Every evening, at 8 pm, we turned on the TV, sat quietly on the couch, and listened to the news. First it covered everything local, then the rest of Austria. From there it went to Switzerland and Germany, a bit of the Italian news and the rest of Europe-before the European Union existed. Then the rest of the world—by distance: first Africa, then the Middle East, Australia, America, and Asia last. I miss this form of news. Today I share my sources.
I watch more TV or
lose myself in a screen,
far away from real life
and authentic people.
This week I dug particularly for the stories that are easy to miss: people doing remarkable things, and community achievements, and a few wonderfully unusual initiatives. No routine politics. No dirty laundry. Every Wednesday my belief in humanity gets renewed.
…
I was born into an annexed region. I could have been Italian, but because of my Grandfather’s stubbornness, and because part of our farm was on the right side of the mountains/border, I came into this world as an Austrian girl. I am also American, by choice and love. The love for the man I met so many decades ago, who I followed to his country, who became my husband. Whose language I learned, whose passion I share. I am an American-Austrian, an Austria-American, a female version of Schwarzenegger. I am an Austrian in America.
…
Treating people with dignity,
it’s easy with “normal people,”
as we define them socially.
Work, income, and a structured life—
that’s how it has to be, only then
are you considered worthwhile—generally speaking.
…
My barrel is full, will overflow soon, I don’t know what to do.
It’s a daily insult to my intelligence, a daily kick to my humanity.
A daily trampling of my emotions.
You have caused me great pain,
hurt and exploited me.
For eternity I have given you
whatever you needed to live.
…
I want to kill you war, forever,
not like a phoenix, that always comes back
I want to kill you war
and I don’t know how
and I don’t know why
all the people of the world
don’t join hands
to kill you war —
you the greatest killer
of them all
…
How does the song and the video make you feel?
…
I recently read a quote from the actor Denzel Washington, which most likely does not come from him at all. It doesn’t matter who said or wrote that, but he or she speaks from my heart. “With so many things coming back in style, I can’t wait until morals, respect, and intelligence become a trend again.”