12. December 2008
Weg uit Babylon – ?Essays en verhalen over culturele miscommunicatie
Away from Babylon – Essays en stories about cultural miss-communication
The European Commission designated 2008 the European Year of the Intercultural Dialogue. Kosmopolis, the Dutch institution responsible for the activities of this particular European Year in the Netherlands published the book on intercultural understanding 'Weg uit Babylon' (Away from Babylon). Today being part of a global connected community we are increasingly challenged to live together in coexistence and peace. However we all encounter smaller or larger situations of disparity and injustice based on cultural miss-understanding and disrespect.
Twenty three transnational authors contributed essays on cultural (miss-) communication caused by funny coincidences or more serious by deep rooted human habits of fear, distrust and cultural prejudices. Evert Ypma was invited to publish an essay which makes a plea for the importance of 'Meerstemmingheid' (multiple voices or perspectives) in a transcultural, hybrid social realities, in which a multitude of diasporas occurs.
Weg uit Babylon contains also contributions from Seada Nourhussen, Adriaan van Dis, Altan Erdogan, Anil Ramdas, Fouad Laroui, Ellen Ombre, Jeroen van Bergeijk, Emma Brunt, Indra Boedjarath, Margalith Kleijwegt, Rachida Azough, Arnon Grunberg, Anja Vink, Francisco van Jole, Lieve Joris, Bert Wagendorp, Hans Aarsman, Marcel Kurpershoek, Ewoud Sanders, Petra Stienen, Chris Keulemans en Ryszard Kapu?ci?ski.
Publisher: www.augustus.nl
Meerstemmigheid
Essay by Evert Ypma
Dutch text