I HAVE BEEN working for years as a journalist in conflict zones, following the destinies of millions of migrants along deadly routes. I have seen corpses of men in the streets of Mosul in Iraq, and bodies of children in the rubble, some with toys next to them. I have met mothers and fathers grieving for their sons killed in front of their eyes. And throughout the conflicts that I have covered—the war against Islamic State, the civil war in Libya, car bombings in Kabul, jihadi attacks in Tunisia, the coup in Cairo, the bombing of Gaza, and many more—I have been in close proximity to death.
Every time I returned home, to my son and family in Italy, I clearly felt two things. That I was a witness to the most extraordinary events in recent history, and that I was lucky to be a citizen of the secure part of the world. Each time I returned, one question would accompany me home: How do I describe the fear of death and the desperation of hunger to those fortunate enough to have never been in a war zone?
That question made me work on my language. I equipped myself with words and phrases that would help Italians understand something that they never have had to experience. Sometimes I succeeded in this, sometimes I failed. War is a strange monster that defies description.
This is the reason why I became agitated when I heard newspapers and channels describing the Covid-19 pandemic as war. I think the use of such metaphors highlights the limits of our language in emergency situations. It does not show us the shortcomings of our health system, and it does not describe the thing that scares us the most: the unpredictability of death.
Denne historien er fra April 05, 2020-utgaven av THE WEEK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra April 05, 2020-utgaven av THE WEEK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
A golden girl
One of India's most formidable beauties passed away earlier this month. The odd thing is she would absolutely hate this obituary; she hated being written about and avoided publicity for all of her nine decades. Indira Aswani was 93 when she died. But anyone who encountered her, even briefly, was in such awe of her grace and poise, and one could not but remember her forever.
The interest in wine is growing delightfully in India
The renowned British wine writer and television presenter Jancis Robinson, 74, recently came to Delhi and Mumbai to reacquaint herself with India's wine industry. This was the Robinson's fourth visit to India; the last one was seven years ago. On this trip, Robinson and her husband, restaurateur Nicholas Lander, were hosted by the Taj Hotels and Sonal Holland, India's only Master of Wine.
United in the states
Indian-Americans coming together under the Democratic umbrella could get Harris over the line in key battlegrounds
COVER DRIVE
Usage-driven motor insurance policies offer several benefits
GDP as the only measure of progress is illogical
Dasho Karma Ura, one of the world's leading happiness experts, has guided Bhutan's unique gross national happiness (GNH) project. He uses empirical data to show that money cannot buy happiness in all circumstances, rather it is family and health that have the strongest positive effect on happiness. Excerpts from an interview:
India is not a controlling big brother
Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay considers India a benevolent elder sibling as the \"big brotherly attitude\" is happily missing from bilateral ties. He thinks the relationship shared by the two countries has become a model of friendship not just for the region, but for the entire world. \"India's attitude is definitely not of a big brother who is controlling and does not allow the little brother to blossom and grow,\" says Tobgay in an exclusive interview with THE WEEK.
Comrade with no foes
Lal Salaam, Comrade Yechury-you were quite a guy!
Pinning down saffron
In her first political bout, Vinesh Phogat rides on the anti-BJP sentiment across Haryana
MAKE IN MANIPUR
Home-made rockets and weapons from across the border are escalating the conflict
SAHEB LOSES STEAM
Coalition dynamics and poor electoral prospects continue to diminish Ajit Pawar's political stock