A Welcome Message from
Hannes Artens

Chilling out after trekking Wadi Rum, Jordan

A breezy welcome to the website of political novelist Hannes Artens, introducing himself and his debut novel, The Writing on the Wall, to you, revered reader, from wherever you may have joined us.

I aspire The Writing on the Wall to be considered my contribution to a worldwide debate about America’s role in tomorrow’s world. I deliberately depict a worst-case scenario of a U.S. gone astray against her people’s will; and dourly bash corporate media for having neglected their duties as a fourth estate – having crawled away in voluntary self-censorship in the run up to Iraq. My novel is enriched with characters as closely mimicking real life politicians and journalists as is legally possible, and cautions against war with Iran in letters ten feet tall in order to provoke discussion.

I don’t want to tell my readers what to think; I do want to compel them to start thinking. As a European, I don’t feel entitled to either endorse or campaign for a specific candidate in next years’ American primaries. That isn’t the purpose of my book. Worse, any such attempt would inevitably suck my endeavor into the abysmal depths of the partisan divide. Instead, I intend to lift the debate above the daily argy-bargy of the campaign trail to refocus on the grand issues and decisions of our times. I ask you to reflect on the questions The Writing on the Wall raises, to criticize me – decry me if you want – to engage in dialogue with me and with each other through my book and this website. With The Writing on the Wall, I have drawn my lines in next years’ presidential debate. Feel free to read between them, or feed them to each other to maximize our interplay of ideas and arguments.

The world’s citizens may not like it, but on November 4, 2008, 300 million people will decide the fate of seven billion, a factual consequence of the current allotment of power. From a third class dictator in a godforsaken failed state, we, the inhabitants of this planet, can’t expect altruistic thinking, moral righteousness, community-conscious guidance, or sympathy to mankind’s hardships; from the President of the United States though, we not only expect it, we demand it. The position of the globe’s mightiest military and economy comes with an obligation to uphold and defend the system she has created. Not when convenient, to abandon or undermine the rules with which others are expected to comply; invading other countries unilaterally and on false pretense at least comes with the responsibility not only to work out a safe return for your troops but also to elaborate a better future for those left behind. Acting on behalf of mankind requires an immaculate morality and ethical values equal to the weight of this self-awarded title. Appointing oneself ‘Defender of Democracy’ is incompatible with the fostering of dictatorships when they happen to sit on an oil bonanza. And profiteering from the distinction of grail keeper of capitalism implies a commitment to at least see Adam Smith’s vision of it benefiting all humanity, come true.

American history has demonstrated both extremes. During and after World War II, American preponderance was employed as a force of good in shattering the inhuman Nazi-regime and encouraging the independent rebuilding of Western Europe and Japan; after 9/11, we witnessed a browbeaten American public giving its government carte blanche to squander the moral and ethical achievements of a two hundred-year legacy in pursuit of narrow-minded ideologies and petty materialisms. Next year, America will stand at a crossroads, deciding whether to continue this course, or take a different tack. The American people will make this arbitration of mondial scope, alone, and the rest of us can only hope they consider their choice thoughtfully.

I crave for the American people to appreciate their responsibilities and obligations toward us, the global citizenry, which comes with their status as today’s mightiest power. I want to encourage them to demand straight and candid answers from those touting for their votes. Don’t let yourself be fobbed off with empty slogans and catchphrases; don’t let yourself be mislead by simplifications and promises of quick workarounds; don’t allow your critical thinking to be lulled by trivialities or your civic duty of questioning the actions of those in power to be denounced as a lack of patriotism. When, if not over the coming twelve months, can you require those who aspire to represent you to listen? When, if not over the coming twelve months, when power derives from the people and you are granted your entitled rank as the true sovereign, is a democracy at its strongest? Don’t let these twelve months pass without challenging the candidates, make yourself heard, approach them with your distress, force them to think outside the box, press them for sober and profound reflections, demand approaches guided by genuine needs and not their personal Roads to Damascus, imperial hubris, or bigoted ideologies. And then go out and vote.