Tikun Olam: Make the world a better place
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Richard Silverstein's essay diary about U.S. and Mideast politics, world music and film.
Tikun Olam is a phrase from Jewish mystical tradition (Kabbala) reflecting humanity's need to repair the world through acts of lovingkindness (mitzvot).
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June 29, 2003
Seattle Weather
We woke up one morning last week and my wife looked out the bedroom window and it was cloudy, dark and cold. She dressed accordingly. She then went downstairs, got ready for work and left out the front door where...lo and behold...it was a warm, sunny beautiful day. She called up to me: "It's raining in the back of the house, but it's sunny in the front!" She had to come back upstairs and change clothes for a nice, warm, sunny day. Seattle weather for you!
Seattle's Marion McCaw Hall: a Triumph
My wife suggested we go this morning to the opening celebration of the new Marion McCaw Hall at the Seattle Center & I’m glad she did. We have subscribed in the past to the Symphony and Ballet while they were resident companies at the old Opera House, which preceded this iteration. The old building was pretty much a horror show. It looked like it came out of the sleek, anonymous architecture of the 1950s. The acoustics were abysmal. In order to get to the top tier you had to wend you way up a zigzag maze of tunnel like ramps. Once up in the top tiers you were so far above and away from the action you almost didn’t feel you were in the hall. I must admit I was a doubter about this project. As former New Yorkers, my wife and I are used to venues like Carnegie Hall and performances like those of New York City Ballet and the Metropolitan Opera. While Seattle’s cultural scene is fairly good, it just can’t measure up to New York’s. The Symphony, while playing in a great hall, doesn’t measure up to the sound of its own hall. While PNB is an excellent company, for some reason most of its performances seem to be half-full. It gives the impression of a community that doesn’t appreciate its own artistic resources. Therein lay our doubts about whether Seattle could really pull this project off. In addition, the old hall was so bad, I just didn’t see how it could be rescued or revived. The old hall was razed down to its I-beams and then rebuilt from within. I don’t know how they did it, but they’ve accomplished something remarkable. I predict that like Benaroya Hall and EMP, McCaw Hall will become another “destination” magnet for tourists and art lovers alike. Everything about the old hall is a distant memory once you see the new one. It is magnificent. It has an undulating glass façade and the interior lobby has a set of tall metallic columns that is contemporary in style without being completely impersonal & antiseptic (as much clean, sleep contemporary architecture can be). The hall itself is gorgeous and elegant. The sound for musical performance is miles better than the old hall. It may not equal Benaroya Hall’s, but then again McCaw was built for opera and ballet and so has different requirements. The hall’s visual lines are harmonious and consistent. The site lines are excellent. While I didn’t like the boxes because they were raked at a steep angle & felt like you were on top of the performance, all the other seats were great. Even the food quality is a vast improvement over the old hall’s (though a tad pricey). I’m not sure I like the metallic scrims lining the passageway in front of the hall. I understand that each of these scrims will be lit at night and the sight promises to be impressive. But the scrim wall of metal blocks the view of the beautiful glass façade, which is unfortunate. For more, see Marion McCaw Hall. I say, go and enjoy!
June 28, 2003
Orchestra Baobab Plays Seattle
Orchestra Baobab, the seminal Senegal musical ensemble, played Seattle's EMP Museum in the Sky Church (The Church of Rock 'n Roll-get it?) tonight before an audience of about 300 people. I've seen many African bands, but I'd never seen this group, since they disbanded in 1982 and reunited for a world tour in 2001. On a sultry, sweaty Seattle night, they were inspiring. Orchestra Baobab is an all-male ten-piece ensemble with lead, rhythm & bass guitars, alto & baritone sax, three percussionists and two singers. They sing in French and Senegalese. The playing was tight-this is a mature band that knows where it's been and knows it has something to say musically. These guys played as if they'd known each other for years. They respected each other's contribution to the band's sound. The lead guitarist had a fluid and supple sound like the best African guitarists (Nico and Franco). The two sax players were brilliant with the baritone sax player being especially boisterous and exuberant in "taunting" and encouraging the crowd to join in the musical festivities. Orchestra Baobab's musical influences run from Afro-Cuban rumba to reggae to North African rai with other stops in between. They mostly play in a slower, quieter groove. Like the best African bands, they work into a nice, cool musical groove and gently sustain it with repetitive musical phrases that both lull and stimulate the listeners' senses. The crowd was dancing and grooving to the music with some couples doing slow, sexy dance steps. It was that kind of evening. Judging from this concert, their current record, Specialist In All Styles, is well worth buying. Learn more about the group at their website Orchestra Baobab My only quarrel is that with an all-male ensemble (as almost all African groups tend to be for some reason-aside from male chauvinism, why is that?), it's nice to see female dancers break up the testosterone monopoly. That didn't happen tonight, unfortunately. I saw several children in the audience including toddlers in their parents' arms. While I applaud their desire to introduce their children to the sounds of the world's cultures, as a father of a 2 year-old, I have to wonder what they were thinking? This was a concert that lasted till 9:30 PM!! Am I just an old fogey or what? EMP deserves credit for hosting this concert. It has hosted some other fine world music concerts in the past and one hopes it will do more in the future. Coming soon in this blog: Seattle's world music resources--concert venues, world music concert hosting organizations, world music on radio, etc.
June 22, 2003
Sharon's Twisted Logic: Killing Hamas Leader Will Bring Peace
There is a peculiar element to the political thinking of Israeli right wing leaders like Sharon and their media mouthpieces like Leslie Susser: no matter how bloody and heinous Israel's actions they can all be defended (in a twisted Orwellian way) as advancing peace. In other words, if I kill a a top leader of my enemy, then I make him more willing to embrace me and the peace process. Makes sense, right? So here's how Leslie Susser presents the argument in After Cease-Fire Talks Stall, Israelis Kill a Hamas Leader on the Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) website: In an ironic twist of fate, the lethal post-Aqaba wave of terror might finally get the road map on the road. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon maintains that Israel´s decision to target Hamas leaders like Abdel Aziz Rantissi yielded two dividends: It forced Palestinian terrorist groups to consider a temporary cease-fire with Israel more seriously, and it pushed Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas closer to taking immediate responsibility for security in some of the Palestinian areas. Now, if you followed that--the Rantisi assassination attempt made Hamas more serious about negotiating a cease fire. Despite the fact that the next day a Hamas bomber blew up an Israeli bus killing 17; despite the fact that Hamas immediately announced it was calling off talks for a cease fire with the PA. To top it off, today's New York Times headline says: After Cease-Fire Talks Stall, Israelis Kill a Hamas Leader To read Susser's article go to: Did air strikes help the ‘road map?´Cease-fire now seems more likely Lest you think the worst of Sharon's motives in trying to kill Rantisi, Susser sets your cynical mind at rest: "Palestinians and some members of the Israeli opposition maintain that Sharon, in trying to kill Rantissi, Hamas´ No. 2, deliberately was trying to scuttle a peace plan he ultimately distrusts. Sharon sees things very differently" Any reputable journalist would, at this point in their article run some kind of quotation from Sharon or one of his advisors to support this unsustained characterization. Not Susser. Not a shred of evidence to support this supposed characterization of Sharon's thinking. How do we know that Susser's surmises reflect Sharon's real beliefs if he won't provide any material to support them? At best, this is bad editorial oversight at the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, which published the story; at worst, it reflects Susser's delusional thinking about how to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
June 20, 2003
Summer culinary delights in Pacific Northwest
Seattle is an all year round food paradise, but summer is extraordinary. Here is a list of some of my favorite foods which are now, or will shortly be available (actually some are available all year, but I just love telling people about them): Copper River salmon: if you've only ever eaten Atlantic farm raised salmon, you haven't really eaten salmon the way it should be. The frigid waters of the North Pacific make this Alaskan king salmon the best in the world (lots of tasty fat). The flesh is the darkest orange you've ever seen (& it's natural, unlike the color of farm-raised). I read an article in the New York Times saying that the freshly caught salmon is taken from port to waiting helicopters who fly it to a major Alaskan airport, from which point it is shipped to New York, London and Tokyo within 24 hours or less. The prices in restaurants in these cities are astronomical, but here in Seattle a Copper River salmon steak sells for $12.99 a pound. Rainier cherries: these are the sweetest (and IMO the best) cherries in the world. They'll be available here in about three weeks. I look forward to them all year and they never disappoint. If you've only ever tasted a Bing or some other variety like it, you've never really had a cherry. Dahlia Bakery ice cream sandwiches: Tom Douglas has just begun his summer season in which he makes ice cream sandwiches. Don't think of Good Humor, think of something silky, smooth, rich & huge! I recommend the peanut butter crunch with vanilla ice cream. I prefer chocolate to vanilla, but this combination works beautifully. Kudos to Tom! Gerard & Dominique smoked salmon: these French folk in Woodinville are smokers par excellence. This smoked salmon is as smooth and elegant as fish flesh can get. For more of my favorite Seattle foods and restaurants look at Seattle food favorites
June 19, 2003
Folks Music for children
If your kids have been listening to too much Raffi and watching too much Teletubbies and you're going glassy eyed & eared, then try some intelligent and entertaining music for kids. Here are my recommendations (along with those of the Rootsworld discussion group): Arlo & Woody Guthrie, This Land is Your Land. A beautiful picture book which recounts Woody's musical life and hard times through the lyrics of the song. The companion CD is a Natalie & Nat King Cole-style collaboration between father and son which is quite good. Los Lobos, La Bamba Sleep My Child (Blue Hill Recordings): a collection of Jewish lullabies in HYiddish, Hebrew, Ladino and English performed by male and femals cantors. Greg Brown, Bath Tub Blues, Red House Records. This gruff blues-oriented singer carries off a children's record with great verve and style. Most songs are accompanied by an accomplished child choir. Pete Seeger, Abiyoyo & Other Story Songs for Children, Smithsonian Folkways. The story narratives make this more appropriate for kids over 3 or so. Pete Seeger, Birds, Beasts, Bugs & Fishes Little and Big, Smithsonian Folkways Family Folk Festival: A Multi Cultural Sing Along, Music for Little People. An anthology of great songs & folk singers including Sweet Honey in the Rock, Pete Seeger, Doc Watson, Taj Mahal & others. John McCutcheon, Howjadoo, Rounder Kids. What a great CD with a memorable banjo-accompanied version of Woody's Howjadoo. All You Need is Love, Music for Little People, Beatles' songs sung by a children choir. Not as rich musically as the original, but lot's of fun nonetheless. Judy Collins - Baby's Bedtime Rabbit Ears disks by Windham Hill, especially the Rudyard Kipling stories with the likes of Jack Nicholson doing "Elephants Child", "How the Leopard Got its Spots", "How the Camel Got His Skin", etc with music by Bobby McFerrin Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Gift of the Tortoise: A Musical Journey through Southern Africa, Music for Little People. A wonderful sampler of Ladysmith's incredible vocal music with accompanying narration. A Child's Celebration of Folk Music, Music for Little People. Another great anthology including the memorably funny, There Aint't No Bugs on Me. Family FolkGarcia and Grisman - Not for Kids Only American Folksongs for Children, Mike & Peggy Seeger, Rounder. Ninety-four songs compiled in the 1940's by their mother, Ruth Crawford Seeger, in a book of the same name). These are lovely, short folk songs many or most of which you've never heard before. A Child's Celebration of Song; includes: House at Pooh Corner Garden Song (Inch by Inch, Row by Row) Jelly Man Kelly (James Taylor) St. Judy's Comet (Paul Simon's lullaby to his son) Banana Boat Song (Dayo Dayo -- Taj Mahal) Over the Rainbow (Judy Garland version) ...and many other great ones And some great videos: Goodnight Moon HBO Kid's Video
June 18, 2003
Israeli Attorney General Attempts to Derail Major Israeli Concession to Paletinians
The New York Times reported in Palestinians Raise Hope of Cease-Fire Deal With Militants that: There were many reports today of what would be a major concession from Israel: the possible release of the most prominent Palestinian prisoner, Marwan Barghouti. Mr. Barghouti, head of Yasir Arafat's Fatah movement in the West Bank, who is often considered a possible successor to Mr. Arafat as Palestinian president, went on trial in Israel in September on charges of murder and of belonging to a terrorist organization. Israeli officials declined to comment on the reports of his impending release. But the possibility seemed real enough for Israel's attorney general, Elyakim Rubinstein, to send a scathing letter to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who is already under pressure from his right-wing supporters who oppose the peace plan. "The person in question is an architect of terror,' Mr. Rubinstein wrote. 'It is unthinkable to integrate Barghouti into any deal with the Palestinians. The voice of our brothers' blood prohibits such a thing. Experience shows that men of terror such as Barghouti do not return to an honest path. How will we be able to face the families of the victims?" Does exerience really "show that men of terror...do not return to an honest path." Ridiculous. Obviously, Rubinstein has forgotten the history of national struggles throughout the 20th century including his own nation's history: 1. Yitzhak Shamir, a prime minister I detested, coordinated the assassination of the UN's primary Mideast negotiator, Count Bernadotte prior to 1948. Shamir must have "returned to an honest path" because he was elected Israel's prime minister. 2. George Washington and the members of the Continental Congress knew that if their cause failed they would be at the ends of British ropes. Hence the famous phrase spoken by a signer of the Declaration of Independence: "If we do not hang together we shall hang alone." Doubtless, George III described the Americans in terms that would be familiar to those used today to describe Palestinian militants (not that I'm defending their cause--far from it). 3. Indonesian nationalists fought the Dutch for independence as guerilla fighters; then became the governors of their own country. 4. Jomo Kenyatta led the Mau Mau revolt with a British price on his head. Later, he became his nation's first leader and father of his country. There is no reason that Marwan Barghouti might not turn out to be the same type of figure for the Palestinian people. Rubinstein is engaged in the same old right wing Palestinian bashing that has always gone a long way in Israel's insular political system. The rule has always been: "bash a Palestinian, make a few brownie points with the right wing Israeli electorate." But now, such rules should be suspended because there is a real chance for peace. To continue playing the Palestinian card and attempt to narrow Sharon's manuvering room in the upcoming peace negotiations is unconscionable. I hope that Israel's political leaders will steer clear of the grandstanding typified by Attorney General Rubinstein.
Can Peacekeepers Work for the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict?
One thing is for sure: the current ideas for ending (or even easing) the conflict aren't working. Both sides are at each others throat and seeking the faintest advantage over their enemy. No proposal has worked, there is no trust on either side, things are a total mess. Perhaps out of desperation (a good idea borne out of desperation is still a good idea), two powerful Republican senators have floated a new trial balloon: American troops could be placed between the warring parties to keep the peace. M.J. Rosenberg in his Israel Policy Forum weekly column wrote: That is why Senator John Warner is calling for the deployment of NATO troops to the area, and Martin Indyk, the former US ambassador to Israel, is suggesting that the West Bank and Gaza become a US trusteeship, with US troops serving as peacekeepers. In the words of former NSC staffer and author Kenneth Pollack, "separating Israelis and Palestinians physically will give breathing room to the new Palestinian administration trying to fight terrorists and protection to Israel. Israel has over the years always nixed this idea for fear of diminishing its own sovereignty and lessening its ability to deal with security issues in any way it chooses. But things may be desperate enough now (or perhaps the Israelis are more trusting of the idea that the U.S. will protect Israel's interests), for Sharon and the Israelis to embrace this idea, if not willingly then at least grudgingly. First, Senator John Warner and last week, Richard Lugar endorsed the idea of U.S. forces playing a peacekeeping role in the conflict either alone or alongside international forces. Their statements are important because Warner is the leading Republican senator on military issues and Lugar the leading foreign policy figure in the Senate. I wouldn't be surprised if this initiative might have been initiated or at least coordinated with the White House in an orchestrated campaign. Bush may be laying the groundwork for the period later down the line when both sides may be ready to advance to the stage of disengaging and allowing other forces to keep the peace between them. I, for one, have always supported the idea of outside military forces maintaining peace & security for both sides. It's clear that neither side can impose its will on the other militarily or in any other fashion. Nothing either side does to the other diminishes the will to resist and fight back. So, like in Kosovo, Bosnia and so many other places, peacekeepers are needed to do what neither side is willing to do on its own. You may ask what happens if the peacekeepers are unwelcome, even attacked in their peacekeeping posts. Well, we've dealt with these situations before especially in the countries named above. It will be up to the Arab nations to impose upon recalcitrant Palestinians the idea that peacekeeping MUST be allowed to work. The U.S. can do the same for the Israelis. The message must go forth that resistance to the peacekeepers will not be countenanced. I believe that this message, if delivered consistently, will work. And if it does work, it may allow two peoples who detest each other some breathing room. This in turn may allow enough time to intervene for both sides to begin to see some good in the other. This would be the beginning of a lasting peace. It may be the only way to bring lasting peace.
June 13, 2003
Orchestra Baobab performs in Seattle--Sam Mangwana releases Cantos de Esperanca
Senegal's great band, Orchestra Baobab will make a rare Seattle appearance at Experience Music Project on June 28th. For concert info click on: Orchestra Baobab at EMP. For more about the band visit: Orchestra Baobab online Sam Mangwana is one of the seminal soukous guitarists of his generation having played with most of the greats of the past few decades including Franco & Tabu Ley Rochereau. Every new recording presents new and exciting musical expression. For an album review go to Afropop review
Israel's Schizoid Policy: Eliminating Hamas and Unauthorized Settlements
News sources report that Israel continues to dismantle unauthorized settlements in accordance with the mandates of the Road Map. Yet at the same time, Israel prosecutes a policy of extermination against Hamas and its militants. This seems like schizoid behavior. Israel must be telling Abu Mazen: "We DO want to make peace with you. Look at what we're doing in dismantling settlements. As for Hamas, we will eliminate them completely. But that doesn't mean we don't want to make peace!" Well, I'm sorry--you can't pursue an overall policy of pursuing peace, while at the same time trying to eliminate an entire sector of your "enemy's" population. It just doesn't work that way. Only one person and one entity can eliminate Hamas and that is Abu Mazen & the PA. I completely understand Israel's frustration that he isn't doing more to physically confront them. But if he doesn't do it no one can. If my enemy kills me, it only makes my cause stronger. Only my brother can tell me I am wrong and compel me to change my path. Israel's right wing believes that Israel CAN eliminate Hamas. But Israel's been trying to do this for THREE YEARS & more! Has the violence stopped or even abated? No. Our goal should be to strengthen & empower Abu Mazen and Dahlan so that they can do the job themselves.
June 11, 2003
Israelis and Palestinians: Snatching Defeat from the Jaws of Victory The latest cycle of murder and countermurder in Israel and Palestine is a horrifying and saddening reminder of so many similar times in the past when some positive development in relations between the two peoples is followed by the response of the radical extremists on both sides which destroys any chance for peace. This is what is happening now: Hamas desperately wants to block any serious effort for peace so it bombs and kills. Sharon, who genuinely appeared interested in reaching some kind of compromise with Abu Mazen last week has reverted to his former butcher mentality in approving an assassination attempt on the Hamas leader, Rantizi. Now we have more Hamas violence today in the form of the Jerusalem bus attack. What is doubly troubling is that if we go back a short few days to Aqaba we remember that the leader of Israel's government and the leader of Palestine's government were negotiating and making an honest effort to bridge their differences. Now, what we have is the Israeli state ignoring Abu Mazen and the legitimate representatives of the Palestinian people. It's as if the only representative of the Palestinians that matters to Israel is Hamas with whom the Israelis are embraced in a dance of death. The only way to destroy Hamas is to get Abu Mazen to do it. If Ben Gurion could rein in the upstart Irgun (led by Menachem Begin) by confiscating the Alta Lena and its boatload of weapons (this represented the Irgun's attempt to arm itself and become a competing political-military force to the Palmach), then Abu Mazen can do the same to Hamas and the other extremists on their side. But Abu Mazen can do nothing against Hamas until Israel gives up on the idea of doing the job itself.
June 09, 2003
Folk Favorites
There are so many songs one likes. But what distinghishes a song you merely like, from one that absolutely mesmerizes you upon hearing it? For me, there is a subtle interaction between melody and lyrics. A beautiful melody with mundane lyrics is merely a pleasant song. But the songs below have that rare quality that marries the two in perfect harmony (so to speak). Here are some of my favorite songs currently (most of which I heard on KBCS FM [Bellevue, WA]): Killing the Blues--Roly Salley The melody of this song is so slow, mournful and elegaic that it matches perfectly the tale it tells of faded dreams and lost love. Leaves were falling, just like embers, In colors red and gold, they set us on fire Burning just like moonbeams in our eyes. Chorus: Somebody said they saw me, swinging the world by the tail Bouncing over a white cloud, killing the blues. Now I'm guilty of something ... I hope you never do Because there is nothing Any sadder than losing yourself in love. Chorus And then you've ask me ...just to leave you To set out on my own And get what I needed. You want me to find what I've already had . My Old Friend the Blues--Steve Earle I guess I'm a sucker for a long, slow ballad. The melody and lyrics of this song interact in a very similar way to Killing the Blues. The tablature and lyrics are from E-Tabs.org G Just when every ray of hope was gone C G I should have known that you would come along D D7 I can't believe I ever doubted you C D7 G My old friend the blues G Another lonely night in this town C G The Sleep dont take me first you'll come around D D7 I know I can always count on you C D7 G My old friend the blues G7 C Lovers leave and friends will let you down G But your the only sure thing that I found D D7 No matter what I do I'll never lose C D7 G My old friend the blues SOLO G7 C Lovers leave and friends will let you down G And your the only sure thing that I found D D7 No matter what I do I'll never lose C D7 G My old friend the blues G D D7 Just let me hide my weary heart in you C D7 G My old friend the blues --From Steve Earle "Guitar Town" MCA Records 1986 June Carter (Sure Can Sing)--Kieran Kane While this song came out around 1997, it couldn't be more apt today just after June Carter's death a few weeks ago. June Carter is a terrific antidote to all the lame singing and gaudy, flashy fashion statements made by country's reigning divas (Twain, etc., you know who I mean). They can't sing, sure can't write a song; but they look pretty good (well, actually kinda cheap & tawdry) in a sexy outfit. June Carter was the opposite of that in every way. She & Johnny were the heart of country. I couldn't find the lyrics online. But you can learn a whole lot more about Kane, his music and this song at either TakeCountryBack.com or SomeKindofParadise.com GREEN SUMMERTIME Robin & Linda Williams, Jerome Clark This is one of the perfect summer songs with a slow, soaring melody and beautiful instrumentals by Robin and Linda Far off in the by-and-by I see a traveler in the sky But my dreams do not take wings For I'm captive to familiar things In this world of mine In the green summertime On a gravel country road By the bed of the old railroad The dust follows turning wheels And blows away across the fields In this world of mine In the green summertime BRIDGE: Though I know them all too well And I have heard all they have to tell My steps will always walk this ground To these old friends I am bound On the streets of my little town The moonlight comes streaming down The dead wait in their graves For the Lord their souls to save In this world of mine In the green summertime BRIDGE: Far off in the by-and-by I see a traveler in the sky But my dreams do not take wings For I'm captive to familiar things In this world of mine In the green summertime Silly Sisters: The Grey Funnel Line [Cyril Tawney] Another beautiful, slow ballad with an elegaic air. The "Grey Funnel Line'' is - of course - the British Navy. For more, visit Infomatik From Maddy Prior and June Tabor's album Silly Sisters Lyrics Don't mind the rain or the rolling sea The weary night never worries me But the hardest time in sailor's day Is to watch the sun as it dies away It's one more day on the Grey Funnel Line. The finest ship that sailed the sea Is still a prison for the likes of me But give me wings like Noah's dove I'd fly up harbour to the girl I love It's one more day on the Grey Funnel Line. Of Lord if dreams were only real I'd have my hands on that wooden wheel And with all my heart I'd turn her round And tell the boys that we're homeward bound. It's one more day on the Grey Funnel Line. I'll pass the time like some machine Until blue water turns to green Then I'll dance on down that walk ashore And sail the Grey Funnel Line no more. And sail the Grey Funnel Line no more.
June 06, 2003
Arafat, Hamas and the Settlers: The Spoilers Today, Yasir Arafat and Hamas denounced Abu Mazen's peace efforts at the Aqaba summit. They contend that he gave away too much to the Israelis and didn't get enough (or anything) in return. They contend that Mazen didn't address the big issues that are important to Palestinians like Jerusalem. The Israeli settler movement has also made its vehement opposition to the summit known in the streets of Jerusalem, where they demonstrated en masse. They worry that Sharon is prepared to "sell them out" by giving up the settlements in return for a peace agreement. The truth is that they are right to be worried about their respective positions and power bases. Because a peace agreement will undermine, if not destroy their roles in their respective communities. With Israel and Palestine at peace, the demeaners, the spoilers will not be needed. What will be needed are politicians and activists who can get practical things done on the ground that materially improve the lives of their constituents. And each of these individuals and groups, unless they profoundly alter their views, will fall by the wayside of history and become a mere footnote (which they should be).
June 05, 2003
Mideast Peace: Reason for Hope
I am more hopeful for the cause of Mideast peace than I have been in at least three years. I am even more thunderstruck at such optimism because two of the three political leaders who carry the hopes of the world on their shoulders are politicians who I deeply & fundamentally mistrust: I speak here of Ariel Sharon & George Bush. But I do have to admit that both men have (at least in the past week) challenged my previous negative views of them. Ariel Sharon has done the unthinkable by saying the unsayable (at least in right wing Israeli circles): he has acknowledged that Israel's domination of Palestinians and their lands is a "conquest" (not "occupation" as mistranslated by James Bennet of the New York Times) and not a dispute (the term used by right wing Israelis). He stated clearly that it is not in Israel's long term interests to rule the Palestinians against their will. This is extraordinary political rhetoric for the godfather of the settler movement. In fact, it is verbatim political rhetoric of Peace Now and the Israeli left. If the right and left in Israel can start to sound similar in their views and rhetoric, then we may yet find a solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. I continually feel like pinching myself to make sure all of this good news is real because so much of the conflict has been bleak and bloody for so long. But things look good & one hopes that they will continue to be so. I never thought I'd hear myself saying this...but I wish Sharon, Abu Mazen & Bush all the best; and great strength and fortitude to overcome the obtacles ahead.