Telltale 98


I Just finished reading a book. Not a major achievement in itself. But I finished it in one day. And I read it, whilst the season and the summer are still raging on. Also remarkable. From which you can conclude that I normally only read books on cold grey winter-evenings, snug up in the boat, next to the diesel heater..... Correct. I don't read that much...am too busy with experiencing and sucking up REAL life, instead of reading about it in books/novels, romances or whatever other kind of books there are.

So, THIS particular book caught me. And guess what, it is complete in line with what I was writing about a week ago in Telltales 97. The objectivity of news/media ..... Or rather the lack of it. And what that lack of objectivity means in forms of the enormous consequences for our today’s society and opinions. And the risks that come with that. HUGE and dangerous and there is nothing we can do about it...... even more frightening.

This book is written by a Dutch journalist, who spends 5 years working in the Middle East, mostly in Arab/Muslim areas and a part in Israel. He gives a rather loud wake-up call. He clearly describes WHY the media is no longer objective, WHY the jews/americans control their media so well and why the Arabs/Muslims have NOT succeeded in that task. And what far-reaching consequences that ALL has. I hope the book is available in English, but I would doubt it. ISBN number 978 90 5759 316 1, written by Joris Luyendijk. If it is NOT translated into English yet, I think we should start complaining at the publishing house. It is a MUST read, in my honest -but rather strong- opinion. Visit www.jorisluyendijk.nl for all demands for an English version of the book.

So, here again, I am sitting on Patmos island in a beautiful peaceful bay. I arrived here some three days ago, after I said farewell (with difficulties) from Mykonos. I had a fantastic solo sail from Mykonos to Patmos with a following wind and I spend most of the time (8 hours!!) in the hammock on the foredeck, while Manolo (the autopilot) was doing the work. Thinking.... about life, myself and the great last week, I just had with the "BOYS". I now have to consult a doctor, for I have an RSI-thumb, from all the GSM-texts from them and v.v. (and that for someone who hates mobile phones). But it was heartfelt and warming to see that even they enjoyed and miss this life. Thanks guys, not in the least for leaving the book from Joris Luyendijk behind. Somehow, it had to be like this.

The last four days, I slept a lot. Partly due to a major lack of sleep over the last weeks in Mykonos, partly because there is nothing else to do. But at some stage one is rested. And one does not need any more sleep. And than the dreaming starts. OR as my father has been claiming for the last twenty years: one only dreams if one is fully rested and allows the brain to reach a deeper stage. A stage not reached if one only sleeps, just for the sake of catching up on one's needed rest. And I must admit, I have been dreaming a lot lately. And in my dreams I travel a lot, meet many people, from the present and from the past. It is a joy to wake up these days and remembering parts of those dreams. And dreams are the beginning of thoughts, he also claims. So, than the real thinking starts..... About life, past, friends, experiences, things to do, etc

So my real life?? Have no clue where it will lead, nor intention to give that any particular direction. Honest. I don't even know what I will be doing in two months from now, nor any urge to fill that in. Carpe diem. Quite strange, as I don't meet that many people that want or can live such a life. And I have to keep explaining -or defending- that. Most people worry about pensions, money, their car, house, the next holiday, the kids, etc. They plan constantly. Something I have stopped doing ... somewhere .... some time ago.

And I can even tell you when that moment was. When I stopped being obsessed about organising the future, MY future and the way I wanted that. It was Rwanda, while I worked there for Doctors without Borders (Medecins sans Frontieres). It was the things that happened there to me personally (NOT the fight between Hutu's and Tutsi's) AND ABOVE ALL the people I met there.
It was several moments that just followed each other and started to change me, forming a pattern in my mind and planted a seed: Carpe Diem.

It was after I (and thus MSF) had been robbed again (third of fourth time, I don’t remember anymore). This time a 16-year-old boy held a Kalashnikov at my forehead in my own office, to force me to open the safe. Over the tip of my own nose I could see his finger tremble on the trigger so vigorously, that I thought: "Relax boy, I will open the safe, just don't get nervous and pull that trigger.... and let nobody startle him, please??" Carpe Diem.
It was driving from Kigali to Ruhengeri (120 miles) one day at a godforsaken early hour (I had some meeting there) and my driver stopped midway. On the top of a mountain (Rwanda is compared with the Switzerland of Africa). And we looked around. The thick morning fog/clouds were coming up from the valleys and we were just above them. Sticking through these clouds, that covered the earth like a blanket, one could see other green, fertile hilltops popping out, in a distance...all around us. Like islands in a sea. It was the most breathtaking view of my life- and still is-. The horror of that country with its genocide -and my reason for being there in the first place- and than that miracle moment of beauty, serenity. And only the people around you, i.e. Rachel and my driver to share it with. Carpe Diem.
It was walking around in the biggest refugee camps mankind had ever seen... in Goma, Bukavu and Tanzania.... But I did not see the misery, as I also saw people having fun again. A first (local) bar being opened, music being played and people laughing and dancing amidst all this misery, plastic sheeting, hunger, sickness and dying people, etc. I saw people - that only a few days before had escaped death- having fun again, laugh again, live life!. In a new place and with no worldly possessions, as they had taken only the things they could carry. Carpe Diem in its most basic form.

The 8 working years in Africa - and especially the eventual three years in Rwanda- learnt and taught me the most valuable lesson in my life; Carpe Diem and what does one really need to be happy?? And what is happiness, anyway? Thank God and Allah that we all define that in a different way. Cause if everyone would see it my way, it would be rather busy here in the bay in Patmos, where I am quite happy for the moment ........................................ as I was in Rwanda.

I go to bed with the knowledge that Joris Luyendijk has written a book that will never be a bestseller, as the WORLD does not want to know the truth, or can not handle it?? The more one realises what Joris writes, says and proofs, the more reason for me to...... CARPE DIEM. Plan as much as you want ........ no use ....... as you are not in control anyway. THEY -the system- are, of which you are a part. Keep up the good work ..... and let me enjoy tomorrows sail to Kos.

Africa could teach us all something.

AHOY,

Roland
www.sail-in-style.com