Brecht at night

Skybird · 11-15-08, 06:47 AM

This night, very early in the morning, I was called on telephone by a former colleague and lose friend with whom I shared some trips when I travelled the world. We have drifted apart since then, and he has become very political meanwhile. It turned into a little upheated discussion about the usual poltical issues we know in the forum as well, Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan. When he understood my position on war in general (=very hesitent to start one, and extremely careful about motives, but if accedpting it, fighting with all fire from hell), he thought he could counter me with this old quote by Brecht:

"Imagine there's a war and no one shows up."

What he did not know is that this quote - is completely ripped out of context. Most people do not know the quote in full. If they would, they would realise that Brecht said exactly the opposite of what his misquote is being abused for so very often.

He was quite angry after I gave him the full quote. His wonder weapon had failed. At the phone I needed to do my own translation from German to English after I searched and found it in a book, always balancing a book, a coffee and a telephone with just two hands. But I have searched for it in the web meanwhile, and found it's "official" translation. the complete quote goes like this:

Imagine there's a war and no one shows up
— then war will come to you.
Whoever stays home when the battle begins
and lets others fight for his cause
ought to watch out:
because whoever has not shared in the fight
will share in defeat.
He who wants to avoid fighting
will not once avoid the fight:
because he will fight for the cause of the enemy
who hasn't fought for his own.

Stell Dir vor, es ist Krieg und keiner geht hin - dann kommt der Krieg zu Euch! Wer zu Hause bleibt, wenn der Kampf beginnt, und läßt andere kämpfen für seine Sache, der muß sich vorsehen: Denn wer den Kampf nicht geteilt hat, der wird teilen die Niederlage. Nicht einmal Kampf vermeidet, wer den Kampf vermeiden will, denn er wird kämpfen für die Sache des Feindes, wer für seine eigene Sache nicht gekämpft hat.

Tja. So much for Brecht.

11-15-08, 06:47 AM	#1
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,615 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Brecht at night This night, very early in the morning, I was called on telephone by a former colleague and lose friend with whom I shared some trips when I travelled the world. We have drifted apart since then, and he has become very political meanwhile. It turned into a little upheated discussion about the usual poltical issues we know in the forum as well, Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan. When he understood my position on war in general (=very hesitent to start one, and extremely careful about motives, but if accedpting it, fighting with all fire from hell), he thought he could counter me with this old quote by Brecht: "Imagine there's a war and no one shows up." What he did not know is that this quote - is completely ripped out of context. Most people do not know the quote in full. If they would, they would realise that Brecht said exactly the opposite of what his misquote is being abused for so very often. He was quite angry after I gave him the full quote. His wonder weapon had failed. At the phone I needed to do my own translation from German to English after I searched and found it in a book, always balancing a book, a coffee and a telephone with just two hands. But I have searched for it in the web meanwhile, and found it's "official" translation. the complete quote goes like this: Imagine there's a war and no one shows up — then war will come to you. Whoever stays home when the battle begins and lets others fight for his cause ought to watch out: because whoever has not shared in the fight will share in defeat. He who wants to avoid fighting will not once avoid the fight: because he will fight for the cause of the enemy who hasn't fought for his own. Stell Dir vor, es ist Krieg und keiner geht hin - dann kommt der Krieg zu Euch! Wer zu Hause bleibt, wenn der Kampf beginnt, und läßt andere kämpfen für seine Sache, der muß sich vorsehen: Denn wer den Kampf nicht geteilt hat, der wird teilen die Niederlage. Nicht einmal Kampf vermeidet, wer den Kampf vermeiden will, denn er wird kämpfen für die Sache des Feindes, wer für seine eigene Sache nicht gekämpft hat. Tja. So much for Brecht. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert. Last edited by Skybird; 11-15-08 at 06:50 AM.