This episode is about a man, a man called Mr. Keuner.
He is not the wisest, not the strongest, not even all that good, he is just a man.
There is nothing special about him. Nothing at all. And that’s the part that makes him a real man.
Hi, my name is Aidin and this is Neek Podcast,
and our guest today is Mr. Keuner

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+Hello Mr. Keuner.
_I don’t agree with greetings, good byes, anniversaries, parties, good bye parties, starting again, taking a revenge, judgment day and … and I don’t like any of them.
+Okay. Mr. Keuner, what are you doing these days?
_ I am working very hard
+What are you working on?
_ I am preparing my next mistake.
+ Okay. Do you remember any other mistakes that you have made?
_Yes, yes. Some days ago, I was walking in the street and I saw a little boy who was crying. I asked him why are you crying? What happened? He answered I had two coins and I wanted to go to cinema but a big boy came and took one coin from me. I asked him why didn’t you call for help? He said I did but no one heard my voice. I asked him couldn’t you scream louder. The little boy told me no. So, I took his other coin and kept walking.
+Yeah. All right. Mr. Keuner do you think god exists?
_ When people ask me this question I tell them to go and think about this: will your behavior change when you know the answer? If not, so the question goes away. But if yes, you have made your decision. You need a god.
+What a wise answer. Mr. Keuner you said once our judges are bribe takers. Right?
_Yes yes I did. But I take it back. I was wrong.
+What changed your mind?
_I realized they are not bribe takers. Because it doesn’t matter how much you bribe them, you cannot make them tell the truth with no amount of money.
 +When was the last time you got sad?
_ The other day an old friend saw me and told me:  you haven’t changed at all. That made me so upset.
+Oh how interesting! Because a few episodes back, we talked about something like that. Do you think we should make promises?
_I don’t think so. Making a promise is against the disciplines of the world. An arm can promise that after seven years it is still an arm and not a leg. But it won’t be the same arm. As long as the person that you made a promise to, changes during the time and becomes another person, how can you keep your promise, because you made the promise to someone else. A wise man, cheats. A wise man won’t make any promises, except that he stays a wise man.
+Wow! You have so many brilliant ideas Mr. Keuner. Now that we are on the topic, we also had another episode about love. Do you have something to say about that?
+Actually, the biggest mistake that people make, is that they think love is more valuable than friendship, and they think these are two different things, love is only valuable when it contains a friendship. And that friendship constantly makes more love. Love without friendship is just temporary.
+So beautiful. Mr. Keuner I also have another question.
-Sorry. I don’t want to talk to you anymore.
+But…but why?
_Because I think I don’t have any other wise thing to tell you.
+But.. it’s not important for me that you don’t say something wise…I just want to talk to you.
_ I believe you. But it is important for me.

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Mr. Keuner is a fictional character made by Bertolt Brecht. He is just an ordinary man who is always thinking and trying to figure out what is the right thing to do. he is always wondering about life; just like us. And his stories can make us think and can also teach us a lot about life and different subjects but mainly about society and how we should behave. Brecht has written his own ideas through short stories about Mr. Keuner and the interview above was inspired by his short stories. If you are interested in this character and want to know more about him and his ideas, there is a book called “The Elephant”. It is full of short stories about Mr. Keuner. Let’s hear the short version of another one of the stories of this book.
And good bye.

If Sharks Were Men by Bertolt Brecht

Mr. K was asked by his little girl, “If sharks were men, would they be nicer to little fish?”
“Certainly,” he said. “If sharks were men, they would build enormous boxes in the ocean for the little fish, with all kinds of food inside, both vegetables and animal. They would take care that the boxes always had fresh water, and in general they would make all kinds of arrangements. If, for example, a little fish were to injure a fin, it would immediately be bandaged, so that it would not die.”
There would, of course, also be schools in the big boxes. In these schools the little fish would learn how to swim into the sharks’ jaws.

They would be taught it would be the best and most beautiful thing in the world if a little fish sacrificed itself cheerfully and that they all had to believe the sharks, especially when the latter said they were providing for a beautiful future.
There would also be a religion, if sharks were men. It would preach that little fish only really begin to live properly in the sharks’ stomachs. Furthermore, if sharks were men there would be an end to all little fish being equal, as is the case now. Some would be given important offices and be placed above the others. Those who were a little bigger would even be allowed to eat up the smaller ones. That would be altogether agreeable for the sharks, since they themselves would more often get bigger bites to eat.
In short, if sharks were men, they would for the first time, bring culture to the ocean.
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Vocabularies for English Learners:

1. Greetings
   • Definition: Expressions used to say hello or goodbye to someone.
   • Example: He exchanged greetings with his colleagues every morning.
   • Farsi equivalent: سلام و خداحافظی
2. Anniversaries
   • Definition: The date on which an event took place or an institution was founded in a previous year.
   • Example: They celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary last month.
   • Farsi equivalent: سالگرد
3. Bribe
   • Definition: Money or favor given or promised to influence the judgment or conduct of a person.
   • Example: He attempted to bribe the police officer to avoid a ticket.
   • Farsi equivalent: رشوه
4. Promise
   • Definition: A declaration assuring that one will or will not do something; a vow.
   • Example: He made a promise to always be there for her.
   • Farsi equivalent: قول
5. Wise
   • Definition: Having or showing experience, knowledge, and good judgment.
   • Example: The wise old man gave some valuable advice.
   • Farsi equivalent: خردمند
6. Friendship
   • Definition: A relationship between friends.
   • Example: Their strong friendship lasted for decades.
   • Farsi equivalent: دوستی
7. Fictional
   • Definition: Created, taken, or assumed in order to conceal one’s identity or real character.
   • Example: The events in the novel are purely fictional.
   • Farsi equivalent: داستانی
8. Behave
   • Definition: Act in a specified way.
   • Example: Children must behave in the classroom.
   • Farsi equivalent: رفتار کردن
9. Jaws
   • Definition: The part of the face that includes the bones and teeth that opens and closes.
   • Example: The lion caught its prey in its jaws.
   • Farsi equivalent: فک

• Sacrifice
  • Definition: To give up something for another, often for a noble cause.
  • Example: He made many sacrifices for his family.
  • Farsi equivalent: قربانی کردن

Reading:

Brecht’s “If Sharks Were Men” is a clever criticism of our societal structures, especially those found in capitalist and oppressive environments. By imagining a world where sharks control and organize fish societies, Brecht highlights the absurdities and injustices of human societies. His story encourages readers to reflect on the underlying power dynamics and exploitation that often go unnoticed or unchallenged in our own world. The tale serves as a reminder to always question the forces that shape our lives and the systems we live within.

10 Questions for Discussion:

1. What do you think the sharks and fish represent in our society?
2. How does the story highlight the problems in our current societal structures?
3. Why do you think Brecht chose sharks and fish to convey his message?
4. In what ways do you see powerful groups controlling or influencing less powerful ones in our world?
5. How does the story challenge our ideas about education and religion?
6. Can you think of real-world examples where the powerful create a narrative to benefit themselves, similar to the sharks’ narrative for the fish?
7. What can we do to recognize and challenge unjust power dynamics in our society?