"Those who crusade, not for God in themselves, but against
the devil in others, never succeed in making the world better,
but leave it either as it was, or sometimes perceptibly worse
than what it was, before the crusade began. By thinking
primarily of evil we tend, however excellent our intentions,
to create occasions for evil to manifest itself."
-- Aldous Huxley
"The only war that matters is the war against the imagination.
All others are subsumed by it."
-- Diane DiPrima, "Rant", from Pieces of a Song.
"It is difficult
to get the news from poems
yet men die miserably every day
for lack
of what is found there"
-- William Carlos Williams, "Asphodel, That Greeny Flower"
Pingback: Chrimbo Spirit, Bethlehem Style « Complex System Of Pipes
So many important articles in one post, Ann.
Great contribution.
Thanks for using my cartoon :)
Happy Holidays to you,
I hope you get everything you deserve.
Ben
PS : I love your new blog decoration
I’m so glad you keep plugging at this, even though I’m too flipped to read most of it. I so rarely settle down on the subject, and my mind has been made up about it for so long. There might be some new information that could impact my position, but short of Israel moving to the South Pole, I’m not sure what it would be. I try, but I get too mad. I know if there is something that might make me soften on the subject everybody will be making so much noise about it that I can’t miss it….
Source
Once in royal David’s city
Stood a big apartheid wall;
People entering and leaving
Had to pass a checkpoint hall.
Bethlehem was strangulated,
And her children segregated.
Though this city is a symbol
To the world of peace and love,
Concrete walls have closed around her,
Settlements expand above.
And apartheid Israel stands
All around on stolen lands.
IF American KNEW, then ….
http://www.ifamericansknew.org/
http://rafah.virtualactivism.net/about/rafah.htm
Avnery:
THE ISRAELI strategic aim in Gaza is not to put an end to the Qassams. It would still be the same if not a single Qassam fell on Israel.
The real aim is to break the Palestinians, which means breaking Hamas.
The method is simple, even primitive: to tighten the blockade on land, on sea and in the air, until the situation in the Strip becomes absolutely intolerable.
Ain’t that the truth?
Thanks for highlighting that crucial point, Curt. Its one of Avnery’s most important insights, methinks.
George66, appreciate the lyrics and links. The lyrics especially have memetic value in raising awareness.
Sung in the ‘Bethlehem Now: Nine Alternative Lessons and Carols’ event in November in the Wren church of St James in Central London, the hafrada version of the Twelve Days of Christmas:
“Twelve assassinations/
Eleven homes demolished/
Ten wells obstructed/
Nine sniper towers/
Eight gunships firing/
Seven checkpoints blocking/
Six tanks a-rolling/
Five settlement rings/
Four falling bombs/
Three trench guns/
Two trampled doves/
And an uprooted olive tree.”