There is a German expression “Einmal ist keinmal” which translates to “once does not count” or “once is nothing”. If something happens only once then it might as well not have happened at all. Milan Kundera’s “The Unbearable Lightness of Being” is an examination of human existence from the point of view of the idea that every person has only one life to live and since once does not count then, by this logic, that life (which only happens once) is insignificant. By this logic every person’s struggle to make his own life significant causes him an incredible amount of suffering: the unbearable lightness of being.
Einmal ist keinmal. Once does not count. We tend to think in cycles when trying to explain the great narrative of human history. Whether we are looking at the recurrence of revolutions or the recurrence of natural catastrophes, we compare and contrast. We like to call them the lessons of history: a history that has often taught us that repetition is in itself a constant. Does that repetition lessen our sense of insignificance? Does our experience gathered in the DNA of the human race count for anything in shifting the balance away from the unbearable lightness?
Nippon
The world woke up in shock on Friday having witnessed the calamitous events in Japan. Scenes that seemed scripted in Hollywood played live on our screens, as office blocks shook, fires blazed and tsunamis obliterated entire cities. The Land of the Rising Sun could not be more detached from our tangible realities. There is a surreal feel to anything that comes from the Nipponic archipelago to Europe and, speaking for myself, I find that I have to do a double-take to remember that the unbearable lightness of being in Sendai can be very much the same as in Marsaxlokk.
Thousands of people perished in one of the greatest earthquakes since 1908. Statistics about the greatest quake or the largest tsunami serve as a reminder that this was not the first quake nor will it be the last. The Japanese, a great, enterprising people who had lifted the phoenix from the ashes of Hiroshima and Nagasaki know that. That is why the effect of the quake on buildings was not as high as it could have been in any other country. The Japanese have learnt the lessons of history and were prepared for the big shake. It seems that the terror from the sea (as best symbolised by Godzilla in modern mythology) could not be so easily quelled. There’s yet another lesson to be learnt as the world rolls up its sleeves and prepares to assist the Japanese in this moment of truth.
Cyrenaica
The homeland of Simon the Cyrene experienced renewed attacks by Gaddafi’s army. The attacks have intensified ever since Gaddafi noticed the general shuffling of feet by the international community. His mediatic onslaught, parallel to the bombs and missiles, sowed enough seeds of doubt to prevent a decisive support action that might have boosted the rebel forces’ chances. Gaddafi does not have all the merit (if merit it is) for the doubt that crossed the minds of potential international interveners.
There is much about Iraq and Afghanistan in the hesitation to intervene in Libya. References to “past mistakes” tend to produce the proverbial cold feet. So as your average Benghazi is riding his Toyota pickup with his hands on a light machine gun, praying that the international community pick out Gaddafi’s airborne forces, meetings and counter-meetings from Washington to Brussels seem to produce many words but little effective action.
Ungainly giants
The business of “past mistakes” was also raised by a French minister who pointed out, to anyone who bothered to listen, that back in 1958 the non-communist world never turned up to back the Hungarian uprising in Budapest as the Soviet tanks rushed in to crush the rebellion. As we cross-referenced the near and not so near history, all sorts of skeletons stopped gathering dust in the cupboard. The conventional idea that the “Arab World” mistrusts the West began to be severely tested the moment it became evident that no matter how much mistrust there may be, it is Western forces that can deliver a decisive blow to Gaddafi’s superior firepower.
So the Unions met and discussed. The European Union, still coming to terms with any remote idea of concerted action under Baroness Ashton, replayed the tune of slow reactivity. Sarkozy’s government acknowledged the rebel government in Libya but the EU held back. As bombs and superior power fell on Zawiya, the EU once again gave disparate messages to the international community. It was only Friday night when a clear and united approach was finally clear. Next step − get the approval of the Arab League and the African Union to actually get something done that goes beyond “Gaddafi must go”.
Malta Tourism Authority
Internationally, the mess still means that your average Simon the Cyrene in Benghazi still has nothing short of words in support of his fight against the crazy dictator. Locally (or nationally as some like to point out), the only institution that had a clear position on the Libyan crisis was the Malta Tourism Authority. It moved swiftly to curb the damage being wrought by the general idea shared by potential holidaymakers that Malta was no longer a safe place for a sun and sea holiday. This reaction was provoked by some early cancellations of holidays being justified by the fact that Malta’s role as Mediterranean Matron might make it a risky place to stay. MTA issued denials and Inhobbkom Joseph’s tourism campaign was belatedly vindicated (sic).
Otherwise, between John Dalli’s enormous faux pas, Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici’s spine-chilling appearance on Al Jazeera and Lawrence Gonzi’s insistence that Malta’s position on Libya is that “Gaddafi’s departure is inevitable”, we seem to be in quite a fix. The impression that Malta’s prime worry in the EU deliberation of more sanctions was the safeguarding of its business interests was not exactly a shining example of determined leadership. Well, so long as Hague can come over and pat Dr Gonzi patronisingly on his back, it’s all fine and dandy.
Politics Light
Were the Mayans right? Will the world end in 2012? The usual panic crowd is back. Expect the Nostradamus citations any moment soon. Over at J’accuse we’re still waiting for the infamous man with the blue turban to turn up − who knows it might be a Nato blue helmet. We’re also crossing our fingers for a week full of more decisive action in support of the Libyan rebels. That should make their being a little less unbearable.
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Related articles
- Gaddafi and the Unbearable Lightness of Crisis (time.com)
- The bearable lightness of being (lbo915.wordpress.com)
