Yauch- interview in Musikexpress

[Rockable]

There's a one-page interview about religion with Adam in the current Musikexpress in Germany. The picture to it is kinda cool, too, so it would be nice if somebody could scan it and post it here.

If somebody of you is interested in the interview but doesn't understand German, I can try to translate it and put it here.

[Michelle*s_Farm]

There's a one-page interview about religion with Adam in the current Musikexpress in Germany. The picture to it is kinda cool, too, so it would be nice if somebody could scan it and post it here.

If somebody of you is interested in the interview but doesn't understand German, I can try to translate it and put it here.

That would be very kind of you. Thanks!

[Laver1969]

Please translate and post it please.

[jennyb]

...interview about religion with Adam ...

:confused:

[Rockable]

:confused:

The interview has the general topic "religion". Musikexpress sometimes has interviews with special people on one general topic, especially, if these people have interesting views, like our Adam. ;)

I will try to translate it later on today but no criticism on gramatical mistakes, PLEASE! :o

[Rockable]

2005 Dec.- Musikexpress


ME: Do you think that religion plays an important part in today's politics?
AY: hm... I think so. I have the impression that religion influences the American government in a really bad way.

ME: Do religious philosophies have a place in politics?
AY: That depends, but it can work. A good example is the Tibetan government: Many of the political leaders are working by the Buddhist principle to treat every living creature with respect. A good system. If you reduce religion on such basic points and act according to them, good things can happen. But most of the time religious philosophies are misinterpreted. And that can have terrible results.

ME: You met the Dalai Lama who is the highest religious authority in Tibet and head of State in one person. A very radical concept.
AY: Yes. And in my opinion, this works for some areas but doesn't work for others. I talked to him a few times but I don't remember about what. He is very charismatic but it's hard to explain what makes him so impressive.

ME: After a conversation with George W. Bush the Palestinean politician Nabil Shat quoted the US- President with "I'm on a mission from God. God told me: George, go and find those terrorists in Afghanistan! And I did. Then God told me: George, make an end to the tyranny in Iraq. And I did."
Is Bush really serious about this?
AY: Yes. If you have an idiot like Bush sitting in the White House, a religious and right-winged lunatic, you can think that his political decisions are influenced by his religious beliefs.

ME: But is this sincere faith?
AY: Oh yeah. That's sincere. Of course, Hitler was sincere in a way, too. But that doesn't mean that you can't be a lunatic at the same time. That man is definitely not sane. And he does have very strange religious beliefs...

ME: ...but many people can identify with his beliefs.
AY: There are so many crazy people in this country. (laughs)

ME: Why is it so important for so many people to have a religious President?
AY: (long pause) I don't understand it. I can hardly believe he was re-elected. Though it's a different question if he was really re-elected by a majority. But why is he still so popular? That's confusing to me.

ME: Do people hope that a religious President has morals?
AY: Maybe people like it if everything is so easy. Bush can explain the world to them: Everything is good or bad. USA: good. Terrorists: bad. That's tempting.

ME: Many Rappers aren't too different to George W. Bush when it comes to name-dropping of God. Why do so many HipHop-stars use every chance to talk about God?
AY: (laughs) Interesting question. I have no idea.

ME: Some Rappers like Ice Cube or KRS-One are committed to the organisation " Nation of Islam".
AY: That's correct. But I don't know much about that, though I grew up in an Arabic part of Brooklyn. The mosque was right around the corner.

ME: "Nation of Islam"-members are sometimes criticised for anti-semitic comments. Professor Griff of Public Enemy, who was close to this organisation, said in an interview with The Washington Times in 1989 that "the majority of the Jews is responsible for the majority of shit" that's going on in the world.
AY: Yeah, that was unbelievable. We were on tour with Public Enemy at that time and friends with Griff. Actually, I still have friendly contact with him.

ME: Did you ever talk about this?
AY: No. And who knows what he really did say? Maybe the press misrepresented that.

ME: Do you have Muslim friends?
AY: Yes. That's not unusual in New York.

ME: Muslims have to fight many prejudices since 9/11. Do you know what that's like as a Jew?
AY: After the attacks people from the Middle-East had to cope with that a lot. And yes, I sometimes feel tendencies of antisemitism. Very underlying. But that's very rare in New York.

ME: Do you identify with Judaism?
AY: I don't know. Culturally, yes. My mother's family is jewish and we had some traditions. But I never studied it. Adrock and Mike don't really know much about the religious contents of Judaism, either.

ME: You were in the Quaker- school "Brooklyn friends" that is said to teach Quaker- values. What does that mean?
AY: Nonviolence and compassion have been main topics. And in the morning, there were "silent gatherings", a kind of meditation.

ME: Do you still meditate?
AY: Sometimes. Not as frequent as I should.

ME: What school didn't teach you that well was reading and writing...
AY: I don't know if the system is responsible for that or me. I can handle it but don't call me if it's about editing a book...(laughs)

[PaddyBoy]

Thanks Rockable!

[Michelle*s_Farm]

Thanks, interesting interview.

[Hello_nasty]

Thanks, interesting interview.

Yeah, Christianity is a "wierd religious belief"... [/sarcasm]

Yauch needs to give his head a shake.

[Extra Cheese]

Yeah, Christianity is a "wierd religious belief"... [/sarcasm]

Yauch needs to give his head a shake.

I agree.

kind of

with one of his responses he definitely came off like he couldnt understand people's interest and dedication with religion.

"And he does have very strange religious beliefs..." no bush doesnt, not really. he has the basic beliefs that all who subscribe to christianity have. and if anyone claims to be religious or follow the bible then they share the same beliefs as the president. The problem isnt his faith or his beliefs, the problem is that as president of the country he hasnt lived by his oath of serving the country according to the constitution, he's letting his faith dictate what he does and thats why he has done a terrible job.


"ME: ...but many people can identify with his beliefs.
AY: There are so many crazy people in this country."

this response is a head scratcher. Given his history and background its obvious that MCA isnt trying to insult anyone or criticize anyone's faith but maybe his initial reaction to the interviewer didnt have much thought given to it and he spoke too soon without comtemplating his answer. People arent crazy for idenitfying with Bush's religious beliefs, I would imagine just about all those who consider themselves true christians share many religious beliefs with him.

[Rockable]

just about all those who consider themselves true christians share many religious beliefs with him.
I know you don't want to insult anybody but you gotta be more careful, then. There are so many different types of christians, how can you say what they think in general? I mean, Bush is part of a christian group that is totally unknown where I live. I'm Catholic, which makes me christian, too, I guess. But I don't think that Bush is on a mission from God. I don't even believe that God ever said one single word to Bush.
And I think that's what Yauch was referring to: Bush's strange beliefs that God told him to start a war. You sort of put his answer out of the context.

Anyway, who knows what he really said? Remember that the interview was translated from English into German into English, that can make things sound very different.

[paulb]

thanks alot.

[Laver1969]

Anyway, who knows what he really said? Remember that the interview was translated from English into German into English, that can make things sound very different.

^That's a very good point.

A couple of times it just didn't sound like Yauch to me...until you reminded me of the double translation.

[Extra Cheese]

I know you don't want to insult anybody but you gotta be more careful, then. There are so many different types of christians, how can you say what they think in general? I mean, Bush is part of a christian group that is totally unknown where I live. I'm Catholic, which makes me christian, too, I guess. But I don't think that Bush is on a mission from God. I don't even believe that God ever said one single word to Bush.
And I think that's what Yauch was referring to: Bush's strange beliefs that God told him to start a war. You sort of put his answer out of the context.

Anyway, who knows what he really said? Remember that the interview was translated from English into German into English, that can make things sound very different.

Bush was part of the methodist church and now the episcopal church i think, how is that an unknown group?(sidenote:both churches have criticized this war). I didnt mean that christians believe that Bush is on a mission from god I meant that they identify with his religious beliefs according to the bible, like regarding abortion, gay rights,etc.

I didnt put his answer out of context, perhaps the interviewer did.

[Rockable]

Bush was part of the methodist church and now the episcopal church i think, how is that an unknown group?

Don't get me wrong- I'm not an expert when it comes to the representation of religious groups in the world. But as far as I know the episcopal church mainly exists in America.
When I say that it's unknown where I live I mean that I have never seen an episcopal church in Europe or met anyone who belonged to this religion or who knew someone who belonged to it. The US has many types of Christianity that hardly exist anywhere else, I guess.
If anyone knows better- please correct me!

[Extra Cheese]

i didnt see that ur from germany, when you said where I live i thought you meant somewhere in the states

[Rockable]

oh, it's ok, don't worry. ;)

As I said, I'm not too sure if it's true what I said, anyway.

[fonky pizza]

Thanks for this interesting interview (y)

[FearandLoathing]

Yeah, Christianity is a "wierd religious belief"...

Yep, it sure is.

Unfortunately, I agree with this:

Anyway, who knows what he really said? Remember that the interview was translated from English into German into English, that can make things sound very different.

But I agree with everything Yauch purportedly said, anyway. I thought it was really cool.

[PaddyBoy]

even though I'm a bit peeved at him about the comment he made to me about the MSG film.



You gotta let that shit go!

Many religious beliefs are weird, especially those of Georgie boy. He's a Christian Fundamentalist. And like I said before, you can't spell fundamentalist without 'mental'!

[Extra Cheese]

I'll simply say that Bush isn't a bad president because of his religious beliefs or how he uses religion.

well its certainly part of why he is a bad president. his job is to "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States" not to protect and defend the bible. but this isnt a political or religious forum so whatever.

[Rockable]

First off, good job with the translation, Rockable! I'm impressed with your translation skills. I think you did a good job capturing Yauch's voice. Your translation sounds very much like him to me.

oh, wow, thank you!!! :o

[Hello_nasty]

Whoa, this thread really blew up. It's good to see all the debate.