{"id":40128,"date":"2021-04-19T07:33:26","date_gmt":"2021-04-19T05:33:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/leregardlibre.com\/?p=40128"},"modified":"2022-09-04T10:19:18","modified_gmt":"2022-09-04T08:19:18","slug":"hate-and-vengeance-will-never-be-for-me","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/leregardlibre.com\/en\/company\/hate-and-vengeance-will-never-be-for-me\/","title":{"rendered":"\u00abHate and vengeance will never be for me\u00bb.\u00bb"},"content":{"rendered":"

Le Regard Libre N\u00b0 73<\/a> - Guest column by Max Lobe<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Cameroonian-born Swiss novelist, multilingual and author of such books as 39 rue de Berne<\/em> (2013), Far from Douala<\/a><\/em> (2018) and His Phall'Excellence's Promise<\/a><\/em> (2021), publishes an opinion piece in response to the latest anti-racist... racist demonstrations. <\/strong>(see editorial by Jonas Follonier<\/a>)<\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

What a shame to think that the answer to discrimination (any kind of discrimination, but especially racism) is to become racist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My friends, this is absolutely not my choice. And believe me: as a gay black man, I know the smell of racism, hate, bitterness. My mother always told me to respond with love. It's difficult, but possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I remember an old white woman in a bar in Zurich, who asked me to return to my forests. I was not alone. My friends were shocked. The daughter (I think) of this old woman was shocked. And do you know what? I wasn't shocked. I'm used to hate. Unnecessary hate. I can smell it from a distance. No. I waited a few minutes and then, on my way to the bathroom, I stopped and took the old woman in my arms. I whispered in her ear: \u00abI'll soon be back in my forest. But it's not time yet. Hey mami!?\u00bb I laughed as I went to urinate. The old woman, a red tomato, was shocked.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If I am what I am today, it's because I prefer to laugh. Sometimes I learn to laugh at racists, homophobes, misogynists and so on. But I can't hate them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00abHate and vengeance will never be for me\u00bb.\u00bb<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

(The above French version is a translation of the original English text.<\/em>.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What a pity to think that the answer to discrimination (no matter what kind of discrimination but especially racism) is to become racists.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

My people, that's definitely not my choice. And believe me: as a gay black man, I know the smell of racism, of hate, of bitterness. My mum always taucht me to answer with love. It's difficult but possible.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I remember an old white women in a bar in Zurich who asked to go back to my forests. I wasn't alone. My friends were shocked. The daughter (I think) of that old woman was shocked. And you know what? I wasn't shocked. I'm used to hate. Useless hate. I can smell it from afar. No. I waited a few minutes and then, on my way to toilets, I stopped and hugged the old woman. I murmured in her ear: I will be back soon in my forest. But it's not yet the time. Eh mami!?\u201d I laughed on my way to pi. The red tomato old woman was shocked.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If I'm what I'm becoming today, is because I prefer to laugh. Sometimes, I learn to laugh at racists, homophobic, misogynistic, etc. I just can't hate them.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hate and revenge will never be my portion.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Photo credit: \u00a9 Niels Ackermann<\/p>\n\n\n\n