By: Gašper Blažič
At a time when I had only just made the transition from high school to university, I was informed about a special exhibition that was intended to complement the permanent exhibition on Slovenians in the 20th century at the Museum of Contemporary History. The main initiators were Drago Jančar and Vasko Simoniti, with the assistance, of course, of numerous collaborators. A collection of essays accompanying the exhibition was also published.
And, of course, both the exhibition and the accompanying volume bore the same title as the commentary you are reading right now. Mimi Malenšek used the same title for a story about a clash between Partisans and Home Guard forces, while even earlier Edvard Kocbek had used it as the title of one of his novellas. In 1973, the band Pink Floyd released an album with the same title, albeit in English. According to Wikipedia, that album explores themes such as conflict, greed, time, death, and mental illness.
In fact, this phrase has often made me think. What exactly is hidden on that side of the m(M)oon that we can never see from Earth? They say that side is not always literally dark, but it is invisible to us Earthlings. Which means that if we want to explore that side of Earth’s satellite, we must send a research probe there. In other words, we must make an effort, invest resources, and take risks. Just as every rogue makes sure that his actions remain on the “hidden” side and therefore requires careful investigation. In the darkness, after all, “we are all the same,” both the good and the bad.
I am not particularly in the mood to whistle that well-known song by Deja Mušič, “I’m Asking You, Moon,” yet I cannot get out of my head what our most famous radiological, pardon, radiator engineer, Dušan Josip Smodej, recently chirped in an interview for Info360. Smodej, incidentally a great patron of Ljubljana’s contemporary art scene, claims that our beloved member of parliament, former labour minister, and highly likely future mayor of Ljubljana, Luka Mesec, belongs among the two-legged vacuum cleaners. Whatever exactly that is supposed to mean. Vacuuming dust through one’s nose is apparently a rather popular Slovenian sport, at least among the upper classes. About fifteen years ago, Katarina Kresal, then serving as Minister of the Interior, came under suspicion for similar reasons. She was so popular at the time that some joked she could have been named Car of the Year. But she then declared that she would not provide a hair sample and that everyone could put those tests where the sun does not shine. In any case, she soon had other matters to deal with, although she remained in office for another nine months, until the next scandalous “child” was born, namely the National Bureau of Investigation building and the office buildings on Dimičeva Street in Ljubljana.
Yesterday, however, our Luka also ensured a negative drug test result. His message was essentially: do not pay attention to how or where I was tested, just look at the result. No, our Luka has no “dark side,” unlike the m(M)oon, our famous natural satellite. Instead, our Luka advises us always to look on the bright side of life. So, save your imagination for comic books, from Mickey Mouse to Alan Ford, even if those cartoon characters occasionally seem to show up in money-laundering scandals at NLB or in the occasional petition, such as the one penned by SDS dissident Miha Brejc. Because our Luka is clean. He has no need for dust, especially not the white kind whose name sounds somewhat like the clucking of a hen. He only sniffs occasionally, you know, because it is cold and flu season. After all, along with petroleum products, the price of “coke” has also been rising.
Still, I am convinced that we will soon see him sporting a new hairstyle. He may become a skinhead, completely shaved bald. And, of course, he will also give up his (Maduro-style) moustache. Just in case someone might steal a sample for testing while he is asleep. But beware: if he gives up the moustache, he will have to wipe his nose clean for the rest of his political career. Sniffling always comes at a price, colds or no colds. Because every one of us has a “dark side,” our Luka is no exception. When things get too hot, the butter on one’s head begins to melt. And not because of radiators, lest there be any misunderstanding. More because of the lunatics surrounding him from all sides.
And since Serpentinšek was fond of saying that, in the long run, we are all dead, let me conclude by noting that we all came from dust and shall return to it, as the first book of the Bible teaches. Snorting white powder through one’s nose can sometimes shorten that journey considerably.