Facts and opinions
The earth is round, the idea that it should be flat marginal. It will not prevail any more than the notion that the sun circles around the earth. Now, nobody is too insignificant to have a point of view. Such is the essence of democracy, in which, as Albert Hofmann once aptly remarked, everyone has the right to his or her opinion, no matter how unqualified. Nobody realized the prophetic character of this bon mot at the time but nowadays all kinds of groupings entertain absurd ideas that they are selling us as the truth. In addition to arbitrary convictions they also perpetrate dangerous beliefs, which is why the public expression of extremist opinions is punished in Switzerland: anyone who calls for hatred and/or racism is not allowed a voice. Virtual hatred is harder to contain, and the rough and tabloid-like tone in the social media difficult to endure. I’m basically interested in all voices. But political propaganda and discussions that stir people up against each other and lead to the most confusing insinuations, attacks and insults? No, thanks. We live in a consensual reality, a network of perception we all weave together – let us not get caught up in its virtual loops but rather be active ourselves!
With conviction,
Susanne G. Seiler
Autobiography
this is the story of my life
each word totally untruthful fact
each memory unhappening exactly
almost not at all the way i said it did
it’s all un in here
permanently
writ on sand
faint tracings
of a fully empty life
in clear, invisible detail
hidden in plain sight
to lie or not to lie
is not the question
even the lies that i might tell
are true
j. morley