David Adler
Fog upon fog
For some reason I continue to believe it’s possible to have civil discussion of the Mideast conflict — even in the blogosphere, which I’m beginning to think is an inherently poisonous medium. In the last couple of days I’ve been accused of ethnocentrism, support for ethnic cleansing, even tacit sympathy for Lebanese Maronite fascism. I’m not going to respond to
Music notes
Now playing: Jean-Marie Leclair, Leclair Sonatas — II (from Op. 9) (Hyperion)Composed between c1738-1743, for violin, cello and harpsichord. The Convivium ensemble plays this music at a pitch of A=415Hz, substantially lower than modern concert pitch (440). The result is harmonically bright music that sounds strangely dark. Music not to listen to while writing about violence and death —Luciano Berio’s
In other news
Sunni gunmen rampage against Shia civilians in Mahmudiya, Iraq, killing up to 48. You know things are bad when that’s not the day’s biggest news, not even close. The mass media gaze is drifting away from Iraq, but the ongoing bloodbath must not be forgotten. Both Sunni and Shia death squads are now operating in police or security uniform, engaging
What instead?
Gene at HP insists that those who criticize Israel’s bombardment of Lebanon should stop griping and offer concrete suggestions on how to repel Hezbollah. Here are some words from Michael Totten, a Westerner who has lived in Lebanon and actually knows something about the place:What should the Israelis have done instead? They should have treated Hezbollahland as a country, which
More fog
Cian in the comments asks: Does this principle of civilian immunity only apply to Israelis, then? Not only has Israel has killed far more civilians in Lebannon, but their response to the military kidnap of a soldier was to bomb civillians. Or do you think that all Lebanese civilians are somehow not civilians? Really amazing — in the posts of
Fog of war commentary
Unsurprisingly, Marc Cooper is taking heat for condemning Hezbollah. “Angry Arab” apparently has no problem with Hez launching rockets indiscriminately at Israeli cities, in flagrant violation of the principle of civilian immunity. Again, the very existence of an armed Hez violates a standing UN resolution. Even more amazingly, people are attacking Marc for lacking the “courage” to criticize Israel. The
Chomsky PS
Since I’ve commented on Chomsky’s May 2006 meet-and-greet with Hezbollah, I should link to this Amy Goodman interview on Democracy Now! To his credit, Chomsky calls the Hezbollah incursion “a very irresponsible act.” Of course, Goodman doesn’t ask him about his professed support for Hezbollah’s right to bear arms in clear violation of UN Resolution 1559. Lots of talk, however,
Jazz & Bach: A reply to Norm
Norm Geras asks: It struck me that of the great composers, J.S. Bach is closest to the spirit of jazz. I don’t know enough about the technical side of music, or music theory, to be able to say why it strikes me so. That’s just how it sounds. Bach as forbear of John Coltrane? Can anyone explain? Oh yes —