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Günter Grass:'What Must Be Said Günter Grass: 'What Must Be Said'
(about 1 hour later)
What must be saidWhat must be said
Why have I kept silent, held back so long,Why have I kept silent, held back so long,
on something openly practiced inon something openly practiced in
war games, at the end of which those of uswar games, at the end of which those of us
who survive will at best be footnotes?who survive will at best be footnotes?
It's the alleged right to a first strikeIt's the alleged right to a first strike
that could destroy an Iranian peoplethat could destroy an Iranian people
subjugated by a loudmouthsubjugated by a loudmouth
and gathered in organized rallies,and gathered in organized rallies,
because an atom bomb may be beingbecause an atom bomb may be being
developed within his arc of power.developed within his arc of power.
Yet why do I hesitate to nameYet why do I hesitate to name
that other land in whichthat other land in which
for years—although kept secret—for years—although kept secret—
a growing nuclear power has existeda growing nuclear power has existed
beyond supervision or verification,beyond supervision or verification,
subject to no inspection of any kind?subject to no inspection of any kind?
This general silence on the facts,This general silence on the facts,
before which my own silence has bowed,before which my own silence has bowed,
seems to me a troubling lie, and compelsseems to me a troubling lie, and compels
me toward a likely punishmentme toward a likely punishment
the moment it's flouted:the moment it's flouted:
the verdict "Anti-semitism" falls easily.the verdict "Anti-semitism" falls easily.
But now that my own country,But now that my own country,
brought in time after timebrought in time after time
for questioning about its own crimes,for questioning about its own crimes,
profound and beyond compare,profound and beyond compare,
is said to be the departure point,is said to be the departure point,
(on what is merely business,(on what is merely business,
though easily declared an act of reparation)though easily declared an act of reparation)
for yet another submarine equippedfor yet another submarine equipped
to transport nuclear warheadsto transport nuclear warheads
to Israel, where not a single atom bombto Israel, where not a single atom bomb
has yet been proved to exist, with fear alonehas yet been proved to exist, with fear alone
the only evidence, I'll say what must be said.the only evidence, I'll say what must be said.
But why have I kept silent till now?But why have I kept silent till now?
Because I thought my own origins,Because I thought my own origins,
Tarnished by a stain that can never be removed,Tarnished by a stain that can never be removed,
meant I could not expect Israel, a landmeant I could not expect Israel, a land
to which I am, and always will be, attached,to which I am, and always will be, attached,
to accept this open declaration of the truth.to accept this open declaration of the truth.
Why only now, grown old,Why only now, grown old,
and with what ink remains, do I say:and with what ink remains, do I say:
Israel's atomic power endangersIsrael's atomic power endangers
an already fragile world peace?an already fragile world peace?
Because what must be saidBecause what must be said
may be too late tomorrow;may be too late tomorrow;
and because—burdend enough as Germans—and because—burdend enough as Germans—
we may be providing material for a crimewe may be providing material for a crime
that is foreseeable, so that our complicitythat is foreseeable, so that our complicity
wil not be expunged by anywil not be expunged by any
of the usual excuses.of the usual excuses.
And granted: I've broken my silenceAnd granted: I've broken my silence
because I'm sick of the West's hypocrisy;because I'm sick of the West's hypocrisy;
and I hope too that many may be freedand I hope too that many may be freed
from their silence, may demandfrom their silence, may demand
that those responsible for the open dangerthat those responsible for the open danger
we face renounce the use of force,we face renounce the use of force,
may insist that the governments ofmay insist that the governments of
both Iran and Israel allow an international authorityboth Iran and Israel allow an international authority
free and open inspection offree and open inspection of
the nuclear potential and capability of both.the nuclear potential and capability of both.
No other course offers helpNo other course offers help
to Israelis and Palestinians alike,to Israelis and Palestinians alike,
to all those living side by side in emnityto all those living side by side in emnity
in this region occupied by illusions,in this region occupied by illusions,
and ultimately, to all of us.and ultimately, to all of us.
--Günter Grass--Günter Grass
Translated by Breon MitchellTranslated by Breon Mitchell