Don’t Save Me

by Colson on Nov. 17, 2008, under art, music
Comments so far:3

Last weekend he won the most prestigious national prize in his profession: the Poelifinario-Cabaretprijs. If you don’t believe me check it here (well, it helps if you can read Dutch). His name is Maarten van Roozendaal and he is one of my favorites – which I can prove also. On this site I enthusiastically reviewed his performances here, here and here (pay no attention to the atavar, I abused my daughter’s picture).

Now I think it’s about time I let the world know what the high standard of some of our national singer-songwriters is.  Okay, I should add: in my opinion.  But the jury that awarded the prize to Maarten van Roozendaal also said that he  ‘laughs at the face of our derailed civilization’ and does so awfully poetical , nicely cynical and yet very sensitive. Well then, who am I to contradict them. Read More

Letter to SBY

by Colson on Feb. 11, 2008, under indonesia, politics
Comments so far:7

sby

Your Excellency,

We know yours is a tough job.
So we were really happy over here, when you were voted in office- that is me and my daughters Ambon and Bali. There you were: an able and moderate president as a guarantee for the young democracy.

Now presidents usually get a lot of flak. You are no exception to the rule, I presume. But being a former military man, it’s no wonder you feel tempted to fire back every now and then. That’s just human. These newspapermen and women can be a real pain in the ass. That’s why, I think, you, according to IM, asked the press to practice more self censorship. To be less of a watchdog, and more of a lap dog of the government.

At least that’s what you have seemed to have told 500 journalists at the Freedom of the Press Day, the 9th of February.

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