Indeed an impressive Army Surplus Shop. Every boys’ dream.

I like the boots. When will you leave?

waarom?

Waarom ga je naar Afghanistan en Irak en wat doe je daar allemaal ? Zijn de mensen daar blij je te ontvangen en hoe stel je jezelf voor ?

When I was a kid my older brothers frequently went shopping (and took me with them) in the 'stock américain' : a store with used military clothing etc.
'The fortress of Breendonk' was just behind the corner.

I just got back from England where prince Harry is now a hero simply for having shot at the Taleban. Personally, I find this new, collective and global adoration of the army questionable. Just as questionable as the reasons behind why people don't mind being body-searched and barked at at airports. Arnon, please explain why you find it necessary to add to glorification of war?
By the way. I miss:
Batta
Ilanit
Rutger
and even Victor.

Noa

You seem to miss only the people who showed agression to Arnon.

Noa

I don’t add anymore to the glorification of war than a vegetarian visiting a slaughterhouse adds to the glorification of slaughtering animals.
Of course those who eat the animals and who have never been to the slaughterhouse might feel morally superior to those who work in the slaughterhouse.
This specific tendency well-known among humans is sometimes referred to as: hypocrisy.
And be aware: if you are on your way to fight glorification of war you have to burn at least as many books as the Nazi’s did.

@Arnon, I was expecting this kind of answer, yet it still disappoints me as I hoped you would shed some light on your view of your undertakings with our armies. I thought wrong, I should've know better by now: your reactions are disappointing. I am well aware of how stupidly naieve, passive and immoral I am, this is exactly why I asked you the questions I asked. iIwas hoping to be convinced.
Perhaps you don't take me seriously enough for debate, fine too.
I am in no way taking a moral superior position and as said many times before, am well aware of my personal hypocrisies. But does this mean noone can ever enter into a discussion about moral issues unless we first point out how hypocritical we ourselves are before we do? If I am not gay, does this mean am I never allowed to write about or consider what it feels like to be gay? If that is the case, then there would be no books at all, inlcuding those about war or soldiers. As said before, I mentioned you should read Orwell's work, specifically 'Down and Out in Paris in London'. Why? Because he was critiqued for glorifying poverty and would never fully understand what real poverty is as he always had the elitist back-up to turn to, the real poor never had that. Quid pro quo.
It's becoming tiresome to have to play the 'slimste van de klas' game with you, yes, we know your the smartest and bestest and wisest. Exactly my point, this is whyI'm asking you what I'm asking you. So again, please enlighten us stupidly naive and hypocritcal mortals as to why you're fascinated by the army?
@David, no, you're mistaken: not the aggressive people. I miss the ones that brought some spark to this site (and sincerity and even love, for that matter).

@Noa

I do understand some of your frustration, however regarding this specific answer I do think Arnon gave away more than just what he wrote. Doesn't he always? My experience is that he says a lot between the lines. Try to interpet his answer less in a litteral way and more in the way that suits AG. Expectations are always the road to dissapointments.

@Natasza, it seems you've been able to read Arnon's mind between his lines, then perhaps you're willing to share with me what you think he answered?
By the way: I'm not venting frustrations, I'm simply posting my honest reaction to Arnon's evasiveness. Perhaps you could also tell me that how come everytime someone shows some sincerity up here, that person is labeled all kinds of stuff ranging from aggressive to frustrated. Is there a rule to this forum that the tone is to be slapstick?

Noa

You were not asking a question, you were stating that I was glorifying war and somehow connected my so-called glorification of war to a recent trip of yours to the UK. If you want to know why I am interested in the institution of the army (by no means my only interest) I advise you to read my articles about my trips to Afghanistan (twice) and more recently my piece on “In the valley of Elah.” If you have not read these pieces yet Johannes can make them available to you. Before you ask a question based on an assumption, think a little bit longer about the assumption. If you are interested in getting an answer that is. And by the way if you really think that “why do you find it necessary to add to the glorification of war?” is just a question I urge you to take a course “Handling Incivility Including Your Own” or maybe a course “Asking Rhetorical Questions and still Expecting an Answer.”

@Noa
Yes, please read Arnon’s “In the valley of Elah”. It is about insight, not about promoting war. The two are all too easily mixed up, but you are intelligent enough to understand that very well.
On the contrary, that article would upset politicians – they will ignore it.

Oh come on Arnon, you should know me by now. I knew your toes were long, but I doubted they could be as long as the ones on the slipper-picture.
So you disagree, you say you're not glorifying war. End of discussion then. Let me explain why I felt you were: I admit, I did not read each and every article of yours on this topic because to be honest, nonfictional stories about wars and soldiers bore me.
I felt that in various of your other, probablt less significant (in your eyes), articles on this topic you were glorifying war, or at least the individual soldiers of war, or to be more precise: I felt you did so in one of your Parool letters on this topic, and in various entries on this blog. So shoot me, or throw a puppy dog across a valley
(see this wonderful soldier in action: http://www.dumpert.nl/mediabase/43462/9fb16ab3/us_soldaat_gooit_puppy.html)
but don't be so damn angry when all I'm doing is expressing an opinion based on your own writing.s Is it me who made the wrong assumptions or you who gave the wring impressions? Have you considered that sometimes your writing may contain some inconsistencies (and that it's fine to me if they do as inconsistency is less boring than consistency don;t you agree?).Anyway, without having entered debate, I am now to conclude that you are not glorifying war. Good.

PS - and who's to teach those courses? I'd gladly sign up for one given by you, as long as you sign up for a course in "How to make love, not war."

Noa

If you are bored by a certain subject – you are entitled to boredom of course – and for that reason you don’t feel like informing yourself properly, you should have the decency to avoid commenting on this particular subject. That I utterly disagree with your opinion is something you could have concluded after reading my first comment on this matter yesterday. Probably reading well cannot be expected from those who suffer from boredom. I don’t take the accusation lightly that I add to the glorification of war. Nobody should take this accusation lightly. That in your opinion it all comes down to stepping on my toes is a proof that you yourself don’t take your accusations seriously. It’s all small talk; it’s an attempt at making conversation. Well, I pray that you will master the art of conversation soon.

Alright maestro, you win. I shall as of now be a good girl and do my homework properly next time before asking (rhetorical) questions. I must say though, I'm extremely relieved you don't take the remark that I felt you were glorifying war lightly. And if I'm not mistaken, many others with me may well be relieved to know that you feel that way. If anything, you can thank me for that. My ignorance may have voiced the opinion of the (ignorant) masses therefore giving you the chance to passionately disagree. On top of it, my careless statement has now prepared you for similarly careless statements about your interest in the troops in the future.
Wasn't it you who found boredom every individual's right, if not an art? Anyway, 'm not bored of wars. Like said, non-fictional articles about wars (no matter who wrote them) bore me. Your novels don't.

Noa

It is not about winning.
Once again I don’t take it lightly when somebody calls me unfoundedly a warmonger.
You don’t have to thank me for taking you seriously.

Well then, I shall look forward to reading your findings on Iraq.
Is there any way Johannes/Sander could post them on this site? Perhaps an extra link/category, a new page with 'recent atricles'? I'm not sure I'll be able to find Dutch newspapers in Rio or do the newspapers themselves publish your articles online?

Noa

Don’t feel obliged to read anything you don’t feel like reading, please.
I think I made myself clear.
If you are interested in certain articles I’m sure that Johannes would be happy to help you.

Articles

Noa, just send me an e-mail if you would like to read something.

Johannes

I don't get this.
What exactly should I read?

Arnon, I addressed my comment to Noa.

Johannes

Apologies for the misunderstanding.