Marnix Rueb - Haagse Harry 3, Dachetnie!! (01-086)

I'm afraid it is a nearly impossible task to explain this phenomena to anybody here. Haagse Harry is a cartoon comic, this is the third book about him, in over a decade. His humour is brilliant, the problem is, you have to be from the Hague to really appreciate it. I'm not, therefore I'm in trouble reading this book. It is not written in proper Dutch, but in the dialect from the Hague. For example the title 'Dachetnie' is 'Dacht het niet" in proper Dutch, 'I don't think so', in english. Nowhere in this book it is easily visible what is happening. You have to look well to get an idea. Harry's T-shirt are legendary, not two of them have got the same text, all of the shirts could make a 'famous quotations' book someday. Apart from that you have to read the adverts on the buses and busstops, the names on buildings and books, and all the conversations from all characters, who without any exception (not even Argentine future queen of the Netherlands, Maxima), are in the Hague dialect.

The funny thing about the dialect is, that it is colourful. An outsider might be offended, as every second word is a swearword, but their is no bad intention. So a son of a bitch, could be meant positively. A bit like street slang in other languages, in other parts of the world. Harry, the main character, has an opinion on everything, especially on what should happen in his world, his city. And in between the joints, the arguments and the overdose of beer, he is not afraid to let the world know what he thinks.

Great series, luckily not milked as so many other hits. I can wait another couple of years for part 4. As long as the quality remains the same.

I don't get it

It's probably me again, call me ignorant, call me stupid, but there are still a few things I don't get. The Americans are bombing for over a week now. They have hit a lot of strategic points of the Taliban. Don't get me wrong, I do not think the Taliban is a great organisation, but they were involved only sideways weren't they? Apart from that the Americans have managed to hit one of the last civilian areas in Kabul, a UN-quarter, a red cross store and a hospital. So are they co-operating in destructing the country? Like a decade and some years ago, when they were training the military leaders of the Taliban?

Another thing is that Bush won't stop until Bin Laden is taken. The other day I read a small article in which I was told that the Taliban, for the second time had offered to extradict Bin Laden, though not to the US. FOR THE SECOND TIME. I have been reading the papers reasonably well, seen the news most days, read LJ every day, but I haven't even heard the first time. So why do these bombings have to continue? Why does the US think they have the sole right to Bin Laden? Wouldn't it be much more appropriate to have him in an independent court, for instance the peace tribunal in The Hague? My personal opinion, which might not matter much, but I'll give it anyway, is that the chance on a fair trial in the US for Bin Laden are slim. Were I the Taliban, I'd say exactly the same. Guarantee a fair trial and we'll get him for you.

Funny detail: The US has never recognized the Taliban as the official government in Afghanistan. So who can they negotiate with, should this be an option?

I've lost it again.