Monday, October 11, 2004
(1:20 PM) | Anonymous:
Memory and Friendship: Jacques Derrida Week.
I stopped in to see Mme. Brault during a break in my work today. She and her husband, Dr. Naas, have devoted much of their life to translating Derrida's works including the newest Works of Mourning and are awaiting the final publishing details of his last statement on politics Rogues. The usual «Ça va?» was met with «Pas vraiment.» Her and Michael were not going to travel to Paris for his funeral, though they both wanted to pay last respects to their friend they wanted to respect the wishes of Derrida's family more who requested that the funeral be private (though certainly, Mme. Brault said, this would not be respected by others).She was saddened by the obituaries saying that they seem to want to hurt the family and spread misinformation. She told me that a letter had been sent, presumably signed by many, to correct and chastise the NYT. Jackie's death was a surprise; he had entered the hospital Thursday for surgery and was optimistic but fell into a coma during.
"I'm not able to get used to..." Mme. Brault trailed off, obviously very sad but dutifully preparing for class. It came time for me to leave and her to finish her class preparations and as I left she said, "Keep on reading."
When I was in Paris for those short ten weeks I saw Derrida speak twice on Beliers, his book on Gadamer. Though my oral comprehension is poor I was struck with the power that Derrida had to respond but even more so the complete comfort with everyone around him. The second lecture we had to watch him on a screen in a side room, he came in to apologize for this and seeing Michael gave him a warm greeting, obviously happy to see his friend. Michael and Mme. Brault were Jackie's friends, and his thought means more to them just as Adam's thoughts mean more to me than a simple bystander reading can offer. When friends live the life that Jackie and they lived a book like The Politics of Friendship refer to more than statements but to memories, times in the Café where Derrida recalled dreams of his death, Derrida being hit by a bike in Belgium and things long forgotten that time was not kind enough to let remain.
Jackie has friends and family who hurt deeply at the thought of his death, and he means more to them than his thought can ever mean to us.
Update: Libération has a special edition of the paper dedicated to Jacques (in French).
