Ernst Jünger: DIE SCHERE #20 Text
20 > > Wird eine Wanderung abgeschlossen, so erreicht sie ihr Ziel, wenngleich > nicht immer am geplanten Ort. Sie kann auch abgebrochen werden; es gibt > Zeiten, in denen unvorhergesehene Umstände sogar die Regel sind. Das > Ziel ist immer und überall möglich; der Wanderer führt es mit sich wie > seine Uhr. Wird der Weg als Passion begriffen, so ist das Kreuz von > Anfang an dabei. > Keiner stirbt vor der Erfüllung seiner Aufgabe. Meist wird sie verkannt. > Cecil Rhodes, nach Spengler »ein Gigant in Lackschuhen«, auf dem > Sterbebette: »And so much to do!« Da erhebt sich die Frage: »Und wo ist > heut Rhodesien?« > »Wo ist der Pauken und Trompeten Gruß?« (Omar, der Zeltmacher). > Spengler ordnete Cecil Rhodes den Figuren des 21. Jahrhunderts zu. Das > war eher ein Rückblick als die Vorschau auf einen Zeitgeist, dem > Imperialismus nicht genügt. > > Walter's Translation 20 Is the course of a way completed, the goal is reached, although not always at the planned place. The wandering can be broken off, there are times when unforeseen circumstances are the rule. Attaining the goal is always and everywhere possible, the wanderer carries it on himself like his watch. Is the way taken as a way of passion, the cross is company from beginning on. Nobody dies before fulfilling his task, which is often not realized. Cecil Rhodes(1) - to Spengler "a giant in patent leather shoes" on his death bed: "And so much left to do!" The question arises: "Where is Rhodesia today?" "Where is the salute of drums and trumpets?" (Omar, the tent-maker)(2) Spengler places Cecil Rhodes among the figures of the 21st century. That was more of a view back than a preview on a zeitgeist that is not content with imperialism only. DIE SCHERE #20: Notes Where #17 left off #20 goes on and takes up again the idea of the path having always arrived at its goal, no matter if terminated far from the intended goal or even if abruptly cut off. If the wanderer goes his path passionately, i.e. if he is willing to bring sacrifices for the sake of his goal even the possibility of sacrificing his life like Christ is included. Each individual reaches the goal assigned to him though he may not be aware of it because he had his eyes on some other goal. Inspired by Spengler, an author often quoted by EJ, he uses the life of Cecil Rhodes as an example of what he stated in abstract terms before. Rhodes saw as the goal of his life the consolidation of British rule in the vast territories he almost singlehandedly conquered for the British Empire.(1) But in EJ's eyes Rhodes misunderstood his goal since British Rhodesia (today's Zimbabwe) is no more and the martial music celebrating Rhodes's triumph died away long ago. Appended to the text is a critical note on Spengler's conception of Rhodes being a figure far ahead of his time. Rather, Rhodes was the embodiment of 19th century imperialism. EJ, however, foresees the Weltstaat as the political realization of the 21st century. This global political structure will not, as he believes, come about by the imperialist expansion of one of the contemporary national states. Many will share Gary's arguments against EJ's idea of each and every life having reached its preordained goal even if seemingly having run into despair or disaster. But we poor agnostics will ever argue in vain against a way of thought which presupposes a meaning even there where we can only see the gambling of chance, chaos,, or plain arbitrariness of the wanton gods that play with us like flies. Those who have taken Kierkegaard's leap into faith will see everywhere the inscrutable will and intent of God, or the ruses of the Weltgeist, or, like Schopenhauer, who detested Hegel, will at least proclaim that everything that happens is notwendig, has its proper place in the Great Plan of the Universe. We will come across a lot more passages in DIE SCHERE which many will find difficult to accept because of this underlying trust or creed. EJ lived through very different situations than those which taught most of us to look at the world in our different ways. So a "willing suspension of disbelief" may be required from the reader to cherish this fascinating Alterswerk. (1) The ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA has a vivid account of Rhodes's singular character and achievements. Günter Rebing
