Title: Aleksandar Hemon: through bi-focals, darkly

" I'm Christopher like this is open source from the Watson and -- at Brown University. An American conversation called global attitude. This what is with the Bosnian American writer. Alexander Kimmel and a favorite in the New Yorker magazine for very typically by local new century -- did it. Your -- is about deeply rooted in Sarajevo. In Chicago by now -- but he believed Iran for example. You've already gangster histories in either place abrasive very stylish. Immigrant English to one audience. You're thinking -- that Alexander you -- also writes a political column online. In Bosnia and not just -- able. But for bosnians. In the US who wouldn't maybe couldn't reading and English. He's not ready to -- exile -- says because he can and does go back to Bosnia -- he's writing stories and the moral discoveries that come with. Displacement."

" Alexander how long should we start with a joke. And I say just because in all the -- I've read yours does somebody or is. Ready to -- and -- would joke and it comes out very very funny and very very dark."

" Where it goes to America. And so just as we say. And two -- sorts. Inviting sweeter to come over to America versus you know. I like my profound like reference electing -- morning news papers they'll think. But was insistent that lets -- again and again there's. You know you have to do anything here in just come here and there there's. It's she took paved with gold. There's money everywhere or have to do is bend over pick it up. As -- finally comes over and we takes from home. And so this has all right let me take a walk feel a little bit of your America. So he goes around comes back. Move so well is -- what you think it's just as you were right I was loaded on the streets when there was a bag full of money at least two million dollars. This is a million dollars in -- million dollars did you pick it up. As soon as -- Do you want me to work so much for his beer."

" Did you disguise itself as a man without two countries or that somebody else's line. -- line. Team in the Lazarus project. Brick says I'm a reasonably loyal citizen of a couple countries. I -- to hook up the I don't believe its citizens it."

" And participate in both political and public spaces users if that's very important and their doctors and exclusive that's them. The instinct and really beautiful thing about the world today not who's -- I can. Operators -- Bosnia and I can operate in different states. Take a putt that would operate well I write a column for magazines say it was which are engaged. The -- things including American politics for instance. And also Boston so I goats they -- to fertility. And so. I also write. Local -- about this is by invitation but I have written things -- merchant bookings and lose tons of rules for journal. And I consider myself on. As the services and two countries right -- columns also read by Boston's everywhere. Just in Boston Bruins have asked yes it doesn't -- million. Leaving the states that are repeating I get their bosses. So in that they strange raised. -- I wrote columns about the Chicago which that I email to say you which that I read by buzzes and succumb. And so. And they did they offer computer and bush years they were about their American politics this -- the words are. American and balls tennis. You know went through serie a for the book that's -- and convince. Him that this is possible in the world today. You know had I written or English about those quotes that are in the morning which they would not have responses. -- were less likely to reach us through his. So the words in some ways to to create a kind of small Boston public's facing gays and American. -- I was and you'll enter into or I was going to work in his modest but you know -- to me. We we have to go to stay and that's a very ancient trees."

" It's a classic cycle and all of your work -- to me. You -- about Chicago in the first dictated to its entries -- in the last. And people keep turning up from one story to the next. The police inspector in Chicago becomes. Philanthropist in this in the latter stories. What is this Chicago's very able connection."

" We're shook hands loose connections is in media hype or malvo will help us. But temperament so save them looked mean and it's. Obviously what happened -- to us. Com please and policy is central fact of my life. And the same time she covered my adopted hometown. So to speak -- and so when I think about that examined thing. They are going to -- Chicago. And say you. There's also something about this situation this is -- situation and it was my suspicions are expensive just a minute causes an agreement refugees. The situation in which trauma. Splits the light of the refugees. To the before and the after. And that traumatic effect whatever it is the displacement. Is that in dividing. Ports dispute and to establish. To go beyond that tournament to start with some sort of Clinton to life. Its mission. In more ways than one but it's also a -- Charlie so to speak out to. Put the two halves together. It. What was done to Saunders has to be put to didn't. And that's that's formal challenge to source the most intelligence. And geographical."

" There's a gangster connections mean we think of Chicago the whole world thinks of Chicago is Capone city. And -- you deal also with these Balkan thugs who have their -- kind of Chicago style they put up with may be more. More childish -- innocence. -- or snow not not what -- certainly but something. What's the connection what are the differences."

" Well the connection is that you know warping so the worst in people but it also gives a kind of structure. Two of them on and war notorious -- as great -- to prevent people -- its patrols with the absence of law. -- that's for us from -- problem because there's some sort of -- In the war -- it's the worst moments to come to before. -- Chicago's Malcolm -- is different language what was that she was the presence of and abiding social project connecting those. Woman. Alone and Arabs. That's something that is it's frightening to people. Sarajevo. With little violence it. And many of those starts Munich it could be sure -- worse before the war but I remember. The time -- there when it should realize that these drugs securing weapons -- this before. The sudden there was that influence of what. So before that I would have been museum. And co Q what. Could. -- to get into shoving match with someone or whether. Some sort of dispute -- for -- realized that when it comes I was out of the cold it was just so. -- were shutting it just me or that I was wrong and -- mean and and so once. You have weapons talks -- him into criminals -- this. Case goes through my keys in certain parts."

" What's the general period ending at about the recurrence of things that lets -- direction. Violence in the world from once entry to another after the beginning of the twentieth century to the end. I don't believe in human activism theory you know business strategies and subject it. I think what turns people into killers aren't -- that scale. These are really and misguided -- project. And that I well organized for the Nazis throughout savages. Genocide is -- technology to very competent race and they needed. The vast to a tree and forced to do similarly. In the bowl of course here. But people were present at the core principle cause you know. Tribes. And each other's throats which is which was and so many race. But it was also this is important. Often side it was to to colleges just to -- several thousand people that government insert its. -- large number of buses to transport from portrait. That can be so so -- to you know organized if there was an army -- And so so. For the worst in us to be brought out. There has to be. How's that put next local project. And in that they've got quite -- product -- for the course of mysteries of drug worth tournaments. At a misguided or project. Which some analysts -- Two ways and is sort of the worst. Expect. Him on which sources here. --"

" it in his moment in the Lazarus project everybody quote sit where brick. -- that -- with his wife she's American and she's kind of defending the innocence of the kids that Abu Ghraib. And -- character. Who has a lot of come with you. Rates I tolerate hated the normal people in the land of the (%expletive) free in the hole with a household brave. And I hated god in Georgia and all and everything I told the to the American you have to know nothing. And understand. Even less. And I didn't want to. What's happened that -- you what's happened that in us."

" Well I have had my anger at -- important because and almost. I'm so I could write him and I Coretta because during the bush years I had a hard time. As more -- American management when I was sort of that goes through publishers because. It seemed to me that if you were American have to sign up for these projects and I did not want asylum. With this project in no way did not care how seemingly good intentions were crimes and crimes regardless of intense. And that's produced a lot of finger at me I never reached that point. As victims but the principal current for its most of -- But I. That angers then paid for which he excelled. My submerged it. It was --"

" The the first time in America the -- character writes about this. Murder the murder of Lazarus in 1908. That the war and athleticism at that time was much like. The current war on terror -- writing in this during the Bush Administration. Do we know what these cycles are."

" Well I think they look so what's cycle so there's that that method that works that two unite the nation. Into an enemy. It is very -- to -- enemies four enemy and also if there -- hard to spot and -- have to watch of federal so. We can be permanently. So the war can never be worth it because if it's warm. There's no reason to be united and -- Vietnamese -- so we have to keep the enemy you know. The visitors outside of wolves who -- statement and this happened just in America this is disreputable. Happens. You don't have ruined it. You create an energy source communities. Where you. Magnified. Vietnamese who promotes. A Switzerland that's for cyclical that's it simply if it was a political. Humorist oracle. Historical -- foreign himself in the middle school I was interest in -- When Lazarus came out in the United Kingdom in Britain wanted to use portrait. The fact that had the same time -- which has been written letters published. There was an inquiry. About the shooting of the president and you know who were so dominant pleas for progress and reasons last he looked -- he -- terrorists so that shot him. Him in two days. And that's how it works. Because. The issue and then they ask questions. In your book the Lazarus."

" Project Chicago in 1908 is the fate of -- nativist hysteria. Hundred years later precisely that became the sort of seat of the new. Almost transnational American politics. What's happened. To us what's happened to Chicago."

" Chicago much like -- was never just sort of thing that not a monolithic thing. Is no. That's from the -- unification. History operates. You know what many currents. Floating through the world and the people who sometimes it was a dominant. And sometimes. They become. Minor. You know as always. As long as there has been a history of racism this country has been mr. corpus a centuries. You know I mean. As long as there was. And there was an injustice. They were people who fighting the -- the question is who has and what time. And what I like about America as this by talent he can never -- reduced to once. You know we and then of course many people try to reduce the bush as you try to -- so you can stand united request them. But you can never do it it's too big it's so complicated it's -- democratic. And the characters used to a thing and what happened in Chicago and that's it's in the past -- here's Vista. People like myself who were you know. Playing defense -- Grew to over. Two two you know you start attacking the opponent school. To score and we scored its its."

" And cute and does it feel like a different place them in this countries that city. What what do you tell your Bosnian readers -- Chicago and --"

" When Chicago was staunchly anti -- I mean I. I closely followed its elections. I've election results that -- and and the numbers how many people it's steadily -- 80% of -- Of people in Chicago what is actually and it's -- about of course it's horrible. It's approximately the fly over you know those. So. Which apart from other things it you know made it sort of -- territory. Is also show. It was an example -- just talked about that. Simultaneous. Forces or forces operating simultaneously. In American politics in everything. And what -- changes that the sense that you know. We are not defending our the walls of our city that's visitors can open the world you know you could come. A few seats anymore. Because our important work."

" Alexander Hamlin had as to the medical question or some piece of that now because of question. People -- to compare you the exile. The master of language the corner phrases to rebuild or our own. Language you and that's -- many new words what the ability. You read about it trying to lets -- and it still sure quite what that is had to do is observing the moon. I took the term war. -- Speakers anger but you also speak of the men. Speaking anger list Li. It must be flattering it must be burden. Always to be. Held up to that -- standard."

" Look how do you feel it -- it our -- to -- since then it's in the book by the futures Britain but there's. A bit of it is kind of an insult to well written four books that. Has written four books in two languages. If you don't written books and -- and he would have some in the preakness. On the regardless of instant so he's a great writer in two languages. And so I would be technically speaking compared to a vocal Korea I've written. For the books and an analyst -- whoever. -- ultimately."

" There is something going on there in your language here invention your humor you wit."

" Well I don't know I mean. It's hard for me to to talk about. Concession is that you have to it's much but it can do away with it ticks towards mindful. And you know. Problems. Days. I recognize can separate double car not because he knows him kill him. We'll see if everybody sort of this this movement. And their many other writers many who movement which is what we've become. Shakespeare -- it's a system it. And which to him. What I like what are the marble column it's also present and technical. And many keys to your puritanism them into the race. And that is what if it is best expressed by double -- and about -- And said the typical road. Sad stories were humorous humorous people said books or humorous. That you couldn't sees that this. Yes that's. Another call. It's much the same except if -- Leo really. Polished. And perfect dutifully. It when it's just language in them over to the surface. It doesn't quite work it's fascinating that you know. Either quote. But novel called in the -- that is. Thirty stepped into the status of the stories -- boot. -- In the -- and stories to the Russian trusted news. There's anything funny because those two plus those that I also -- the other ways that these kids to be humorous unless you have experience that. And that's. Something directly to them -- venture -- many other right. From east and at a place. I thought of those Berlin stories as a -- project -- the eggs things much as anything house well. -- they out of politics it's displaced because it could not technically XP."

" Could go back to plus ago. Chris Noble then when that benefits people from your system. -- some. Multiple glory and it's all about young man who was some movement -- Should be recess but the moment -- certain. He never wrote about civilians -- she -- to. Make them. The oppressive so -- you you talk about. And so it's a crucial difference in many ways we can go Michael Vick who. Is so exile but there is this placement. The sense that. This street that you will clone the and always looked so what else. That's what are certain things. Taken for granted the -- word. -- side effect was missing his life. And so that they're similar to that it would -- That people. Displaced people to look for a place to settle it's just that. It's a good move -- because what has lost. Seem to -- so beautiful. That do you think has to be at least there of course in this talk to distortion. But the news you have to be at least has -- As a -- and just to have a good job corps of life. Which is would have been good things for musical written notes that good enough somebody beauty of the -- something that never caused great story. Clark actually. If people who host. Future for the bunch of Nazis and and he spots the perfect spot where it won't cave that would be its home. And a spiritual home of course Nazis. To compete. And so is that the pursuit. Off another home -- to hold things it's inaccessible. Or the space well. And this is pleased to -- that. This."

" I was listening to speak about -- certain instability of the identity of American writers it's it's always being defined. And your own -- From Sarajevo to Chicago. Where are we now in your own I don't want to say americanization that your own incorporation into the scene."

" and America dream and I feel appropriate enough to some sort of just -- cents. But brother were to participate in this country or -- I've come to this week. You know the democratic process and that culture and the language of my friends and family my wife and order American. So but the differences. Not only because I've also book. Simultaneous. Those Americans who exclusive for whatever reason. For the longest time. There was whose -- who have looked logistically impossible to maintain those things caused the Ellis island immigrants that move over here. We're here there was Spiegel it was and consideration. We speak English and it was slowly fade because they could not -- that you know latest -- from a they go back up to fifty years to see you lose and nobody was there. I -- unscrupulous. Biggest -- into North America. Who likes to watch snow falling so you'll on the way. From Saint Louis July. You know into -- it took just don't even maintaining personal collection of people we can have Skype. Which I've done. Could Skype with people with you can it's not the same executive think actually paid clicks you can watch disclose. And that's a competitive situation. You you can kiss them what to talk about. But the beauty of it is that all kinds of things open up. All kinds of possibilities languages flew to each other expenses were so. The world becomes more. And more stable."

" You make a sore Troy producing it's great pleasure to read you I would send him on its conclusion. Talk with a two. Thank you for talking to."

" McCarthy is its conversation with Alexander came -- respond if you will and said books for humorous people. On this open and stable world we live in and standing in Saint Louis and watching snow falling in Sarajevo on the web. -- back if you will on our -- that radio open source board and -- like. Thank you for joining us."