lives in peace …

Elephant and Crocodile

:)

supsie — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 15:39:02 +0000

Plakat

Why is it …

supsie — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 07:29:18 +0000

That sometimes the death of a stranger can move us so?

Steve Jobs (1955-2011) – How to live before you die

Thomas Nagel wrote in his book “The View from Nowhere” that with every human being a world dies …

Man the laughing animal

supsie — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 12:11:37 +0000

Ich fürchte, die Tiere betrachten den Menschen als ein Wesen Ihresgleichen, das in höchst gefährlicher Weise den gesunden Tierverstand verloren hat, — als das wahnwitzige Tier, als das lachende Tier, als das weinende Tier, als das unglückselige Tier.

(Friedrich Nietzsche, The Gay Science)

Well, ever since Aristotle who claimed that man is the only animal that can laugh we thought it to be a unique human trait. So now, when my mom told me today on the phone that there were experiments being made to show that animals can laugh too, I can ask myself: Does that make me as a human being less since the difference between man and animal seems to be getting smaller or the animal more? My emotional reactions tends towards the second notion I notice. I always thought rats are very human …

Doesn`t it make us so much more responsible towards our fellow creatures and to take care of them the way the stronger should of the weaker?

laughing rat

Half way there to 70 ….

supsie — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 11:04:57 +0000

“What then is time? If no one asks me I know what it is. If I wish to explain it to the one who asks, I do not know”

(Augustine, Confessions, Book XI)

Funny thing, time … not wonder the philosophers have always thought about it.
I remember well how a. gave me the blog to my 30th birthday. For some reason also the day itself stands out very clearly in my memory. It was a good day spend in the company of good friends. So much has changed in the meantime. I have the feeling if I would look only a little bit closer I could actually “see” or feel the passing of time. Makes one a little pensive and melancholic though not exactly sad. Also the awareness sharpens more and more that the time for a mind set that lives for the future, the “One day I will … this is how my life should be” is passed – this is exactly how my life is, here and now unfolding …
Funny, I think one of the most important things I learned in these years is to be grateful for the good times and the people who made them so … tinged with regret that sometimes I didn’t “pay” them back very good and the hope that they know how much it means to me to have had them in my life …

And so of course Rilke comes to mind:

Erinnerung

Und du wartest, erwartest das Eine,
das dein Leben unendlich vermehrt;
das Mächtige, Ungemeine,
das Erwachen der Steine,
Tiefen, dir zugekehrt.
Es dämmern im Bücherständer
die Bände in Gold und Braun;
und du denkst an durchfahrene Länder,
an Bilder, an die Gewänder
wiederverlorener Fraun.

Und da weißt du auf einmal: das war es.
Du erhebst dich, und vor dir steht
eines vergangenen Jahres
Angst und Gestalt und Gebet.

(Aus: Das Buch der Bilder)

50 years since the wall went up

supsie — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 12:13:34 +0000

It should be remembered. How would countless lives have been if it never went up? How many people would still be alive? Would have – could have – should have … funny how it still makes me angry … and even more so the people who defended building it, defending imprisoning people for their own power or some greater good.

And how would my life have been without it coming down again? Yes, freedom might be to dance in chains (Nietzsche) … but nevertheless: No philosophy, no traveling, no green emerald Isle to call home now …

Legendary City Alexandria

supsie — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 07:14:50 +0000

“Octavian next viewed the body of Alexander, and even touched it in such a fashion that, so it is said, a piece of the nose was broken of.”

Dio Cassius

Fascinating how quiet the city grows after the fast breaks. If I wouldn’t know better I would almost hope for a quiet night:) sitting at my balcony overlooking the eastern harbour I have Ford Qaitbey – the place where the Pharos once stood till it toppled in the earthquake in 1303 – right in fronton me. So I look at the place where one of the 7 wonders of the world once stood! I still remember when reading about them as a child they were as mystical to me as fairytales and Lord of the Rings. I also still remember the regret of knowing those lost to the world. Touching the remains now 10 m under the sea where they lie together with a mix of pharaonic, Greek and Roman ruins, in between a tumble of Sphinxes, horses, broken columns and every day articles like amphora was like touching a legend rising out of the past. So I guess I saw and touched the 2 that are still to be found. Does that mean I can tick the box?
Gliding along the pavements and broken columns that they are sure by now belonged to the summer palace of Cleopatra in the green light 5 m under the surface – even though one couldn’t see much with the visibility being so bad – only added to this almost surreal experience. It really is once again making childhood dreams coming true. except that I tried not to think about the water in the eastern harbour of Alexandria! That might have spoiled it a bit:P

The days left are divided by searching for what’s left of ancient Alexandria and taking in the living soul of the city at night. Wandering the maze of streets completely devoid of tourists shortly before the fast breaks when the sun is setting is as magical as discovering the ancient sites themselves. They seem so delighted that a foreigner walks through their streets that it seemed I was invited by the whole quarter: One bringing a plate with food, the next drinks the next a tea and sweets. hehe, I can just imagine the face of my mom as one of those guys took a piece of ice that had been lying on the table and dropped it into my glass of water:D

The only times when I actually saw tourists beside the 3 staying in my Hotel was of course at the sights themselves. Having said that they were still so few that I could take in the atmosphere of the catacombs of Kom Ash-Shuqqafa pretty much undisturbed. Just because parts of it were flooded didn’t keep me from hitching up my skirts and exploring the chambers and corridors. It didn’t say anywhere don’t go there! Being completely on my own, only surrounded by those dark locules did actually make my heart race – Maybe I should not have watched the mummy before leaving! It was one of these things where you tell the people in the movie: Get out of there, it’s so obvious that something evil is lurking in those dark holes. Getting of the actual walk took me to places where I could understand why the people in the movies panic. hehe, still like a child afraid of the dark! But the main chamber was just fantastic – no pics though because unlike other people I was honest and had handed in my camera:( Where else can you find an Anubis, dressed as a Roman legionary with a serpent tail of a Greek divinity called Agathodaemon. Ah, you never know what will help you in the afterlife. Talking about true syncretism!
Last but not least not much to see of the only ancient monument still standing: Pomepey’s Pillar which isn’t actually Pompey’s but erected for a guy called Diocletian. And not much left of the Serapeum itself – destroyed by the Christians in 391 in their hatred for pagan knowledge. It’s funny how these things can still anger one after over 1600 years with a contemporary religion. But there you go …
These visits to the ancient worlds were broken by long chats to people about the present. What worries me is how much hope people have in the change: freedom, social justice, better healthcare, less corruption … Democracy cannot but disappoint these hopes. And then what?

Oh, by the way, the tomb of Alexander is still to be found. Religious authorities stopped the excavations which assumed that it is underneath the big mosque while the underwater archeologist I met was part of a digging at the Greek cemetery where they found a huge marble chamber – according to the sources that’s how it was supposed to look like. But he summed it up as being unsuccessful. … Imagine it to be found! Then we could see if Augustus really broke of his nose … F… Roman barbarians, I always knew it:D

On travelling and curiosity – and Egypt on the day of Mubarak’s trial

supsie — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 07:25:28 +0000

“I am going to talk at some length about Egypt, because it has very many remarkable features and has produced more monuments that beggar description than anywhere else in the world.”

Herodotus

Yes, Egypt seemed an obvious choice: Just the right mixture of diving, ancient culture, hassle and political excitement Today Mubarak will go on trial – the whole country seems hardly to be able to wait for the moment. according to some locals today it will be either fireworks or riots. So the whole experience might prove to be interesting: Already last nite people were marching in the street, shouting Mubarak’s name and carrying an Egyptian flag. That this comes to pass in Ramadan when people are so much more on edge anyway might fuel the excitement I ‘d say. They know that democracy is hard – but they still want it… For how long is a different matter of course. Thus, to have the new elections quick (already two month from now seems such a long time to wait) seems to be crucial. And of course people want vengeance, they want to see the “Pharaoh” humiliated in the cage. So the big questions arise again: What is justice? …Anyway, I seem to be just at the right place at the right time to see something of the arabian spring and the world changing – since I was too young to really appreciate our own revolution The underwater archeologist I met today asked me pretty much straight away what I thought of the revolution. People are proud and I think the West would do well not to forget them …

Flying into Cairo I could not believe how well everything worked – as planned as a matter of fact even though it didn’t look like it in the beginning. Since when does that happen when travelling??? People are wonderfully helpful- all of them and no hassle to speak of! And I did meet my very first just nice and honest taxi-driver who went out of his way to help me getting on the right buses – but then he was on a bus and thus without his taxi. Nevertheless-who would have thought I ever say this about Egypt:) Maybe it is the revolution… Everybody is included when there is change in the air and people feel they can achieve something. Like a collective happiness maybe … For isn’t it said in phenomenology of emotions that happiness makes us expand and connect to others and the world? I even got helped across the street – hehe, maybe everybody is nice because I have turned into an old lady Only one guy warned me of the dangers of the riots when still going into downtown Cairo on a bus crowded with men … Finally at least one women climbed onto the bus – with her man of course. More women seem to wear a headscarf than last time too … But I could be imagining things there I’d say. But anyway – I should take a leaf out of her book the way she kept her eyes meekly down the whole time:) Most people seemed hopeful though, regretting that their country gets bad press with the consequence that Tourism is down to 20% of the normal number. I think I have seen maybe 4 or 5 in Alexandria.
Well, whatever it is, I made my way unhassled up to the north – which for some reason is called lower Egypt…I don’t know why I think that north is up – must be the maps

What more can I say of the beginning of a trip that is so short that beginning and middle coincide … The plans were big as my travel plans always are but I don’t know if I am just getting old or lazy or prudent – it seems that I will spend half my time in THE legendary city – Alexandria.
On second thoughts I might just be influenced by the prophet who says that curiosity is the way everydayness sees, I.e. Inauthentic.Curiosity, so Heidegger, does not want to see in order to understand but just to see for the sake of seeing: caring only for distraction, it is an existential mode of falleness, constantly uprooting itself into being everywhere and nowhere, dominated by idle talk (Gerede), both being modi of being of everydayness: the latter of talk which understands everything, the former of seeing which tells us what we have to see and do. But it never gets to the pure truth of Anschauung (gaze, contemplation? AARRGHH!!! English certainly is not the language of phenomenology!!!!!) It’s easy to see why: If Scheler is right with the loving gaze then – like love, friendship and all good things in life – it takes time.
Now, for somebody like me who always saw curiosity as on of my main characteristics and drives this is not a very nice thought. Thus I do not completely agree with him. On the other hand, I have noticed this drive I have never to stay but to move on quickly- no matter if it is a book, a philosophy, a place … so the man might have a point – he is the prophet after all And isn’t Neugier in itself already hinting at this meaning: The greed for new things which loses interest as soon as something stops being new.
But then now I seem to linger – no less curious but taking my time with it, soaking up the atmosphere and soul of the city with long aimless strolls.
Maybe this is where Heidegger was wrong: Curiosity might be the starting point but then wonder holds our gaze, keeping it from moving on, transforming it from seeing into understanding. But isn’t that curiosity too?

“Our rights arouse out of conflict,and by conflict they shall be maintained.” (Hugh Hannah) or: my first riots in Belfast, July 12th

supsie — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 18:29:22 +0000

Well well well, never blog on work, alcohol or politics – or so I was warned by one of the most prudent persons I know.
But honestly – what else makes our every day life interesting. Hehe, just kidding :p
So anyway, here it goes: a philosopher looking into the real life politics of Northern Ireland. Who says you have to go away from the emerald isle to see all the interesting things happening?
I still remember my first visit to Belfast, as everybody else thinking everything is solved and thus being surprised that there a still certain areas where catholics wouldn’t go to. But then I got taken around and saw the “peace Walls”, then Muriels, the houses with no window towards the street sides and I realised that it wasn’t too long ago that Belfast belonged to the three B’s: Belfast, Baghdad, Beirut … I realised that the scars were barely healed …
So time to learn:) – which means for me ideally the combination of theoretical and practical knowledge.
So even though I am not a big parade fan I figured watching the famous orange marches would be a good starting point. Weird though: my first feeling – unreflected, a truly emotional a priority as Scheler would say – was pity. From the outside it seemed such a lost cause to cling so desperately to a past so long gone. The fear of being forgotten was so present – thinly masked by pride. A lot of them surely never getting any social recognition except this one time in the year. And while knowing one’s past surely is a good thing having both eyes on it makes one blind for the present. It was a demonstration of a – Attention: Political incorrect term – working class that is being left behind in a society where you need one thing: education.
On the other hand it seems that also the republicans fear being forgotten- and indeed, the republic does not really seem to care. So even though naturally my sympathies lay with the formerly suppressed who still fight against the last remains what we cannot help but calling a racist regime the question remains: What future are both sides fighting for?
Watching the troubles in Ardoyne as closely as I could get also made me think how futile, how far away our project on toleretion might be … Is it even wanted since the old saying “divide et impera” still holds truth. And while I have no problem admitting that it was all sooooo exciting – the burning cars, the water cannons, the running across open spaces so not to be hit by plastic bullets – I couldn’t help but wonder if most of the young ones there weren’t actually feeling the same. Political causes? Yes, I was told that they see the police treating those on the loyalist side differently and being closed in by the police was certainly quite threatening. But reading Holy war in Belfast by Andre Boyd – by all means even though he is a strong loyalist critic it seemed to be quite balanced – that history repeats itself: violence is something that people get drawn into… The intensity,the excitement. I wonder if Weil is right in stating that force creates a different kind of reality – one where where we lose our being as an individual person but become a unit of something – a catholic, a woman, black, member of the police force… How can one feel compassionate towards somebody who is not of the same “making”. Watching the mob heating up, emotions changing in an instant, hatred and distrust against anybody who isn’t part of the unit occurring in split seconds. Yes I can understand that somebody having a history of being constantly mistreated develops a hatred against the supressors which goes far beyon the reasonable – I am sure I’d be prone to it. Doesn’t take as long for me. Every encounter with an arab taxi-driver proves that;) as did the encounter with the youth who got aggressive … Took me a moment to see him as something else … But don’t we lose our own humanness in this hatred?
That I can understand these reactions also doesn’t make them right. But who is right in judging it? The person who has experienced all these fights, sadness,humiliation, injustice! In short: who has existential knowledge?Or the outsider, untouched by these moods as Heidegger would call them. Who has the better judgement of the present situation: the people who have lived through the horrors of the troubles and still wouldn’t take a taxi on the night of the 11th as it would be a loyalist one and they as Catholics fear to be kidnapped and murdered because this is how it was. Those who would say it’s dangerous to say aloud if somebody is a catholic at the orange marches or the outsider who walks into all of it naive and innocently and is proven right because nothing happened. Presumably the truth lies in the middle. But does it solely depend on what happens?Is it even the right question to ask?
And maybe Scheler and Weil aren’t right but Freud is in saying there is not only eros driving mankind but also tanathos – a drive to destruction, to uncreate, to go back to where we came from – dead matter – which explains why violence and force have such an attraction for mankind. He also says it will be those societies which control it best that will survive …

So penguins get lost too …

supsie — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 11:04:47 +0000

seems to be a very human thing to be confused about the world and our place in it, being lost .. and consuming the wrong things

But not so – which is sometimes comforting to know …

http://www.livingstondaily.com/article/C4/20110621/NEWS07/110621027/Penguin-takes-wrong-turn-ends-up-New-Zealand?odyssey=mod_sectionstories

And one has to say: Nobody can say it like Rilke:

Fragst du mich: Was war in deinen Träumen

Fragst du mich: Was war in deinen Träumen,
ehe ich dir meinen Mai gebracht ?
War ein Wald. Der Sturm war in den Bäumen
und auf allen Wegen kam die Nacht.

Waren Burgen die in Feuer standen,
waren Männer, die das Schlachtschwert schlugen,
waren Frauen, die in Wehgewanden
Kleinod weinend aus den Toren trugen.

Kinder waren, die an Quellen saßen,
und der Abend kam und sang für sie,
sang solang, bis sie das Heim vergaßen
über seiner süßen Melodie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdFWj4YkFYQ