Happy New Year to all my readers.
No resolutions here. Resolutions are such a waste of energy. Time would be better spent demanding the treasury figure out where all my bail-out money went, because they don’t appear to know. Better spent answering the question asked of me recently, “have you ever loved anyone to the point of madness”, but as you know we’re all mad here, including yours truly, so the question is already answered. Everything I (we) do is madness
Which brings me to Gaza. I could pontificate on the situation, but so many with more knowledge on either side have already done (are doing) so. I imagine it is much easier to do when you are not directly involved. Writing of such horrors should not be easy. I believe if it were harder to moralize on the man made tragedies of the world there would be less of them. If it were more difficult to write of these events from that comfortable leather chair a good distance away we might actually have to do something about these things. Many of us are seeing it as if inside a snow globe.
Despite reading a plethora of “experts” on both sides of this issue, despite sitting through countless lectures on Middle East Policy, I am at loss. It’s hard to wrap my head around this, no matter the pat answers and definitive statements issued. It is as if this perpetual scene — surreal to those not directly involved — periodically exacerbates until a minuscule dose of political diplomacy is inserted. The obligatory nod or statement is issued by any one of a variety of government officials worldwide, the token ceasefire is negotiated. The scene perpetually played out, at the expense of human beings, while those in power are either not interested in doing the right thing or so blinded by the rage of history or political goals they fail to see what the right thing is. Maybe doing the right thing has never mattered. I don’t know.
I found this post at People In The Sun , reflective in it’s confusion. PITS was a soldier in the Israeli Army.
I’m also going to quote a part of his comment from a thread at BC.
illustration via Real Clear Politics
Again, I’m not justifying Hamas. I do believe a lot of the pro-Hamas talk on the internet and around the world comes from hatred of Israel. I’m only trying to take away the propaganda and see this for what it is. If you look at the picture above, with the Palestinian shooting from behind the stroller and the Israeli shooting in front of it, you’ll see what I mean. I was in a stroller when my father fought in the ’73 war. And kids were in strollers when I went to Lebanon and to the West Bank and to Gaza. And the next generation of Israeli babies will grow up to fight the next generation of Palestinian babies. Because no one really cares about the stroller
This blogs sole purpose has always been that of catharsis, it serves no other purpose. It is not meant to be a vehicle for my career, or a place for me to gossip about friends. I am thankful for those who follow my cathartic ramblings. I am thankful for those who look at me with disdain, those who make me think, and those who leave me alone, quietly lurking in the background. I’m even thankful for those at the keyboard tapping out their anonymous emails, be they hateful, conciliatory, congratulatory or conversational. Conversely, I’m thankful I can read the world. What must it have been like not to be able to do so? I forget.
I lied. I have one resolution, to keep this blog another year. And to keep reading. One day at a time.
Come cry with me.
And if you want to talk about it anymore,
Lie here on the floor and cry on my shoulder,
Once again.
Cry on my shoulder,
I’m a friend.
Cry – listen
peace
Happy New Year, Cooper! I hadn’t clicked outside of my reader in awhile…I’m liking the new site design!!
the almost right word’s last blog post..Pre-grad(uate school) musings
Hey thanks nice to see you. Hope your school plans and new schedule are going well.
“have you ever loved anyone to the point of madness” is an easier question.
It’d be nice if a new year could begin with hope. Doesn’t look like that is going to happen.
The internet is prime for catharthis . Anyone who thinks what they write is other than that is wrong, but one man’s catharthis is another man’s lesson.
johnm’s last blog post..South Africa Here We Come?
by all means answer the easier question them.
The bartender in me shies away from these topics, the philosopher in me could talk for ever. I don’t have a clue, humanity sucks. Human beings will destroy themselves one by one. It’s a good thing, we pretty much suck all the way around.
g’s last blog post..Happy New Year
But I have loved someone to the point of madness, Rachel was her name I was 17.
no comment, though you are one of my favorite “talk forever” people.
I wonder how helpful it would be for a bunch of bloggers to leave their couches and go to Palestine waging peace. No doubt it’s best this way, and I’m glad to have another year to do so here. Happy new year, enjoy the madness.
Doug’s last blog post..The Reformation of Wolfshausen
So bloggers actually leave their couches? I often wonder.
I’d rather laugh but if their is no choice I’ll cry with ya.
The Middle East, until this past week or so, has been something I admit to ignoring. Can’t ignore it now, but I never know if there is anything out there not subjective. I don’t see a clear picture just death and destruction.
Maybe there will be things to laugh or at least smile at later this year. We can hope.
casey’s last blog post..Ravens 1 Economists 0
I’m hoping with ya casey.
Having gone to college in the big city and having met people of many different stripes, and nationalities (particularly Iranians and Israeli’s), my perspective in most instances in decidedly pro-Israeli.
Blame it on Orit and her brother Rami. She, the pacifist Israeli army vet; he, the war-mongering zionist who came to the US to escape conscription into the Israeli army. Their family knows what it is like to be on the bus into town never to arrive thanks to Hamas.
I lift my cup of coffee in wishing you, and your faithful readers, a prosperous and stress-free new year. Forgive me for my tardiness in doing so.
As to love to the point of madness, just keep in mind that the only cure for that is . . . marriage.
sauerkraut’s last blog post..Carlisle Home Invasion Story Sounds Sketchy
I experienced both sides of the coin, having gone to school in NYC. My boyfriends father is an Jewish and there is a lot of discussion taking place on that front.
I guess curing madness could be a good or bad thing depending on how you look at it. Having been quite mad for years I am loathe to become sane.
My opinion: I believe in a ‘no-state’ solution. Israel is surrounded by enemies. All our support is not going to be the deciding factor as long as Israel and her enemies are fighting over “the Holy Land.” It’s not holy. It is sand, and buildings, and some beauty, and total ugliness.
I think removal of both sides (Muslims and Jews) from this area is warranted. Relocating Israeli folks to United States terrorities, and forcing all Muslims out from the immediate area surrounding Israel, Gaza, the West Bank and Palestine is a meager start.
A unilateral move by the United States to establish a perm. military base in this particular region without interference from other governing bodies. (Forget the UN: we, the United States, really established Israel. We are the ones with the ultimate power…on this issue. Let others try to stop us. Lay down the gauntlet.)
We have all ready violated one country (Iraq) without remorse, this time we move the people, and dissolve the states that fight these unending wars. I’m tired of them trying to ‘halve the baby…’ (No one is satisfied with that outcome.)
Israel is like the prettiest girl from the most notorious family that you take to prom/dance, but she’s at the center of every fight (both from guys, and girls) while you, the boyfriend, are constantly protecting her, and fighting for her. It’s tiresome, and unhealthy for both. After while, you just feel she’s more trouble than what she is worth.
(Yes, the Holocaust for pro-Israel folks. I know. But I think the American Indians probably feel pretty lousy too after Europeans wrecked their communities, and nearly destroyed them over the last 500 years…We (Americans) didn’t set them up with a seperate nation for that – just gave them casinos rights. Yeah!!!)
We are constantly embroiled in a war that inevitably will mushroom into the worst of the worst.
It’s not anti-Jew, or pro-Muslim/Islam, or what have you, it’s pro-sense. These people are eye-for-eye, fight-each-other-until-total-destruction, swearing-to- God/Allah enemies. The few reasonable sorts never can sort out what the extremists can do to undermine any peace. So we get six months, or 2 years of relative calm? It ALWAYS goes back to fighting…
When two sides (or sects) can not get along, you must seperate them, and keep them from their ultimate prize. Better to piss off both groups, with a possible fix later as a complete generation grows up without the long-standing hatred of their ancestors involved. Even then it might never be possible…to share this land.
Sadly, both these groups are more alike than they will admit. They are unable to see the character flaws, and similar views they share in kind, and grow to accept those things in one another. They are just too set in their ways.
That’s my solution.
Got any better ideas?
Jason P.’s last blog post..2009: Is it 2008 Redux?
I certainly don’t as those who are supposed to know do not know. It’s unfortunate so many have to die in what is always called so conveniently collateral damage. If you murder the son of the man who killed your son you are still a murderer.
It’s the most difficult of all subjects for me. I don’t like Israel or many Israelis. That’s personal. I liked the comment from BC. It’s true and based on today. Yet really we have to go back 60 years to understand anything. I blame Roosevelt and then Truman and the West for letting this happen
Yet going back to WW2–Roosevelt knew so much he didn’t act on or acted on contrary to the interests of the six million. Then we put people who had been in concentration camps into displaced persons camps. That they “escaped” and established Israel is a true miracle. They were let into Soviet bloc countries but would have had to give up their religion–which I might think a good thing–but as that entire war was based on religion, ethnic and sexual identity, how could they give it up?
It’s been “in” for as long as I can remember to “hate” Israel and take the Palestinian side when they do teach real hatred, take pride in suicide bombings etc. It’s so damn complicated
I do think Israel. should have given back the land but the they could be left without a defense, offense, whatever
I can’t condone their actions in killing civilians
I hate the thought that Obama might go into his presidency with this war raging
On another note I’m glad you decided to keep this blog for another year as I can’t imagine the blogosphere without you
pia’s last blog post..Happy New Year
I’m here as long as you’re here.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt: At one point, King Ibn Saud (a shortened, wrong version of a complicated name) of Saudi Arabia met with Roosevelt to discuss ‘Israel’ in March 1945. The King laid down the law saying it was (extremely) unwise to establish an Israeli state (or to allow the settlements in the region.) Roosevelt did listen to the man. And did not take a stance at that time for a state of Israel, even though it was in the works. However, FDR died before that decision was (ultimately) his to make. (3 weeks after this meeting.)
Truman did make it – infuriating the king’s son, Faisal, who was a pretty complex and successful leader, that was chiefly behind the oil embargo in 1973, and certainly did not think much of the Jewish state (despised them with a passion), yet was plenty pro-American, and anti-Communist.
Truman is quoted in an exchange with Sec. of State George Marshall about Israel as saying: “Jews vote for me. Muslims don’t.”
Even Truman though was not much of believer in the Jews, if a personal diary found is to be believed.
“The Jews, I find, are very, very selfish,” Truman wrote in July 1947, 10 months before the British mandate in Palestine expired and David Ben-Gurion declared Israel’s independence. “They care not how many Estonians, Latvians, Finns, Poles, Yugoslavs or Greeks get murdered or mistreated as D[isplaced] P[ersons] as long as the Jews get special treatment.”
Marshall was opposed to the state seeing the future problems politically, economically of the existence of Israel.
Thoughts From “Twilight in the Desert” by Matthew R. Simmons
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/1435930/Truman-diary-reveals-scorn-'for-cruel-Jews‘.html
Jason P.’s last blog post..2009: Is it 2008 Redux?
Hi Cooper!! Happy New Year!!
I hope that you and your family had a wonderful holiday season and that 2009 is your full of new challenges and opportunities for you.
Shelia’s last blog post..World Aids Day 2008: LEAD-EMPOWER-DELIVER
Happy New year to you too Sheila. I miss you much.
To the point of madness, yes I have. I languish in the realm of madness even today.
Nationalism is scary even when it comes from Israel. I can’t help but feel Israel wants to do something about Iran and this is just their way of tipping things in that direction and getting support for doing so. I am not well enough read on the subject but what I have read is making me uncomfortable.
I like the song, thanks.
jacob’s last blog post..Preparing for tax season.
You wife would be glad to hear that I’m sure.
Yes, it would be easier if Israel had never been established. But what would you say to my colleague who left Russia at 4 because Chernobyl had poisoned the air she breathed and there were no more visas to the U. S.? I hope at least she will not have to exchange her violin for a machine gun and a post in the Israeli army.
What other way is there to love?
Never a rifle for a violin. never.
you certainly do make me think, more than any other blogger i read regularly. or irregularly. depends on the situation. that said, i know where to go, when i need my eyes opened, my compassion, reawakened, or my sense of justice, reignited.
a good year to you, cooper. xx.
Hugs Il.
May to you this year be better than every other and so on into the future.
As much as I read, as much as I talk about this issue with others online and off, the only thing I seem to settle on is this:
No one in any position to affect lasting peace in the region actually stands to benefit from peace.
The politics of the two sides have been security and liberation, respectively. Championing these causes is where the leaders of both countries find their power. And so Israel is at war with Palestine. Israel has always been at war with Palestine.
EsotericWombat’s last blog post..Just for Laughs
It really doesn’t ahve to be this way, politics gets in the way, history for all the good it does us gets int he way.
My goal has always been to keep writing my blog for the rest of my entire life.
Of anyone, I don’t think there’s any other blogger who I’d rather read for the rest of my life than yours, Cooper. Take it for the compliment it’s meant to be.
mojo shivers’s last blog post..And Your Head Feels Like Your Body, Your Mind Is Close Behind, There’s A Teardrop On Your Shoulder, Says This Is The Time Of Times
I’m pretty sure there will be a few of us here forever with you.
We should make a movie. ;0
Thanks for the mention, Cooper (and for the mention on BlogHer, of course. And the thumbs up on StumbleUpon). And congratulations to all of us for your New Year’s resolution.
People in the Sun’s last blog post..Confused and All
You humor me so pits.
Cooper thanks for writing my friendship almost personal ad. It cracked me up. I have actually been answering emails with “read Cooper’s comment. It’s too funny.”
On Israel/Palestine–the more I read the less I know. At this point all I can think about is how it will affect America and Obama which really isn’t the point. I did read a fascinating article in The Daily Beast yesterday which points out that Hamas has a history of establishing itself in places like children’s schools–this was written before the attacks yesterday
pia’s last blog post..Me bad–blogroll contained in post
My resolution thus far is to try to find the positive in whatever bleak travesty has regurgitated itself upon me.
I know many do this regularly but I had stopped for the past few years ago.
Time to learn how to wear a shitty grin once more.
Bennet’s last blog post..Finding The Positive In Christianity