Bon Journal

The good news journal

When I want a dose of reality, I turn on the radio on the hour to get an update of the latest bad news. If I want to worry, I visit the library to read the newspapers. If I want to get upset, I just have to surf the Web for bad news.

At Amsterdam's Schipol Airport last week, I noticed that people were staring at me for the first time in my life in Holland. Then I realised that I was the only Oriental person there. And people were probably thinking that I had just arrived from Asia, the land of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

SARS is forcing a postponement of a major family reunion. SARS is causing a further decline in travel and all travel-related activities, including the hotel where the grand piano lies untouched. SARS is directly affecting my livelihood as an innocent pianist.

Before SARS was the Iraqi war. In Europe, I find myself having to explain that I'm not an American despite my American accent. Why should I apologise for having learned English at an American school in Okinawa?

Before the Iraqi war was Enron's collapse. Before that was September 11th.

There is no end to bad news.

Thankfully, there's the Bon Journal - named originally for the pun in "Bon Jour" - but will now be repositioned as the good news journal. Good news has now become a rare commodity.

What's the good news today?

The Bon Journal will continue!

26 April 2003 Saturday

Le Bon Journal, Volume 2, Issue 4: The decision of indecision and other dilemmas (2 page pdf)