This is great news for people like my wife who was converted to Judaism by non-Orthodox rabbis, as well as my children who are not considered Jewish according to the Orthodox, but could hardly be considered anything but Jewish by any non-Jew. And as we learned from the Nazis, it is not always up to the Jews to determine who is Jewish when it matters most.
Court recognizes non-Orthodox abroad conversion of Israelis
People who undergo non-Orthodox conversions to Judaism overseas are entitled to Israeli citizenship under the Law of Return, even if the converts are Israeli residents who traveled overseas solely for the purpose of converting, the High Court of Justice ruled Thursday in a 7-4 decision.
That being said, she was born in Israel and is therefore considered Israeli anyway. What´s important is that she would now be considered a Jewish Israeli by the Israeli government.
Thursday, March 31, 2005
Last night, I went to the third soccer game of my life, the World Cup qulaifier between Argentina and Colombia which Argentina won 1-0 in what most considered to be a pretty boring game. The low score came despite the fact that Colombia played with only 10 men for the entire second half. The game was in the Estadio Monumental of the River Plate club.
My mother-in-law actually lives only a 15 minute walk away and it´s easily visible from her balcony. My brother-in-law is actually a fan of Boca Juniors, which is "River´s" biggest rival - think Yankees vs. Mets - so it must annoy him terribly that he always has to see the enemy stadium and that the national team´s games are played there.
My brother-in-law and I were sitting in the upper level a little bit inside of one of the goals. Although the stadium was full, I was actually surprised at the general calm of the fans. Aside from the occassional singing, it didn´t really seem that there was much more or less passion than at a typical NFL game. My favorite chant is when everyone starts hopping up and down and screams:
YA LO VE
YA LO VE
EL QUIEN NO SALTA ES UN INGLES
(Hey look now, hey look now, whoever´s not jumping is English!)
Apparently, this is the type of chant that is easily transferable depending on who you dislike. A recent article in the New York Times, A Dutch Soccer Riddle: Jewish Regalia Without Jews, talks about a Dutch game where the crowd sang, "Everyone who's not jumping is a Jew!" , which in this case meant supporters of Ajax. Read the story.
Anyway, the peanuts cost about 30 cents for a small bag, 15 cents after the game. Since this was my first game in Argentina where there are signs everywhere saying "No to violence", I was surprised that there were people at the game with small children, people with cell phones and digital cameras. I didn´t notice anyone particularly drunk, and not even a lot of smoking which is still prevalent here in public places.
I imagine that the atmosphere is much different at a regular season game when the real barrabrava (hooligans) show up, but I still look forward to going to one someday.
In other World Cup news, Israel actually tied France and the U.S. beat Guatemala.
My mother-in-law actually lives only a 15 minute walk away and it´s easily visible from her balcony. My brother-in-law is actually a fan of Boca Juniors, which is "River´s" biggest rival - think Yankees vs. Mets - so it must annoy him terribly that he always has to see the enemy stadium and that the national team´s games are played there.
My brother-in-law and I were sitting in the upper level a little bit inside of one of the goals. Although the stadium was full, I was actually surprised at the general calm of the fans. Aside from the occassional singing, it didn´t really seem that there was much more or less passion than at a typical NFL game. My favorite chant is when everyone starts hopping up and down and screams:
YA LO VE
YA LO VE
EL QUIEN NO SALTA ES UN INGLES
(Hey look now, hey look now, whoever´s not jumping is English!)
Apparently, this is the type of chant that is easily transferable depending on who you dislike. A recent article in the New York Times, A Dutch Soccer Riddle: Jewish Regalia Without Jews, talks about a Dutch game where the crowd sang, "Everyone who's not jumping is a Jew!" , which in this case meant supporters of Ajax. Read the story.
Anyway, the peanuts cost about 30 cents for a small bag, 15 cents after the game. Since this was my first game in Argentina where there are signs everywhere saying "No to violence", I was surprised that there were people at the game with small children, people with cell phones and digital cameras. I didn´t notice anyone particularly drunk, and not even a lot of smoking which is still prevalent here in public places.
I imagine that the atmosphere is much different at a regular season game when the real barrabrava (hooligans) show up, but I still look forward to going to one someday.
In other World Cup news, Israel actually tied France and the U.S. beat Guatemala.
After several years of complaints that Columbia University has become a breeding ground for anti-Semitism, a University comittee will issue a report saying that the exact opposite is the case. It´s the Jews that are causing all the trouble.
Columbia Panel Reports No Proof of Anti-Semitism
But the report, obtained by The New York Times and scheduled for release today, said it had found "no evidence of any statements made by the faculty that could reasonably be construed as anti-Semitic."
It did, however, describe a broader environment of incivility on campus, with pro-Israel students disrupting lectures on Middle Eastern studies and some faculty members feeling that they were being spied on.
The full report can be read here.
Certain Jewish members of the student body are not happy.
Fueling the ire was word that the university's public-affairs department leaked a copy of the report to The New York Times — which first reported the findings on its Web site — before showing it to the students who made the charges.
Sophomore Bari Weiss said the move illustrated the school's lack of respect for students.
Great follow-up here from Kesher Talk.
Among other commentary, a link is provided to Charles Jacobs of the Anti-Slavery Group and the David Project...
The report obfuscates by referring to incidents of biased, dishonest teaching in pedagogical and psychological terms. It classes them as ‘rhetorically combative’ methods or as expressions of ‘uncongenial views’ that — and the issue is reduced to this — make some students ‘uncomfortable.’ But the committee never considers the possibility that these ‘teachings’ are lies and propaganda. When Professor Massad teaches that the word ‘Zion’ means ‘penis’ and therefore Zionism is a macho movement, this is not an uncongenial view, but a lie. When at Columbia it is taught that the Jews are Nazis and the Palestinians are the new Jews, and that the Jews slaughtered Arabs in Jenin, these are not ‘rhetorically combative’ modes of teaching; they are blood libels, anti-Semitic provocations, deceptions, and Arabist propaganda.
Columbia Panel Reports No Proof of Anti-Semitism
But the report, obtained by The New York Times and scheduled for release today, said it had found "no evidence of any statements made by the faculty that could reasonably be construed as anti-Semitic."
It did, however, describe a broader environment of incivility on campus, with pro-Israel students disrupting lectures on Middle Eastern studies and some faculty members feeling that they were being spied on.
The full report can be read here.
Certain Jewish members of the student body are not happy.
Fueling the ire was word that the university's public-affairs department leaked a copy of the report to The New York Times — which first reported the findings on its Web site — before showing it to the students who made the charges.
Sophomore Bari Weiss said the move illustrated the school's lack of respect for students.
Great follow-up here from Kesher Talk.
Among other commentary, a link is provided to Charles Jacobs of the Anti-Slavery Group and the David Project...
The report obfuscates by referring to incidents of biased, dishonest teaching in pedagogical and psychological terms. It classes them as ‘rhetorically combative’ methods or as expressions of ‘uncongenial views’ that — and the issue is reduced to this — make some students ‘uncomfortable.’ But the committee never considers the possibility that these ‘teachings’ are lies and propaganda. When Professor Massad teaches that the word ‘Zion’ means ‘penis’ and therefore Zionism is a macho movement, this is not an uncongenial view, but a lie. When at Columbia it is taught that the Jews are Nazis and the Palestinians are the new Jews, and that the Jews slaughtered Arabs in Jenin, these are not ‘rhetorically combative’ modes of teaching; they are blood libels, anti-Semitic provocations, deceptions, and Arabist propaganda.
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
Iran won its 2006 World Cup qualifying match against North Korea today, sealing it´s position in first place in the Evil* Region. But what would a clash of evil nations be without violence?
*Evil refers to the respective governments, not the people of course.
Iran triumph sparks ugly reaction
Iran overpowered North Korea 2-0 on Wednesday in a spiteful Asian World Cup qualifier that saw the match officials marooned on the pitch for 20 minutes after the final whistle.
Referee Mohammed Kousa had refused to award the Koreans a late penalty and was surrounded by angry players while fans threw bottles and other missiles.
The missiles, luckliy, were not of the long-range kind that could hit the U.S.
*Evil refers to the respective governments, not the people of course.
Iran triumph sparks ugly reaction
Iran overpowered North Korea 2-0 on Wednesday in a spiteful Asian World Cup qualifier that saw the match officials marooned on the pitch for 20 minutes after the final whistle.
Referee Mohammed Kousa had refused to award the Koreans a late penalty and was surrounded by angry players while fans threw bottles and other missiles.
The missiles, luckliy, were not of the long-range kind that could hit the U.S.
The other day, Daniel Okrent of the New York Times reported without doubt that the reporters and editorial board at his current employer do work independently of one anohter. Assuming this is the case at other large news organizations, I guess we have to start blaming individual reporters for spreading liberal opinion through the hard news sections.
Back on March 18, Paul Blustein and Richard Leiby of the Washington Post reported -
Battle lines hardened yesterday over President Bush's nomination of Paul D. Wolfowitz to become president of the World Bank, as U.S. officials pressed for swift approval by the bank's board and some European officials vowed to resist.
The deputy defense secretary's nomination, already hugely controversial because of his role as a key architect of the Iraq war, drew fresh denunciations in European capitals, where critics fumed that Washington had failed to consult other member countries of the bank before springing its choice on them.
How is it possible that less than two weeks later, Reuters can report the following -
The European Union gave U.S. nominee Paul Wolfowitz a green light on Wednesday by calling him the "incoming president of the World Bank" on the eve of a board meeting to choose a new head of the development bank.
After the U.S. deputy defense secretary met senior European finance and development officials in Brussels, Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker said on behalf of the EU: "We had a constructive and friendly meeting where European ministers were putting all the questions they wanted to put to the incoming president of the World Bank."
However, no article would be complete without finding something bad to say -
EU governments have mostly avoided public criticism of a man more widely associated with the unilateral use of U.S. military power rather than with development assistance. But some non-government organizations have slammed the choice.
Since governments are by definition public bodies, I think it´s laughable that by definition Reuters suggests that there is some other form of criticism from government officials that is representative of the whole body, especially without naming sources.
Back on March 18, Paul Blustein and Richard Leiby of the Washington Post reported -
Battle lines hardened yesterday over President Bush's nomination of Paul D. Wolfowitz to become president of the World Bank, as U.S. officials pressed for swift approval by the bank's board and some European officials vowed to resist.
The deputy defense secretary's nomination, already hugely controversial because of his role as a key architect of the Iraq war, drew fresh denunciations in European capitals, where critics fumed that Washington had failed to consult other member countries of the bank before springing its choice on them.
How is it possible that less than two weeks later, Reuters can report the following -
The European Union gave U.S. nominee Paul Wolfowitz a green light on Wednesday by calling him the "incoming president of the World Bank" on the eve of a board meeting to choose a new head of the development bank.
After the U.S. deputy defense secretary met senior European finance and development officials in Brussels, Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker said on behalf of the EU: "We had a constructive and friendly meeting where European ministers were putting all the questions they wanted to put to the incoming president of the World Bank."
However, no article would be complete without finding something bad to say -
EU governments have mostly avoided public criticism of a man more widely associated with the unilateral use of U.S. military power rather than with development assistance. But some non-government organizations have slammed the choice.
Since governments are by definition public bodies, I think it´s laughable that by definition Reuters suggests that there is some other form of criticism from government officials that is representative of the whole body, especially without naming sources.
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
I was going to spend some time going through Paul Krugman´s latest op-ed piece claiming that there´s a bunch of Christians out there ready to assassinate non-believers, but others, like the genetlemen at Powerline, are just so good at it that I´ll just take the lazy way out and link to their work.
I´ve been in Argentina since Saturday morning visiting the in-laws. As is typical for this time of year, the weather is beautiful (outside of the occasional fall thunderstorm) as the heat of summer gives way to the cool air of fall.
I don´t get out in the streets enough, and I don´t wear a yarmulke, so perhaps I can´t confirm whether this is true or not - Report Finds anti-Semitism Increased Since 1994 Buenos Aires Attack
The report, issued by the Institute of the World Jewish Congress, is titled, "Justice and the AMIA Attack: The Selective or the Collective in Argentina - Who Is At Fault?" Recent anti-Semitic incidents have ranged from vandalized Jewish property and cemeteries to police discrimination and verbal threats. Although politicians such as President Kirchner, who signed the WJC petition to the UN against anti-Semitism, have been sympathetic to Jewish concerns, investigations into various incidents have made little progress to date.
Argentines have long ago given up the idea that anyone will be prosecuted for the AMIA bombing, but I don´t know that anti-Semitism is on the increase here. I imagine that there´s the typical increase in anti-Israel sentiment that´s occurred globally over the last few years, but I don´t think there´s been a increased sense of danger in the community.
Friday afternoon the Multiwife and I are going to our nephew´s school - Instituto Bet-El for the unveiling of a plaque in our parent´s honor/memory. We are helping them to build a new library-classroom for the school. We´ve never made a donation like this before so we don´t know quite what to expect. I hope they don´t expect me to make a speech in Spanish....
I don´t get out in the streets enough, and I don´t wear a yarmulke, so perhaps I can´t confirm whether this is true or not - Report Finds anti-Semitism Increased Since 1994 Buenos Aires Attack
The report, issued by the Institute of the World Jewish Congress, is titled, "Justice and the AMIA Attack: The Selective or the Collective in Argentina - Who Is At Fault?" Recent anti-Semitic incidents have ranged from vandalized Jewish property and cemeteries to police discrimination and verbal threats. Although politicians such as President Kirchner, who signed the WJC petition to the UN against anti-Semitism, have been sympathetic to Jewish concerns, investigations into various incidents have made little progress to date.
Argentines have long ago given up the idea that anyone will be prosecuted for the AMIA bombing, but I don´t know that anti-Semitism is on the increase here. I imagine that there´s the typical increase in anti-Israel sentiment that´s occurred globally over the last few years, but I don´t think there´s been a increased sense of danger in the community.
Friday afternoon the Multiwife and I are going to our nephew´s school - Instituto Bet-El for the unveiling of a plaque in our parent´s honor/memory. We are helping them to build a new library-classroom for the school. We´ve never made a donation like this before so we don´t know quite what to expect. I hope they don´t expect me to make a speech in Spanish....
Sunday, March 27, 2005
Here´s some nice news from Israel - Warring sides sing a song of peace
Israeli and Palestinian singers will perform a love song in Hebrew and Arabic on each side's public radio stations on Sunday, hoping it will help inspire peacemaking after years of bloodshed.
The bilingual In My Heart, to be sung by Israeli David Broza and Palestinian Wisam Murad, will be broadcast simultaneously on the official Voice of Palestine radio and Israel's Army Radio.
"It's a big issue for Israelis to hear an Arab sing on Army Radio, and the Voice of Palestine has never before broadcast a song in Hebrew. It's a breakthrough for coexistence," Broza's media adviser, Nir Gontarz, said.
I can´t find a link to the song right now, but if I do I´ll post it.
UPDATE - Many thanks to Richard at Tikun Olam for providing a link to B´Libi with english translation as well! Todah rabah.
Honestly, I have no clue what is going on over there right now, although the signs that there are increasing tensions between the hardliners and the not-so-hardliners within both Israeli and Palestinian societies is probably a sign of peace since it means people are more focused on conflict amongst themselves than with others.
I´ve heard many jokes over the years that once Israelis lose their external enemy, their society will fall apart. I certainly hope that´s not true.
Israeli and Palestinian singers will perform a love song in Hebrew and Arabic on each side's public radio stations on Sunday, hoping it will help inspire peacemaking after years of bloodshed.
The bilingual In My Heart, to be sung by Israeli David Broza and Palestinian Wisam Murad, will be broadcast simultaneously on the official Voice of Palestine radio and Israel's Army Radio.
"It's a big issue for Israelis to hear an Arab sing on Army Radio, and the Voice of Palestine has never before broadcast a song in Hebrew. It's a breakthrough for coexistence," Broza's media adviser, Nir Gontarz, said.
I can´t find a link to the song right now, but if I do I´ll post it.
UPDATE - Many thanks to Richard at Tikun Olam for providing a link to B´Libi with english translation as well! Todah rabah.
Honestly, I have no clue what is going on over there right now, although the signs that there are increasing tensions between the hardliners and the not-so-hardliners within both Israeli and Palestinian societies is probably a sign of peace since it means people are more focused on conflict amongst themselves than with others.
I´ve heard many jokes over the years that once Israelis lose their external enemy, their society will fall apart. I certainly hope that´s not true.
Add another country to the list where people are asking for more democracy, not just independence. Bahrain.
MANAMA (Reuters) - Tens of thousands have marched in one of Bahrain’s largest opposition demonstrations to demand democratic reforms in the pro-Western Gulf Arab state.
MANAMA (Reuters) - Tens of thousands have marched in one of Bahrain’s largest opposition demonstrations to demand democratic reforms in the pro-Western Gulf Arab state.
Saturday, March 26, 2005
Just two months after being sworn in as president despite a campaign that painted him as the worst president on jobs since the Great Depression, it turns out that job growth under George W. Bush is now too strong.
After years of praying for strong payroll numbers each month, investors must adjust to the idea that a healthy market for workers could be unhealthy for financial markets.
Back in the day, job creation was good for everybody: workers, bosses and investors. It showed a strong economy, which meant good profits and higher stock prices.
But now job creation could be seen as a warning sign of inflation, which could mean higher interest rates and lower stock prices.
After years of praying for strong payroll numbers each month, investors must adjust to the idea that a healthy market for workers could be unhealthy for financial markets.
Back in the day, job creation was good for everybody: workers, bosses and investors. It showed a strong economy, which meant good profits and higher stock prices.
But now job creation could be seen as a warning sign of inflation, which could mean higher interest rates and lower stock prices.
Only a few days after criticizing a New York Times opinion piece for trying to claim that the various "people power" movements around the Middle East are not necessarily desirious of democracy, we have these photos from Taiwan where hundreds of thousands marched in protest against the mainland Chinese government.
Do I think China is going down? Not yet, not yet....
Do I think China is going down? Not yet, not yet....
In this year of revolution and freedom, another tyrannical power falls and a joyous nation celebrates.
Spartans march on, stun top-seeded Devils ) That´s Duke University, if you didn´t know.
With one high-flying display of muscle and moxie, Maurice Ager and the Michigan State Spartans put the exclamation point on their bruising run through the NCAA tournament.
Taking a pass from Alan Anderson on a fastbreak in the second half, Ager took one step and leaped high over Duke’s J.J. Redick before hammering down a spectacular tomahawk dunk. He then pounded his chest with his fist.
I´m paying almost zero attention to March Madness, yet when Duke loses I get this warm, fuzzy feeling inside. Maybe it´s because my alma mater hasn´t made the Final Four for about twenty'five years.
Spartans march on, stun top-seeded Devils ) That´s Duke University, if you didn´t know.
With one high-flying display of muscle and moxie, Maurice Ager and the Michigan State Spartans put the exclamation point on their bruising run through the NCAA tournament.
Taking a pass from Alan Anderson on a fastbreak in the second half, Ager took one step and leaped high over Duke’s J.J. Redick before hammering down a spectacular tomahawk dunk. He then pounded his chest with his fist.
I´m paying almost zero attention to March Madness, yet when Duke loses I get this warm, fuzzy feeling inside. Maybe it´s because my alma mater hasn´t made the Final Four for about twenty'five years.
Thursday, March 24, 2005
From WSJ's Opinion Journal - What does this say about the authors of The Princeton Review?
How do you know that you'll be comfortable -- and that others will be comfortable with you -- at your chosen college? We dish the dirt about demographic backgrounds, lifestyle attitudes and religion.
Diversity University - Monochromatic Institute
Lots of Race/Class Interaction - Little Race/Class Interaction
Diverse Student Population - Homogeneous Student Population
Students Ignore God - Students Pray
Gay Community Accepted - Alternative Lifestyles Not An Alternative
So, I guess this means that a campus where many students pray is synonomous with single-mindedness? Has any body heard the joke about the two Jews with three opinions? Have these people seen what is going on in Gaza or Southern Thailand?
How do you know that you'll be comfortable -- and that others will be comfortable with you -- at your chosen college? We dish the dirt about demographic backgrounds, lifestyle attitudes and religion.
Diversity University - Monochromatic Institute
Lots of Race/Class Interaction - Little Race/Class Interaction
Diverse Student Population - Homogeneous Student Population
Students Ignore God - Students Pray
Gay Community Accepted - Alternative Lifestyles Not An Alternative
So, I guess this means that a campus where many students pray is synonomous with single-mindedness? Has any body heard the joke about the two Jews with three opinions? Have these people seen what is going on in Gaza or Southern Thailand?
It is certainly a valid argument that the current wave of change in the Middle East is in certain ways quite dissimilar to the collapse of the Soviet empire in Eastern Europe. There's a lot more killing going on now and those in power are not slipping away quietly, as David Fromkin writes in A Wall of Faith and History in today's NY Times.
However, when the argument turns from pointing out the differences to "don't feel too good about yourselves, America", the argument always seems to rest on unrelenting pessimism or a sleight of verbal hand.
For example, Mr. Fromkin writes, "Nor are the forces on our side necessarily fighting for democracy, as they were in Berlin. The demonstrators in the streets in Beirut were not demanding democracy, but asking for independence - which is rather a different thing."
Democracy is indeed different than independence. However is his claim based on the fact that Lebanon today is considered a democracy of sorts and therefore isn't looking to change, or is it that he thinks that the Lebanese are looking towards a dictator or strongman to lead them? Both ideas seem preposterous to me as a Syrian-occupied Lebanon is no more a democracy than Iraq was or Iran is just because people are allowed to "vote" in rigged elections. And I haven't yet heard anyone claim that the "Cedar Revolution" will produce anything but a more open Western-style democracy which is certainly not a foreign concept to the Lebanese. I wonder if this guy had to place a bet on democracy or dictatorship in Lebanon, if he would put his money where his pen is.
I also like this statement - "So in 2005, along with the bad news - the continuing deadly insurgency in Iraq, Osama bin Laden remaining at large, terrorists regrouping from Syria to Pakistan - there are welcome surprises all across the Arab-speaking Middle East."
If this is the worst of the bad news, I'm OK with that. First of all, the "continuing" deadly insurgency is starting to fade away as evidenced by the precipitous drop in American casualties, and the NY Times very own "There Are Signs the Tide is Turning..."
You might as well say that New York is in terrible shape because of the "continued string of homicides in the five boroughs", ignoring the fact that there are only a third of the murders that were committed not so long ago.
As for Osama Bin Laden, as President Bush once said, "I don't see him leading any parades". Also, a recent poll has shown a sharp decline in support for Bin Laden in the most populous Muslim nation.
Finally, I WANT the terorrists to be "regrouping". It sure as hell beats "attacking", and regrouping is what armies do after they are defeated, lose ground, and retreat.
I think I'm going to send the author two free tickets to Disney's upcoming movie, Chicken Little.
Boy, I haven't written a long political post in along time - that felt good!
However, when the argument turns from pointing out the differences to "don't feel too good about yourselves, America", the argument always seems to rest on unrelenting pessimism or a sleight of verbal hand.
For example, Mr. Fromkin writes, "Nor are the forces on our side necessarily fighting for democracy, as they were in Berlin. The demonstrators in the streets in Beirut were not demanding democracy, but asking for independence - which is rather a different thing."
Democracy is indeed different than independence. However is his claim based on the fact that Lebanon today is considered a democracy of sorts and therefore isn't looking to change, or is it that he thinks that the Lebanese are looking towards a dictator or strongman to lead them? Both ideas seem preposterous to me as a Syrian-occupied Lebanon is no more a democracy than Iraq was or Iran is just because people are allowed to "vote" in rigged elections. And I haven't yet heard anyone claim that the "Cedar Revolution" will produce anything but a more open Western-style democracy which is certainly not a foreign concept to the Lebanese. I wonder if this guy had to place a bet on democracy or dictatorship in Lebanon, if he would put his money where his pen is.
I also like this statement - "So in 2005, along with the bad news - the continuing deadly insurgency in Iraq, Osama bin Laden remaining at large, terrorists regrouping from Syria to Pakistan - there are welcome surprises all across the Arab-speaking Middle East."
If this is the worst of the bad news, I'm OK with that. First of all, the "continuing" deadly insurgency is starting to fade away as evidenced by the precipitous drop in American casualties, and the NY Times very own "There Are Signs the Tide is Turning..."
You might as well say that New York is in terrible shape because of the "continued string of homicides in the five boroughs", ignoring the fact that there are only a third of the murders that were committed not so long ago.
As for Osama Bin Laden, as President Bush once said, "I don't see him leading any parades". Also, a recent poll has shown a sharp decline in support for Bin Laden in the most populous Muslim nation.
Finally, I WANT the terorrists to be "regrouping". It sure as hell beats "attacking", and regrouping is what armies do after they are defeated, lose ground, and retreat.
I think I'm going to send the author two free tickets to Disney's upcoming movie, Chicken Little.
Boy, I haven't written a long political post in along time - that felt good!
Sad.
Barney Martin, a former New York City detective who went into show business and became best known for playing Jerry Seinfeld's father Morty on the comedian's hit television series, has died. He was 82.
Barney Martin, a former New York City detective who went into show business and became best known for playing Jerry Seinfeld's father Morty on the comedian's hit television series, has died. He was 82.
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
Boy I don't remember the last time I went without posting for four days, but I've been working ridiculous hours and flying back and forth between Dallas and NY so many times I can't count.
I finally signed up for American Airlines' Admiral Club which will probably cost me about $5 per airport visit which really isn't a bad deal given the free drinks and cookies. In Dallas, they even have a separate kiddie room wit a couple of PCs. You can't beat that with a stick.
Anyway, with everything in the media on the Terri Schiavo case, there's nothing much new I can add, but I thought I'd try.
I understand that when someone is alive, yet incapacitated, someone has to make the decisions for that person, whether it be a spouse, the family, etc. That being said, I don't understand why anyone would be put to death when there was someone, anyone, willing to care for that person. Even if Terri Schiavo's parents and other immediate family thought she should die, what if some person or group of persons donated to pay for her hospice stay and treatment? I think that I might like to have a living will option where my family wouldn't have to shoulder the financial burden of keeping me alive if a trustworthy organization was willing to do it.
Also, if they're going to kill her, why don't they do it in some humane way instead of starving her to death? How cruel is that for everyone involved? And what kind of person is Terri Schiavo's husband living with? If politicians are afraid to even speak about supporting this guy - which would in theory be simply stating support for our judicial system - who is this woman who wants to be his lawfully wedded wife?
I just don't understand this whole thing.
I finally signed up for American Airlines' Admiral Club which will probably cost me about $5 per airport visit which really isn't a bad deal given the free drinks and cookies. In Dallas, they even have a separate kiddie room wit a couple of PCs. You can't beat that with a stick.
Anyway, with everything in the media on the Terri Schiavo case, there's nothing much new I can add, but I thought I'd try.
I understand that when someone is alive, yet incapacitated, someone has to make the decisions for that person, whether it be a spouse, the family, etc. That being said, I don't understand why anyone would be put to death when there was someone, anyone, willing to care for that person. Even if Terri Schiavo's parents and other immediate family thought she should die, what if some person or group of persons donated to pay for her hospice stay and treatment? I think that I might like to have a living will option where my family wouldn't have to shoulder the financial burden of keeping me alive if a trustworthy organization was willing to do it.
Also, if they're going to kill her, why don't they do it in some humane way instead of starving her to death? How cruel is that for everyone involved? And what kind of person is Terri Schiavo's husband living with? If politicians are afraid to even speak about supporting this guy - which would in theory be simply stating support for our judicial system - who is this woman who wants to be his lawfully wedded wife?
I just don't understand this whole thing.
Saturday, March 19, 2005
Victor Davis Hanson with the irony of the day.
If Europe is awash in anti-Semitism, then one mechanism to either ignore or excuse it is to allege that the United States — the one country that is the most hospitable to Jews — is governed by a Hitler-like killer. Americans, who freed Europe from the Nazis, are supposed to recoil from such slander rather than cry shame on its promulgators, whose grandfathers either capitulated to the Nazis or collaborated — or were Nazis themselves.
If Europe is awash in anti-Semitism, then one mechanism to either ignore or excuse it is to allege that the United States — the one country that is the most hospitable to Jews — is governed by a Hitler-like killer. Americans, who freed Europe from the Nazis, are supposed to recoil from such slander rather than cry shame on its promulgators, whose grandfathers either capitulated to the Nazis or collaborated — or were Nazis themselves.
CBS, although generally positive in their look back on the Iraq war, resorts to pure, unadulterated lying in their reporting.
At the same time, there's been no let-up in the violent, anti-American insurgency that continues to wreak havoc throughout much of the country – and no slowdown in the death toll that now numbers at least 1,515 Americans killed in Iraq since the war's start, according to an Associated Press count.
As always, I will refer to the actual statistics on average daily military fatalities at Lunaville.
November 2004 - 4.7
December 2004 - 2.48
January 2005 - 4.1
February 2005 - 2.14
March 2005 - 1.37
Our military is suffering a lower casualty rate than at any time since February 2004.
"No slowdown"?!?
At the same time, there's been no let-up in the violent, anti-American insurgency that continues to wreak havoc throughout much of the country – and no slowdown in the death toll that now numbers at least 1,515 Americans killed in Iraq since the war's start, according to an Associated Press count.
As always, I will refer to the actual statistics on average daily military fatalities at Lunaville.
November 2004 - 4.7
December 2004 - 2.48
January 2005 - 4.1
February 2005 - 2.14
March 2005 - 1.37
Our military is suffering a lower casualty rate than at any time since February 2004.
"No slowdown"?!?
I missed this lead editorial in the NY times yesterday - I guess they wanted to jump the gun on everyone else - Two Years Later
The invasion of Iraq, which began two years ago this weekend, was a world-changing event. We can see many of the consequences already. The good ones, so far, exist mainly as hopes and are fewer than the bad ones, some of which are all too concrete.
This statement can only be made by totally ignoring the tyranny of the Hussein regime - the tortures, rapes, environmental devastation, starvation of children, etc.
If the Bush administration is "shockingly callous about the tens of thousands of Iraqi victims, whom ordinary Americans cannot count let alone name", the Times is disgustingly oblivious to the suffering and death that Iraqis would have suffered under a typical two years of Saddam, his sons and their henchmen.
The invasion of Iraq, which began two years ago this weekend, was a world-changing event. We can see many of the consequences already. The good ones, so far, exist mainly as hopes and are fewer than the bad ones, some of which are all too concrete.
This statement can only be made by totally ignoring the tyranny of the Hussein regime - the tortures, rapes, environmental devastation, starvation of children, etc.
If the Bush administration is "shockingly callous about the tens of thousands of Iraqi victims, whom ordinary Americans cannot count let alone name", the Times is disgustingly oblivious to the suffering and death that Iraqis would have suffered under a typical two years of Saddam, his sons and their henchmen.
Let's see how the major media are covering the second anniversary of our invasion of Iraq.
MSNBC (via the AP) - Iraq violence, poverty dampen optimism
A truly obnoxious reading of Iraqi sentiment. The article begins:
When U.S.-led forces invaded Iraq two years ago, Adnan al-Eiby was thrilled. He thought that once Saddam Hussein was toppled, Iraq would become a flourishing Western-style democracy.
“But now, I walk down the street and all I see is death — innocent people blown up by terrorists and others shot by the Americans,” said the 32-year-old chauffeur. “I’m fed up with life. We pinned our hopes on the Americans but they let us down.”
Granted it goes on to interview an Iraqi who says, "Things are 1 million times better than Saddam’s days", but the tone is set in the headline and opening paragraphs. Every positive comment is followed by the infamous "but".
Al-Eiby complained the elections may have given Iraqis a taste of democracy but have “not provided my family with bread and butter, nor do I feel safer now.”
They have experienced the act of casting a vote in the first free and fair elections in Iraq’s modern history. But lawlessness prevails, and Iraq remains mired in acts of ferocity.
At the end it quotes a 6 month old report based on wide-ranging interviews and polls, found that Iraqis have remained optimistic, “despite failures in security, services, economic opportunity.”
Of ocurse the bold header placed before that section of the article (placed at the bottom of course) is "Surprising Optimism". Surprising to whom?
I'm not sure why they ignore a much more recent poll also showing widespread Iraqi optimism. I guess it's not as good a story and it doesn't jive with their statement that, "Iraqis are split between hope and despair" - a statement that seems based on the fact that the research for their article is based on interviews with two Iraqis.
MSNBC (via the AP) - Iraq violence, poverty dampen optimism
A truly obnoxious reading of Iraqi sentiment. The article begins:
When U.S.-led forces invaded Iraq two years ago, Adnan al-Eiby was thrilled. He thought that once Saddam Hussein was toppled, Iraq would become a flourishing Western-style democracy.
“But now, I walk down the street and all I see is death — innocent people blown up by terrorists and others shot by the Americans,” said the 32-year-old chauffeur. “I’m fed up with life. We pinned our hopes on the Americans but they let us down.”
Granted it goes on to interview an Iraqi who says, "Things are 1 million times better than Saddam’s days", but the tone is set in the headline and opening paragraphs. Every positive comment is followed by the infamous "but".
Al-Eiby complained the elections may have given Iraqis a taste of democracy but have “not provided my family with bread and butter, nor do I feel safer now.”
They have experienced the act of casting a vote in the first free and fair elections in Iraq’s modern history. But lawlessness prevails, and Iraq remains mired in acts of ferocity.
At the end it quotes a 6 month old report based on wide-ranging interviews and polls, found that Iraqis have remained optimistic, “despite failures in security, services, economic opportunity.”
Of ocurse the bold header placed before that section of the article (placed at the bottom of course) is "Surprising Optimism". Surprising to whom?
I'm not sure why they ignore a much more recent poll also showing widespread Iraqi optimism. I guess it's not as good a story and it doesn't jive with their statement that, "Iraqis are split between hope and despair" - a statement that seems based on the fact that the research for their article is based on interviews with two Iraqis.
Friday, March 18, 2005
I just finished reading Michael Medved's autobiography "Right Turns". Granted you will probably need to agree with his conservative life view to really enjoy it thoroughly, but if you think of him as only a radio personality or movie critic, think again. Medved has led a fascinating life and I think we can all learn that activism and hard work can take you anywhere you want to go. Medved was actually a well-known leftist activist at Yale and went to school with Hillary Rodham, George Bush, Joe Lieberman and other famous politicians who are now in their prime.
The author's recounting of his experiences on the night that Robert Kennedy was assassinated is worth the price of admission alone!
A review in the Jerusalem Post can be found here.
The author's recounting of his experiences on the night that Robert Kennedy was assassinated is worth the price of admission alone!
A review in the Jerusalem Post can be found here.
I realize that posting has been sparse to non-existent lately but I just got additional responsibilities at work that means a lot more travel. Only one more trip between now and..
PURIM!
Purim History at Judaism 101.
The whole Megillah. -in English of course.
Chabad Virtual Purim Page
Purim with Aish.com!
Hear the Gragger. (Short but grating on thears as it should be!)
Orthodox Union (OU) Purim page.
For the kinderlach - Torah Tots
Hamantaschen recipe. I'm partial to apricot. Yum!
PURIM!
Purim History at Judaism 101.
The whole Megillah. -in English of course.
Chabad Virtual Purim Page
Purim with Aish.com!
Hear the Gragger. (Short but grating on thears as it should be!)
Orthodox Union (OU) Purim page.
For the kinderlach - Torah Tots
Hamantaschen recipe. I'm partial to apricot. Yum!
Tuesday, March 15, 2005
A brief video tour of the New Museum at Yad Vashem can be found here.
The two most sobering sights to me were the "chimney" that looks up to a skylight covered with the photogrpahs of the victims, and the final view of the Jerusalem hills out one of the windows. As Ariel Sharon said at the dedication:
"When you leave this museum, you see the sky of Jerusalem. I know how a Jew feels when he emerges from these depths and breathes the air of Jerusalem. He feels at home...."
And Elie Wiesel, who always knows how to get right to the heart of the matter:
``It was man's inhumanity to man -- no. It was man's inhumanity to Jews. Jews were not killed because they were human beings. In the eyes of the killers, they were not human beings, they were Jews,'' he said.
The two most sobering sights to me were the "chimney" that looks up to a skylight covered with the photogrpahs of the victims, and the final view of the Jerusalem hills out one of the windows. As Ariel Sharon said at the dedication:
"When you leave this museum, you see the sky of Jerusalem. I know how a Jew feels when he emerges from these depths and breathes the air of Jerusalem. He feels at home...."
And Elie Wiesel, who always knows how to get right to the heart of the matter:
``It was man's inhumanity to man -- no. It was man's inhumanity to Jews. Jews were not killed because they were human beings. In the eyes of the killers, they were not human beings, they were Jews,'' he said.
Monday, March 14, 2005
This brief article about a downturn in the success of Conservative Judaism hits the nail on the head as far as my own observance is concerned.
Mr. Schorsch partly blames the trend on the poor quality of worship in Conservative synagogues, which he says are so geared toward "entry-level Jews" that those with more religious knowledge leave for the stricter Orthodox congregations. Mr. Schorsch said he often worships at an Orthodox synagogue on Friday nights, the beginning of the Jewish Sabbath, because of the beauty of the service.
"There is really a fatal disconnect," he said. "There is not enough attention being paid to advanced Jews."
This is not to say that I need an Orthodox service, although I do embrace the ideas of modern orthodoxy. It's just that, like society in general, Conservative Judaism has gotten progressively farther away from what could be called traditional Judaism.
I still say that the purpose of religion is to be religious about observance. That means that I find the msot powerful part of my observance to be those things that link me to past generations - lighting candles, fasting on Yom Kippur, the Passover Seder, etc. Deciding to use prayer books with more "interpretaive" English readings, having live music at services, etc. does not make me feel more Jewish at all. At this point, I pretty much go to services so that my kids will grow up to feel completely comfortable in a shul atmosphere, as they do almost nothing for me spiritually. (The one exception is the rabbi's sermon where at least I learn something).
Mr. Schorsch partly blames the trend on the poor quality of worship in Conservative synagogues, which he says are so geared toward "entry-level Jews" that those with more religious knowledge leave for the stricter Orthodox congregations. Mr. Schorsch said he often worships at an Orthodox synagogue on Friday nights, the beginning of the Jewish Sabbath, because of the beauty of the service.
"There is really a fatal disconnect," he said. "There is not enough attention being paid to advanced Jews."
This is not to say that I need an Orthodox service, although I do embrace the ideas of modern orthodoxy. It's just that, like society in general, Conservative Judaism has gotten progressively farther away from what could be called traditional Judaism.
I still say that the purpose of religion is to be religious about observance. That means that I find the msot powerful part of my observance to be those things that link me to past generations - lighting candles, fasting on Yom Kippur, the Passover Seder, etc. Deciding to use prayer books with more "interpretaive" English readings, having live music at services, etc. does not make me feel more Jewish at all. At this point, I pretty much go to services so that my kids will grow up to feel completely comfortable in a shul atmosphere, as they do almost nothing for me spiritually. (The one exception is the rabbi's sermon where at least I learn something).
I just thought this is an interesting use of words in the New York Times.
Excess Fuel Billing by Halliburton in Iraq Is Put at $108 Million in Audit
Excess billing for postwar fuel imports to Iraq by the Halliburton Company totaled more than $108 million, according to a report by Pentagon auditors that was completed last fall but has never been officially released to the public or to Congress.
Doesn't postwar mean "after the war"? Is the war in Iraq over? Or, since the same article seems to describe the "postwar" period as "the occupation", does that mean that they now agree with President Bush when he declared on May 1, 2003 that "major combat operations in Iraq have ended"?
Can we now say that x number of soldiers have died "since the occupation began" as opposed to "when Bush said that major combat had ended", in other words "since Bush lied to us"?
Excess Fuel Billing by Halliburton in Iraq Is Put at $108 Million in Audit
Excess billing for postwar fuel imports to Iraq by the Halliburton Company totaled more than $108 million, according to a report by Pentagon auditors that was completed last fall but has never been officially released to the public or to Congress.
Doesn't postwar mean "after the war"? Is the war in Iraq over? Or, since the same article seems to describe the "postwar" period as "the occupation", does that mean that they now agree with President Bush when he declared on May 1, 2003 that "major combat operations in Iraq have ended"?
Can we now say that x number of soldiers have died "since the occupation began" as opposed to "when Bush said that major combat had ended", in other words "since Bush lied to us"?
I never would have guessed....
Study Shows U.S. Election Coverage Harder on Bush
U.S. media coverage of last year's election was three times more likely to be negative toward President Bush than Democratic challenger John Kerry, according to a study released Monday.
The annual report by a press watchdog that is affiliated with Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism said that 36 percent of stories about Bush were negative compared to 12 percent about Kerry, a Massachusetts senator.
Only 20 percent were positive toward Bush compared to 30 percent of stories about Kerry that were positive, according to the report by the Project for Excellence in Journalism.
Study Shows U.S. Election Coverage Harder on Bush
U.S. media coverage of last year's election was three times more likely to be negative toward President Bush than Democratic challenger John Kerry, according to a study released Monday.
The annual report by a press watchdog that is affiliated with Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism said that 36 percent of stories about Bush were negative compared to 12 percent about Kerry, a Massachusetts senator.
Only 20 percent were positive toward Bush compared to 30 percent of stories about Kerry that were positive, according to the report by the Project for Excellence in Journalism.
The anti-Syria/Hizbollah Lebanese population answers last week's pro-Syria rally with a big, peaceful middle finger.
Hundreds of Thousands in Lebanon Rally Against Syria
Hundreds of thousands of Lebanese jammed the center of downtown Beirut today, packing its central square and spilling out onto the surrounding roads, in the largest demonstration yet demanding the withdrawal of all Syrian forces from the country.
Nearly every available space around the square was filled with people flying the Lebanese flag, in what was probably the largest demonstration ever seen in Lebanon.
In the main mosque, still under construction, demonstrators crammed the tiny balconies high up on the four minarets, balconies that the muezzin traditionally use to sing out the call to prayer.
A few daredevils inched their way out along the huge construction crane looming over the square to drape a flag at the end.
The accompanying photo is a comment as to whether the protests of last week didn't include foreign workers and other Syrians shipped in for the event.
Hundreds of Thousands in Lebanon Rally Against Syria
Hundreds of thousands of Lebanese jammed the center of downtown Beirut today, packing its central square and spilling out onto the surrounding roads, in the largest demonstration yet demanding the withdrawal of all Syrian forces from the country.
Nearly every available space around the square was filled with people flying the Lebanese flag, in what was probably the largest demonstration ever seen in Lebanon.
In the main mosque, still under construction, demonstrators crammed the tiny balconies high up on the four minarets, balconies that the muezzin traditionally use to sing out the call to prayer.
A few daredevils inched their way out along the huge construction crane looming over the square to drape a flag at the end.
The accompanying photo is a comment as to whether the protests of last week didn't include foreign workers and other Syrians shipped in for the event.
Saturday, March 12, 2005
Looks like some good news coming out of Europe, where the European Parliament has finally branded Hizbollah as a terrorist organization. The EP will now ask the EU whether some form of sanctions against the group should be imposed.
While searching the European Parliament site, I acame across an article about a speech given there yesterday by Iranian Nobel Prize winner Shirin Ebadi.
I've read some of her comments which are pro-freedom and anti-American at the same time which can be understood given the U.S. intervention in her country that brought the Shah to power and all his inherent evils with him.
That being said, it's a shame that she lets her anti-Americanism stand in the way of achieving her desired goal for her country. If she could choose between freedom today with American help or tyranny for the forseeable future, she chooses tyranny.
She stressed that the Iranian people were tired of oppression and violence and that they were striving for reforms by political and cultural means. Ms Ebadi rejected US threats of an attack on Iran and said that democracy cannot by promoted by the force of arms.
Perhaps she would like to explain how Japan, Germany, Italy, Afghanistan, Iraq, and yes, the land that is now Israel would have been democracies without the force of arms. I'm curious as to how long she thinks "striving" or giving speeches to European diplomats will bring about democracy in Iran.
She explained that dictatorships and despotism in Middle East countries made the populations unable or unwilling to resist colonialist and hegemonic powers which target such countries for their oil. She referred to the current situation in Iraq and to the overthrow by the US of Iranian prime minister Mossadeq in the 1950s.
So we're in it for the oil, and somehow replacing Saddam Hussein with a democracy is the same as replacing a prime minister with the Shah. My guess is that when democracy comes to Iran, and it will, that Ms. Ebadi will be hailed by leftists outside her country, yet will have no status in her own country.
While searching the European Parliament site, I acame across an article about a speech given there yesterday by Iranian Nobel Prize winner Shirin Ebadi.
I've read some of her comments which are pro-freedom and anti-American at the same time which can be understood given the U.S. intervention in her country that brought the Shah to power and all his inherent evils with him.
That being said, it's a shame that she lets her anti-Americanism stand in the way of achieving her desired goal for her country. If she could choose between freedom today with American help or tyranny for the forseeable future, she chooses tyranny.
She stressed that the Iranian people were tired of oppression and violence and that they were striving for reforms by political and cultural means. Ms Ebadi rejected US threats of an attack on Iran and said that democracy cannot by promoted by the force of arms.
Perhaps she would like to explain how Japan, Germany, Italy, Afghanistan, Iraq, and yes, the land that is now Israel would have been democracies without the force of arms. I'm curious as to how long she thinks "striving" or giving speeches to European diplomats will bring about democracy in Iran.
She explained that dictatorships and despotism in Middle East countries made the populations unable or unwilling to resist colonialist and hegemonic powers which target such countries for their oil. She referred to the current situation in Iraq and to the overthrow by the US of Iranian prime minister Mossadeq in the 1950s.
So we're in it for the oil, and somehow replacing Saddam Hussein with a democracy is the same as replacing a prime minister with the Shah. My guess is that when democracy comes to Iran, and it will, that Ms. Ebadi will be hailed by leftists outside her country, yet will have no status in her own country.
Thursday, March 10, 2005
The Palestinians have not only done themselves a political disservice since the bginning of the most recent intifada, they've given the IDF all the reason it needs to keep experimenting with new technology to improve it's military. While Islamic Jihad is still using the same technology as they were four years ago (bombs strapped to mentally anguished human beings), Israel is developing armored vehicles that can shoot down incoming projectiles and guns that be fired while soldiers remain protected inside their vehicles.
According to RAFAEL, the system works against all types of guided anti-tank missiles and rockets, including the ubiquitous rocket propelled grenades. The company said the system includes four flat-panel antennas and a search radar that are mounted on the armored vehicle.
They can detect incoming projectiles from 360 degrees and calculate their approach. Its computer then determines the exact moment and angle to fire its neutralizers (small metal pellets like a shotgun blast).
According to RAFAEL, the system works against all types of guided anti-tank missiles and rockets, including the ubiquitous rocket propelled grenades. The company said the system includes four flat-panel antennas and a search radar that are mounted on the armored vehicle.
They can detect incoming projectiles from 360 degrees and calculate their approach. Its computer then determines the exact moment and angle to fire its neutralizers (small metal pellets like a shotgun blast).
Now if this happened more often, anti-Muslim feeling in the West would decrease dramatically. I am personally thankful for what the Spanish Muslim community has done today.
This is a bold declaration on the eve of the first anniversary of the horrific terrorist attack in Madrid.
Spain’s Muslims issue ‘fatwa’ against bin Laden
MADRID, Spain - Muslim clerics in Spain issued what they called the world’s first “fatwa,” or Islamic edict, against Osama bin Laden on Thursday, the first anniversary of the Madrid train bombings, calling him an apostate and urging others of their faith to denounce the al-Qaida leader.
The ruling was issued by the Islamic Commission of Spain, the main body representing the country’s 1 million-member Muslim community. The commission represents 200 or so mostly Sunni mosques, or about 70 percent of all mosques in Spain.
This is a bold declaration on the eve of the first anniversary of the horrific terrorist attack in Madrid.
Spain’s Muslims issue ‘fatwa’ against bin Laden
MADRID, Spain - Muslim clerics in Spain issued what they called the world’s first “fatwa,” or Islamic edict, against Osama bin Laden on Thursday, the first anniversary of the Madrid train bombings, calling him an apostate and urging others of their faith to denounce the al-Qaida leader.
The ruling was issued by the Islamic Commission of Spain, the main body representing the country’s 1 million-member Muslim community. The commission represents 200 or so mostly Sunni mosques, or about 70 percent of all mosques in Spain.
Just something interesting I heard on the radio this morning. I was listening to Bill Bennett's morning program which I think is a great example of serious talk radio (as opposed to Sean Hannity and Michael Savage which are issues oriented programs but mostly geared towards stirring people up as opposed to educating.)
He made an analogy that went something along these lines. Are those on the Left that say they "Support the Troops" even though they are opposed to what they are doing any different than if a German citizen during World War II said they proudly supported the Wehrmacht and SS even though they disagreed with Hitler? According to every major poll, most of our soldiers support President Bush, don't they?
Wanting no harm to come to our fellow citizens fighting overseas is certainly a sincere desire on all sides. But can one really support the troops (in general) despite the fact that they believe what they are doing is right and you believe it is wrong?
He made an analogy that went something along these lines. Are those on the Left that say they "Support the Troops" even though they are opposed to what they are doing any different than if a German citizen during World War II said they proudly supported the Wehrmacht and SS even though they disagreed with Hitler? According to every major poll, most of our soldiers support President Bush, don't they?
Wanting no harm to come to our fellow citizens fighting overseas is certainly a sincere desire on all sides. But can one really support the troops (in general) despite the fact that they believe what they are doing is right and you believe it is wrong?
Tuesday, March 08, 2005
France Surrenders. From Le Monde as reported by The Belgravia Dispatch.
A grudging nod to W from Le Monde's editorialists! (Hat Tip: Paris-based attorney Luis Roth).
Mais ce "printemps arabe", selon l'expression des médias américains, doit être encouragé et au besoin défendu par tous ceux qui voient dans le respect des droits de l'homme une valeur universelle.
Le mérite de George W. Bush est d'avoir tenu ce discours dès le lendemain des attentats du 11-Septembre - mis à part quelques écarts de langage sur "la nouvelle croisade". Il a développé l'idée que les peuples musulmans avaient le droit à la liberté, à la démocratie, à la prospérité. Il ne l'a pas fait seulement par altruisme mais parce qu'il est convaincu qu'une telle évolution correspond aux intérêts de sécurité des Etats-Unis.
Translation:
But this "Arab Spring", per the expression of the American media, must be encouraged and if needed defended by all those who see respect for human rights as a universal value.
The merit of George Bush is to have held firm to his discourse from the day after 9/11--apart from some unfortunate language about "the new crusade." He developed the idea that the Muslim peoples have the right to freedom, to democracy, to prosperity. He didn't do this only out of altruism but because he is convinced that such evolution corresponds to the security interests of the United States.
A grudging nod to W from Le Monde's editorialists! (Hat Tip: Paris-based attorney Luis Roth).
Mais ce "printemps arabe", selon l'expression des médias américains, doit être encouragé et au besoin défendu par tous ceux qui voient dans le respect des droits de l'homme une valeur universelle.
Le mérite de George W. Bush est d'avoir tenu ce discours dès le lendemain des attentats du 11-Septembre - mis à part quelques écarts de langage sur "la nouvelle croisade". Il a développé l'idée que les peuples musulmans avaient le droit à la liberté, à la démocratie, à la prospérité. Il ne l'a pas fait seulement par altruisme mais parce qu'il est convaincu qu'une telle évolution correspond aux intérêts de sécurité des Etats-Unis.
Translation:
But this "Arab Spring", per the expression of the American media, must be encouraged and if needed defended by all those who see respect for human rights as a universal value.
The merit of George Bush is to have held firm to his discourse from the day after 9/11--apart from some unfortunate language about "the new crusade." He developed the idea that the Muslim peoples have the right to freedom, to democracy, to prosperity. He didn't do this only out of altruism but because he is convinced that such evolution corresponds to the security interests of the United States.
Uh Oh.
BEIRUT, Lebanon (AP) - Nearly 500,000 pro-Syrian protesters waved flags and chanted anti-American slogans in a central Beirut square Tuesday, answering a nationwide call by the militant Shiite Muslim Hezbollah group for a demonstration to counter weeks of massive rallies demanding Syrian forces leave Lebanon.
The pro-freedom demonstraors were a lot prettier that's for sure.
BEIRUT, Lebanon (AP) - Nearly 500,000 pro-Syrian protesters waved flags and chanted anti-American slogans in a central Beirut square Tuesday, answering a nationwide call by the militant Shiite Muslim Hezbollah group for a demonstration to counter weeks of massive rallies demanding Syrian forces leave Lebanon.
The pro-freedom demonstraors were a lot prettier that's for sure.
Monday, March 07, 2005
If you still don't believe that George Bush is going to have a street named after him in every Arab capital by the end of the decade, all you need to do is read Little Green Footballs. It wasn't too long ago when all you would read about were those nasty terrorists, killing and threatening Jews and Americans. The Arab Street seething with hate against the imposition of our foreign, imperialist, liberal culture.
Now look at some of most recent posts.
Kuwaiti Women Demonstrate
Waves of Freedom Reach Morocco
Afghanistan Attacks Decline Dramatically
Hundreds of Thousands of Lebanese Protest Syria
It's nice that I don't have to avoid LGF anymore when I'm already depressed for fear that I'll be overwhelmed by the evil that men do.
Just for fun, I'll throw in an recent Liberal prediction which seems to be the favorite sport of the moment for right-leaning bloggers such as myself. This quote comes from Ronald Brownstein of the L.A. Times on Janauary 24, 2005.
Bush hopes that elections in Iraq will create a domino-like pressure for change throughout the region. But the chaos engulfing Iraq makes it unlikely that many in the Middle East will see it as a model any time soon. A senior Saudi official last week cited Iraq's turmoil as a justification for avoiding full-scale national elections.
Now look at some of most recent posts.
Kuwaiti Women Demonstrate
Waves of Freedom Reach Morocco
Afghanistan Attacks Decline Dramatically
Hundreds of Thousands of Lebanese Protest Syria
It's nice that I don't have to avoid LGF anymore when I'm already depressed for fear that I'll be overwhelmed by the evil that men do.
Just for fun, I'll throw in an recent Liberal prediction which seems to be the favorite sport of the moment for right-leaning bloggers such as myself. This quote comes from Ronald Brownstein of the L.A. Times on Janauary 24, 2005.
Bush hopes that elections in Iraq will create a domino-like pressure for change throughout the region. But the chaos engulfing Iraq makes it unlikely that many in the Middle East will see it as a model any time soon. A senior Saudi official last week cited Iraq's turmoil as a justification for avoiding full-scale national elections.
Anyone who thinks the New York Post is a right-wing tabloid, doesn't really understand the true meaning of the word tabloid until they read the London papers.
The U.K. Sun reports that one of Englands most rabid Islamists, Abu Hamza, got roughed up in jail. And just in case you weren't sure how they feel about it, they provide a phone number so that the attacker can call and be told in person of a "job well done" and I assume to have their feat more widely publicized.
The U.K. Sun reports that one of Englands most rabid Islamists, Abu Hamza, got roughed up in jail. And just in case you weren't sure how they feel about it, they provide a phone number so that the attacker can call and be told in person of a "job well done" and I assume to have their feat more widely publicized.
Indeed.
Opposition holds mass rally in Beirut as Syria prepares for army pullback
BEIRUT (AFP) - Up to 150,000 opposition supporters rallied in Beirut three weeks after the murder of ex-premier Rafiq Hariri as Syria prepared for a troop pullback in Lebanon in the face of international pressure.
Lebanon only has about four million people - about one and half million live in Beirut. An equivalent demonstration in the New York area would have brought out over a million people.
Opposition holds mass rally in Beirut as Syria prepares for army pullback
BEIRUT (AFP) - Up to 150,000 opposition supporters rallied in Beirut three weeks after the murder of ex-premier Rafiq Hariri as Syria prepared for a troop pullback in Lebanon in the face of international pressure.
Lebanon only has about four million people - about one and half million live in Beirut. An equivalent demonstration in the New York area would have brought out over a million people.
I haven't posted anything on the Giuliana Sgrena story mostly becuase I've been so busy. However, now that it's kind of played out, Instapundit has a great round-up of events, charges and counter-charges.
I certainly don't know what happened to Ms. Sgrena, but I do know that if the world consisted of Iraqi terrorists, Italian leftists and American soldiers, I'd rather be the terrorist. The Italians get shot and killed, the Americans get blamed and the terrorists get a million dollars. Nice work if you can get it. (Message to the Feds - heavy sarcasm here - I voted for Bush).
I'm taking the Series 7 exam tomorrow. I should do OK as passing is 70% and I'm getting 80+% in the practice exams now.
I certainly don't know what happened to Ms. Sgrena, but I do know that if the world consisted of Iraqi terrorists, Italian leftists and American soldiers, I'd rather be the terrorist. The Italians get shot and killed, the Americans get blamed and the terrorists get a million dollars. Nice work if you can get it. (Message to the Feds - heavy sarcasm here - I voted for Bush).
I'm taking the Series 7 exam tomorrow. I should do OK as passing is 70% and I'm getting 80+% in the practice exams now.
Friday, March 04, 2005
I think I may have to wait until the kids are grown up and I retire to be able to look through all 275,000 images. I think it might be worth the wait.
The Public Library Opens a Web Gallery of Images
The Public Library Opens a Web Gallery of Images
U.S. Economy Added 262,000 Jobs in February
Even the NY Times admits - The government report today confirmed that the economy remained on a path of robust and sustained growth.
Gee, I wonder how long they feel we've been on this path. Must be sometime after last Election day. No comment as to whether they think that John Kerry would have really turned the economy around - the other way....
Even the NY Times admits - The government report today confirmed that the economy remained on a path of robust and sustained growth.
Gee, I wonder how long they feel we've been on this path. Must be sometime after last Election day. No comment as to whether they think that John Kerry would have really turned the economy around - the other way....
Patience my liberal friends, patience....think Luke Skywalker at the end of the first Star Wars movie...
Iraqis increasingly turn anger on insurgents
The growing anger was underlined this week in Hillah, a predominantly Shiite Muslim city south of Baghdad where a suicide car bombing on Monday killed 125 people — the deadliest single attack since Saddam’s ouster.
It touched a nerve in Hillah. More than 2,000 people chanting “No to terrorism!” demonstrated Tuesday outside the clinic where the bomber drove into a crowd of Iraqi police and army recruits, setting off an explosion that also killed civilians at a nearby market.
On Friday, hostility to the insurgency apparently boiled over into bloodshed in Wihda, 25 miles south of Baghdad. Townsmen attacked militants thought to be planning a raid on the town and killed seven, police Capt. Hamadi al-Zubeidy reported.
Iraqis increasingly turn anger on insurgents
The growing anger was underlined this week in Hillah, a predominantly Shiite Muslim city south of Baghdad where a suicide car bombing on Monday killed 125 people — the deadliest single attack since Saddam’s ouster.
It touched a nerve in Hillah. More than 2,000 people chanting “No to terrorism!” demonstrated Tuesday outside the clinic where the bomber drove into a crowd of Iraqi police and army recruits, setting off an explosion that also killed civilians at a nearby market.
On Friday, hostility to the insurgency apparently boiled over into bloodshed in Wihda, 25 miles south of Baghdad. Townsmen attacked militants thought to be planning a raid on the town and killed seven, police Capt. Hamadi al-Zubeidy reported.
Just wanted to point out a little word twistng in Paul Krugman's latest birdcage lining, Deficits and Deceit. He writes:
But Mr. Bush's advisers knew that the tax cuts would probably cause budget problems, and welcomed the prospect.
In fact, Mr. Bush celebrated the budget's initial slide into deficit. In the summer of 2001 he called plunging federal revenue "incredibly positive news" because it would "put a straitjacket" on federal spending.
This is in reference to some statements that Bush made at a Press Conference on August 23, 2001. I have copied in the relevant part of the transcript below. If you see the word deficit or surplus, I'll personally write you a check for $1 million. Bush was making the statement that if you give Congress less money to play with, they won't increase spending. It is clear that the President hoped that the tax cuts would stimulate growth which would ultimately increase the surplus. September 11 occured 2 1/2 weeks later.
But Mr. Bush's advisers knew that the tax cuts would probably cause budget problems, and welcomed the prospect.
In fact, Mr. Bush celebrated the budget's initial slide into deficit. In the summer of 2001 he called plunging federal revenue "incredibly positive news" because it would "put a straitjacket" on federal spending.
This is in reference to some statements that Bush made at a Press Conference on August 23, 2001. I have copied in the relevant part of the transcript below. If you see the word deficit or surplus, I'll personally write you a check for $1 million. Bush was making the statement that if you give Congress less money to play with, they won't increase spending. It is clear that the President hoped that the tax cuts would stimulate growth which would ultimately increase the surplus. September 11 occured 2 1/2 weeks later.
Q Mr. President, looking ahead to those budget fights down the road, though, in '02 and '03 when you will undoubtedly be asking for more money for missile defense, many question your economic assumptions, more mixed signals today. Durable good orders, down. Home sales, up.
People question whether your 3.2 percent forecast for growth next year. Even many economists who are allied with your administration think that's too overly optimistic. On what do you base it?
THE PRESIDENT: I think -- I'm sorry Mitch Daniels isn't here to lay out all the forecasts that led to our assumption. And we're right in the middle as I understand. We picked the number that seemed reasonable.
Let's -- the facts are, our economy has slowed down. We had an anemic 1 percent growth over the last 12 months, and that affected tax revenues. And our administration, instead of wringing our hands, put in place a fiscal stimulus package that was the first real tax cut in a generation.
And we believe that's going to have a positive effect on our economy. No question the economy's slowed down. And therefore Congress must adjust its spending attitudes. The surest way to make sure that the recovery doesn't happen in a meaningful period of time or a reasonable period of time is to overspend.
So my message to the Congress is, I'm proud of your vote for tax relief, it was the right thing to do because it responded to economic circumstances that our nation now faces. But don't go hog wild. I mean, appropriators appropriate. Don't overspend. And one of my jobs as the President is to make sure we keep fiscal sanity in the budget.
Q But if you're off by just a point or two, Washington will be billions and billions short.
THE PRESIDENT: Well, if I'm off by a point or two, then Congress can adjust their sights. See, I'm glad that Congress finally, for the first time in a long period of time, said we're not going to spend Social Security except on emergencies. That wasn't the case up until this administration. It's a useful part of the dialogue if you believe in fiscal sanity in Washington, D.C. It set some important parameters.
So we have the tax relief plan, which is important for fiscal stimulus, coupled with Social Security being off limits except for -- except for emergency. That now provides a new kind -- a fiscal straightjacket for Congress. And that's good for the taxpayers, and it's incredibly positive news if you're worried about a federal government that has been growing at a dramatic pace over the past eight years and it has been.
Listen, the '02 budget we submitted has got discretionary spending growing by 6 percent. That's a pretty significant number. Certainly not as much as some of the appropriators would like to see in Washington, D.C., but we think it's a nice, balanced number. It's one that will help meet the needs and, at the same time, not overspend and therefore affect economic growth.
Of course, the other side of things is if the economy gets back to where it was growing, Washington could conceivably be awash in money, so there's leverage on both sides.
Thursday, March 03, 2005
A hero to all Jews died today. Peter Malchin, the man that captured Eichmann.
But he earned renown as the agent who in 1960 found Eichmann, the German SS officer responsible for deporting millions of Jews to concentration camps during the Holocaust, living in Argentina. He approached him on a Buenos Aires street, tapping him on the back with the words "one moment, sir" before wrestling him to the ground and bundling him into a getaway car.
Eichmann, who had been living in Argentina under a false identity since fleeing Germany after World War II, was interrogated at a safehouse in Buenos Aires before being smuggled to Israel.
The daring operation, which inspired books and films, led to Eichmann's conviction in a 1961 trial and his hanging in 1962. He remains the only person ever to have been executed in Israel.
Malchin, a martial arts expert, decided to confront Eichmann alone near his home on Garibaldi Street to avoid attracting attention and to ensure he would be brought to Israel "in one piece," Dan said.
"There were six million pairs of eyes on me ... I had to succeed," Malchin later recounted, Dan said.
But he earned renown as the agent who in 1960 found Eichmann, the German SS officer responsible for deporting millions of Jews to concentration camps during the Holocaust, living in Argentina. He approached him on a Buenos Aires street, tapping him on the back with the words "one moment, sir" before wrestling him to the ground and bundling him into a getaway car.
Eichmann, who had been living in Argentina under a false identity since fleeing Germany after World War II, was interrogated at a safehouse in Buenos Aires before being smuggled to Israel.
The daring operation, which inspired books and films, led to Eichmann's conviction in a 1961 trial and his hanging in 1962. He remains the only person ever to have been executed in Israel.
Malchin, a martial arts expert, decided to confront Eichmann alone near his home on Garibaldi Street to avoid attracting attention and to ensure he would be brought to Israel "in one piece," Dan said.
"There were six million pairs of eyes on me ... I had to succeed," Malchin later recounted, Dan said.
I don't recall hearing much about "The Downfall", a movie about Hitler's final days in the bunker. Apparently it was up for Best Foreign Language Film. Sometimes living in the boonies (anywhere outside New York) really keeps you ignorant of the independent/foreign film market.
From the trailer it seems like it would be interesting to watch, although the guy playing Der Fuhrer sounds a bit whiny.
Although I would like to see this film, I would have to be in a really bad mood first. It's coming to my town next weekend, but doesn't seem like a great "date" film to see with the wife. Better put it on hold on Netflix.
On a related note, I finally got the Auschwitz DVD from PBS (produced by the BBC). I may not get to it soon, but I will comment when I do.
From the trailer it seems like it would be interesting to watch, although the guy playing Der Fuhrer sounds a bit whiny.
Although I would like to see this film, I would have to be in a really bad mood first. It's coming to my town next weekend, but doesn't seem like a great "date" film to see with the wife. Better put it on hold on Netflix.
On a related note, I finally got the Auschwitz DVD from PBS (produced by the BBC). I may not get to it soon, but I will comment when I do.
Wednesday, March 02, 2005
Not much posting here for the last several days, but I've been studying for the NASD Series 7 Exam which is taking up most of my time. It's a 6 hour, 250 multiple choice question test which I'll be taking this coming Tuesday. Wish me luck!
Yesterday was sort of an unofficial Jewish holiday, especially among the Orthodox. It marked the end of a 7 1/2 year cycle of Daf Yomi - a program started in 1923 with the idea that one should study one two-sided page of Talmud every day until finishing the entire thing. Every cycle, more and more Jews are participating in this informal program and last night tens of thousands gathered at places like Madison Square Garden.
With Mortimer B. Zuckerman at the helm as International Chairman, event participants and supporters include Natan Sharansky, Dr. Elie Wiesel, Senator Joseph and Hadassah Lieberman, international performer Dudu Fisher, CBS correspondent Dan Raviv, actor Josh Malina, musician Peter Himmelman and other Jewish personalities who are promoting the effort to reclaim our standing as the People of the Book through a united focus on Jewish exploration and study.
Here are some more resources should you be interested in the new cycle of Daf Yomi which begins today.
I think the coolest thing I've come across is that you can buy iPods already downloaded with shiurim (lessons) for the entire Daf Yomi cycle. Shaspods.com
DafYomi.org
A Daf A Day blog
Kollel Daf Hayomi
E-DAF.com
Daf Yomi Advancement Forum
And of course before you start, you will need a copy of the Talmud. I got mine here. (OK, so I didn't buy the whole set - I bought the first book in the smaller sized edition.)
Yesterday was sort of an unofficial Jewish holiday, especially among the Orthodox. It marked the end of a 7 1/2 year cycle of Daf Yomi - a program started in 1923 with the idea that one should study one two-sided page of Talmud every day until finishing the entire thing. Every cycle, more and more Jews are participating in this informal program and last night tens of thousands gathered at places like Madison Square Garden.
With Mortimer B. Zuckerman at the helm as International Chairman, event participants and supporters include Natan Sharansky, Dr. Elie Wiesel, Senator Joseph and Hadassah Lieberman, international performer Dudu Fisher, CBS correspondent Dan Raviv, actor Josh Malina, musician Peter Himmelman and other Jewish personalities who are promoting the effort to reclaim our standing as the People of the Book through a united focus on Jewish exploration and study.
Here are some more resources should you be interested in the new cycle of Daf Yomi which begins today.
I think the coolest thing I've come across is that you can buy iPods already downloaded with shiurim (lessons) for the entire Daf Yomi cycle. Shaspods.com
DafYomi.org
A Daf A Day blog
Kollel Daf Hayomi
E-DAF.com
Daf Yomi Advancement Forum
And of course before you start, you will need a copy of the Talmud. I got mine here. (OK, so I didn't buy the whole set - I bought the first book in the smaller sized edition.)
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