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Why America and Israel need a new Iran strategy
3 years ago
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
The Long Gone Daddy Is Moving to Wordpress
Migrating to Wordpress.com, because it's a way more awesomer format. Or so I'm told. Please add http://longgonedaddy.wordpress.com/ to your RSS feed, bookmarks, or whatever. I will be posting there from now on, at the risk of losing my four readers.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Live-blogging the debate at Columbia
In case you missed it: http://www.themorningsidepost.com/2008/10/live-blogging-t.html.
Bill Maher Is Annoying
You've probably seen the coverage of Bill Maher's controversial new movie, Religulous. Looks like a pretty funny, broad-based criticism of religion along the lines of Christopher Hitchens.
From the trailer, it looks like Maher's movie makes fun of believers of all stripes, makes them look like imbeciles, and generally interviews the least articulate of them.
But a film like this does nothing to advance the dialogue on religion. To change people's minds and not just appear like an arrogant jerk, you need to have at least a modicum of respect for the people you talk to. Especially if they represent massively popular phenomena.
It also misses the real story. The tragedy is not religion but a certain kind of religious practice. Intellectual traditions in all religions are under attack. Perhaps there was never much room for being a doubter or a mystic in mainstream religions -- and of course, in Europe in the past you could have gotten into a lot of trouble for expressing such things. But more and more, they don't seem like an option (even though they would easily stand up to Maher-style logical debunking, because they claim very little in the way of specifics).
Religiosity, literalism and fanaticism are on the rise all over the world, and the diversity of interpretations is decreasing. I'm thinking specifically of Islam, Christianity and Judaism. You're either with us or against us, the literalists say. Stuff like Maher's film only amplifies the restrictions that only give us two choices.
So Mr. Maher, if spiritual life has been an aspect of all human societies since the dawn of time, then we cannot just misanthropically dismiss all the inclinations people have to "oceanic feelings". (I'm with Jung, not Freud, on this one.) We really need a good criticism of religious fanaticism at this time -- it is corrupting our most beautiful instincts -- but this film looks like it's only going to further polarize the debate.
And I wish you could have waited until after the elections to release this! Sarah Palin can have a field day.
From the trailer, it looks like Maher's movie makes fun of believers of all stripes, makes them look like imbeciles, and generally interviews the least articulate of them.
But a film like this does nothing to advance the dialogue on religion. To change people's minds and not just appear like an arrogant jerk, you need to have at least a modicum of respect for the people you talk to. Especially if they represent massively popular phenomena.
It also misses the real story. The tragedy is not religion but a certain kind of religious practice. Intellectual traditions in all religions are under attack. Perhaps there was never much room for being a doubter or a mystic in mainstream religions -- and of course, in Europe in the past you could have gotten into a lot of trouble for expressing such things. But more and more, they don't seem like an option (even though they would easily stand up to Maher-style logical debunking, because they claim very little in the way of specifics).
Religiosity, literalism and fanaticism are on the rise all over the world, and the diversity of interpretations is decreasing. I'm thinking specifically of Islam, Christianity and Judaism. You're either with us or against us, the literalists say. Stuff like Maher's film only amplifies the restrictions that only give us two choices.
So Mr. Maher, if spiritual life has been an aspect of all human societies since the dawn of time, then we cannot just misanthropically dismiss all the inclinations people have to "oceanic feelings". (I'm with Jung, not Freud, on this one.) We really need a good criticism of religious fanaticism at this time -- it is corrupting our most beautiful instincts -- but this film looks like it's only going to further polarize the debate.
And I wish you could have waited until after the elections to release this! Sarah Palin can have a field day.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
This Is How You Get Got
So apparently pirates now have spokespeople, and it turns out they're pretty damn articulate.
This Times article made me think of the Mos Def song "Got". I.e., this is what happens when you sail an "estimated $30 million worth of heavy weaponry" down the coast of one of the most beleaguered, ungoverned countries in the world. It gets gaffled.
Was the arms deal really part of a secret shipment to southern Sudan? Hopefully, we'll find out.
This Times article made me think of the Mos Def song "Got". I.e., this is what happens when you sail an "estimated $30 million worth of heavy weaponry" down the coast of one of the most beleaguered, ungoverned countries in the world. It gets gaffled.
Was the arms deal really part of a secret shipment to southern Sudan? Hopefully, we'll find out.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Syria Bombing
A car bombing killed 17 in Damascus this morning. Before we all start wild speculations as to who did this, based entirely on our prejudices and political convictions and no facts, let’s first express some sorrow for the dead. This is a heinous act. I am thinking of all Syrians today. Keep your head up, Syria… peace will come.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Learning to Live New York
I was walking home about 11pm on 123rd Street near St. Nicholas. I passed the little jazz bar on the corner. It was about half full, and a live band's melodies murmured out. People were having drinks and talking; the night was cool.
A spontaneous smile grew on my face, even though I wasn't a part of the scene, and couldn't be, because I had to hurry home and read for class.
For me, that's learning to live New York City: appreciating and being aware of everything that is going on around you, without feeling you are missing out.
It's impossible to partake in everything this city has to offer. So I try to savor the aroma of its little blossoms even if I can't possibly pick them all.
A spontaneous smile grew on my face, even though I wasn't a part of the scene, and couldn't be, because I had to hurry home and read for class.
For me, that's learning to live New York City: appreciating and being aware of everything that is going on around you, without feeling you are missing out.
It's impossible to partake in everything this city has to offer. So I try to savor the aroma of its little blossoms even if I can't possibly pick them all.
Multimedia Activism in Palestine
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