Valdehouse

facebooking

Oh look, I’m facebooking! Album’s called ‘krimskräms’n törtldovs’n da maa‘

Leaving Facebook

A friend told me about Facebook in 2007, whereupon I registered an account. I was happily welcomed by old friends who had already been members for a while. I liked it from the start, and my presence was appreciated. Since … Continue reading →

Des Hommes et des Dieux

Des Hommes et des Dieux (2010) IMDb

Assassination of the monks of Tibhirine

Quote from film (Swedish):

Om det någon dag skulle hända att jag, och det kan ske i dag, faller offer för terrorismen som drabbat utlänningar här vill jag att mitt samfund, min kyrka och min familj ska minnas att jag gav mitt liv åt Gud och detta land och att de accepterar att allt livs Mästare inte är främmande för en sådan brutal hädanfärd och att min våldsamma död, likt många andra förpassas till glömska och anonymitet. Jag har levt länge nog för att vara en medbrottsling till ondskan som verkar segra i världen och som tveklöst kommer att förgöra mig. Jag skulle aldrig önska mig en sådan död. Jag skulle aldrig kunna glädjas åt att folket som jag älskar urskiljningslöst skulle anklagas för mitt mord. Jag vet hur man över hela världen har föraktat det här folket och hur karikatyrerna av islam främjat en viss typ av islamism. Det här landet, och islam, är för mig något annat. Det är en kropp och en själ. Min död kommer att ge dem rätt som kallat mig naiv och idealistisk men de ska veta att jag nu fått min brinnande nyfikenhet stillad och, om Gud vill, ska jag försänka min blick i Herrens och beskåda Hans islamska barn såsom Han ser dem. I detta tack, när allt är sagt om mitt liv vill jag givetvis omfatta gårdagens och dagens vänner och även du, vän i min sista stund som inte visste vad du gjorde. Ja, även till dig vill jag tillägna detta tack och farväl som du har förutsett. Må vi mötas igen likt lyckliga tjuvar i paradiset om Gud så vill, Han som är fader till oss båda. Amen. Inshallah.

English:

Should it ever befall me, and it could happen today, to be a victim of the terrorism swallowing up all foreigners here, I would like my community, my church, my family, to remember that my life was given to God and to his country. That the Unique Master of all life was no stranger to this brutal departure. And that my death is the same as so many other violent ones, consigned to the apathy of oblivion. I’ve lived enough to know, I am complicit in the evil that, alas, prevails over the world and the evil that will smite me blindly. I could never desire such a death. I could never feel gladdened that these people I love be accused randomly of my murder. I know the contempt felt for the people here, indiscriminately. And I know how Islam is distorted by a certain Islamism. This country, and Islam, for me are something different. They’re a body and a soul. My death, of course, will quickly vindicate those who call me naïve or idealistic, but they must know that I will be freed of a burning curiosity and, God willing, will immerse my gaze in the Father’s and contemplate with him his children of Islam as he sees them. This thank you which encompasses my entire life includes you, of course, friends of yesterday and today, and you too, friend of last minute, who knew not what you were doing. Yes, to you as well I address this thank you and this farewell which you envisaged. May we meet again, happy thieves in Paradise, if it pleases God the Father of us both. Amen. Insha’Allah.

Olga, Millesgården

Accompanied by a new friend I visited Millesgården yesterday. Having just paid the entrance fee and stepped onto the beautiful terrace overlooking a vast industrial area of Stockholm I stopped …“NO, wait a second, not THAT Milles!?? Not ‘the creator … Continue reading →

The power of the nude

Thursday 9th June I left work early because the sudden heat wave scorching Stockholm was severely  stupefying me. Also, we had left our key with pest control who needed access to the building’s every apartment in order to do battle … Continue reading →

World Champions of Painting – Banksy

Second post in this series of three, four or five. Go HERE for the introduction. The no. 2 painter, all categories: Banksy When you read about Banksy on Wikipedia you’ll find under ‘movement’: Anti-war, Anti-capitalism, Anti-fascism, Anti-imperialism, Anti-authoritarianism, Anarchism, Nihilism, … Continue reading →

breaking the blokk

Relinquishing sloth. Stage One: preparation. For this you will need: one flat which you will not leave; one easel; beans and corn, one portion of; frozen pizza, one, for consumption warm; ground coffee, espresso, one packet of; Magnesia, Milk of, … Continue reading →

#paintingmarathon

I’ll be participating in a #paintingmarathon on Sunday. My friend and colleague Titti Hammarling here in Stockholm, and her Twitter friend Martina Anagnostou in Sudan, did one last week. Others joined in and it seems like good fun, a cool … Continue reading →

I heart NUG

Hunger (2008), Bobby Sands

Michael Fassbender as Bobby Sands, 5:07 minute clip ( IMDb )