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Jan

10

“Talk, don’t shoot. Talk”

Filed Under activism, Culture, Ethics, Gaza, Israel, Jewish, leadership, Media, middle east, Military, Politics | 1 Comment

I remember telling a few people last month, during a particularly difficult time I was having, that I always have thought that there’s nothing I can’t work through or work out if I just keep talking with whomever or about whatever the problem is.  I said it wistfully, as in, it was feeling as though that approach was failing me, but I just didn’t want to believe that talking would or could ever fail, if you just keep communicating – no matter what. To not turn away – to force yourself to say the hard things, the painful admissions – but say them.

Anyway – the Cleveland Jewish News has a mention of a film coming out called Waltz with Bashir (I can’t find that mention online but here’s something from Forward about the film) and then someone tweeted about how tomorrow (today’s) New York Times Sunday Magazine has an interview with the filmmaker of it, Ari Folman.  These excerpts…I know what he means and how he feels.

One tends to think of Israel as a country where survivalist imperatives do not allow for much antiwar sentiment.
Israelis are divided, definitely, but I think you hear too much of the louder voices that always justify any kind of act of aggression. But there is a very big crowd of people who are fed up with war. I can’t understand the word “war” anyhow.

What can’t you understand?
I can’t understand people killing each other for a piece of land. Can you understand that?

…

Israel’s founding generation didn’t seem to harbor ambivalence about war.
They were survival wars. They were about the existence of the country, and they were influenced tremendously by the Holocaust. But the Lebanon War had nothing to do with survival.

It was a military exception?
It was not an exception. It was a turning point in the relationship between the Israeli leadership and the people, who realized for the first time that war canbe declared just for political reasons.

…

You were one of the original writers on “In Treatment,” the Israeli show set in a psychiatrist’s office that was adapted by HBO.
You know the show? There is an Israeli pilot traumatized by his experiences dropping a bomb that killed 14 kids. In the American version, it was adapted to Iraq.

Will he be returning for the second season?
No, he committed suicide.

…

Do you find that talk is more effective in matters of war and diplomacy?
Yes. I think you should always ask yourself: has everything been done to prevent the conflict? Talk, don’t shoot. Talk.

Also, I found this transcript of a BBC broadcast that features the first-person voice of four Israelis.  Please go read them.

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 11:56 pm January 10th, 2009 in activism, Culture, Ethics, Gaza, Israel, Jewish, leadership, Media, middle east, Military, Politics | 1 Comment 

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Jan

10

Townhall.com starts Cleveland politics blog?

Filed Under Blogging, Cleveland+, conservatives, Ohio, Politics, Writing | Comments Off

Only one post so far – anyone know anything?

It appears to be written by Neo-Con Don. I could just email him, but that would be way too easy.

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 10:00 am January 10th, 2009 in Blogging, Cleveland+, conservatives, Ohio, Politics, Writing | Comments Off 

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Jan

10

Who wears the pants in the Obama household

Filed Under Barack Obama, leadership, Michelle Obama, Parenting, Politics, Social Issues, Women, Youth | 2 Comments

Is there really any doubt about who is at the core of leadership for the Obama family?

From The Caucus:

…During the presidential campaign, [Michelle Obama's mother, Mrs. Marian] Robinson was a family mainstay, caring for the Obama girls, Sasha and Malia, while their parents were on the road.

She took them to school, to piano lesson and dance lessons, cooked their meals, ran their baths and got them to bed on time. She was a critical part of the family’s effort to keep the girls’ lives as normal as possible in the midst of extraordinary times.

…

“I’ve never lived outside of Chicago, so I don’t know,’’ said Mrs. Robinson, hesitating a bit as she considered last year whether she was willing to move into the White House. “In the end, in the end, I’ll do whatever. I might fuss a little, but I’ll be there.” [emphasis added]

I don’t trust that enough people understand just how vital Michelle Obama’s mother’s involvement has been to her daughter’s success, her son-in-law’s success and, from what it looks like, her granddaughters’ health and development. Her contribution is absolutely immeasurable, irreplaceable and, individual achievements aside, the center of what makes the incoming First Family worthy of respect.

God bless that woman.

[The Caucus item is about how it is now official that Mrs. Robinson will be moving into the White House.]

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 9:41 am January 10th, 2009 in Barack Obama, leadership, Michelle Obama, Parenting, Politics, Social Issues, Women, Youth | 2 Comments 

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