This week seems likely to be packed with news. Today, Vice President Kamala Harris spoke about the crisis in the Middle East with strong words for both Hamas and Israel, calling for a ceasefire of at least six weeks, the return of hostages, and increased aid to the Palestinians. Such a deal is on the table. According to the U.S., Israel has agreed to it, and negotiators are waiting for a response from Hamas leaders.
Yes, "packed with news," though one thing stands out here: our many who often cite humanities.
More do that here than on any other site I know – and the reason others do it less has nothing to do with how many good books, music, film they’ve had.
Citing humanities obliges us to draw also upon something in us. That – the personal – shapes how well we go out of our way to add perspective, to shine light on some issue we care about. It’s this, the personal, that has us draw from some novelist’s issues in his or her writing, from some lyricist’s in song, some film maker’s in film.
Orwell puts it like this. In “Politics and the English Language” he urges we always start with some sensation we have, some “concrete object” out there, some other person’s pain or social predicament. Get that picture. Then, and only then, seek apt words.
Feel, see others first.
Many don’t draw on humanities because school taught them to check at the door anything personal. They may consume novels, films, and songs, but impersonally. Thus, Orwell says, we lack the pictures artists have arranged, and when we write, prefabricated words just “come rushing in.”
One recent example is when a couple fellow commenters here objected to my use of the pronoun “our,” as when I say “our Heather.” They thought me presuming “possession” of her, “ownership.”
Truth is, if you note our best humanities, you see how our best have always used pronouns to widen participation, engagement, community: Woody Guthrie in “This Land is your land, this land is my land,” another classic in “This is my country, land that I love,” another in “My country, Tis of Thee.”
Some of our commenters let abstractions and error take over, as school taught them to chuck the personal in humanities. So they deny themselves the humanities that could check them, as do any so void, whether the lemmings of House Speaker Howdy Doody, or raving theocrats on the Clarence Court.
Heather, a LOT is riding on this decision tomorrow from the Supreme Court. My bet is they will side with Trump, although the Constitution is extremely clear. He should not be allowed on any ballot. He should not be allowed to hold any public office ever again.
What he needs to be is in a jail cell. He should have been locked up when he was indicted/arrested the first time, then simply transported from jail to jail on each indictment and arrest.
Trump has the Supreme Court right in the palm of his hand, and they will be the ruination of our Democracy and Constitution. This Supreme Court is a total embarrassment for America!!!
Viktor Orbán is visiting Trump at Mar-a-Lago next week. Does anyone have any thoughts on what he and Trump would be up to? Could he be a go-between for Putin? If Trump needs $, could they funnel it to him, or are fund transfers so well monitored that that would be impossible?
I am trying to stay optimistic, since every "traditional" sign would say Biden will prevail in the general election. The economy is doing well; record stock prices & job numbers. He's passed signifcant legislation - such that this coming decade will be one of investment in our infrastructure. And the CHIPS Act. The PACT Act. Yet - Biden's approval is at an all-time low. And the GOP offers us ....nothing, and takes away our rights. The House has passed NOTHING - and even when the Senate comes up with bipartisan legislation on the border, Trump forces the GOP not to even vote on it. Ukraine is suffering; the GOP won't even take the vote. And Trump is sounding crazier & crazier (and litterly demented) on the stump. AND YET -- the corrupt, broke, adjudicated sexual assaulter (rapist, according to the judge's definition) who is in thrall to Putin is leading in the polls. 4-5 points up on Biden in the poll just released by NYT/Siena. I can't belive it.
JUST THINK ABOUT THIS, Nicholas Kristof, New York Times Opinion Columnist, warned:
'When he was challenged about the bloodshed in Gaza on “Face the Nation” last weekend, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel responded, “What would America do” after something like the Oct. 7 Hamas attack? “Would you not be doing what Israel is doing? You’d be doing a hell of a lot more.”
'in less than five months of Israel’s current war in Gaza, the health authorities there report more than 12,500 children killed.'
'Some of the most incisive critics of Israel’s actions are from the very U.N. agencies and human rights groups whose staffs are risking their lives in the field to save lives in Sudan, Ethiopia and other countries.'
'In any case, there is a reason to focus on Gaza today, for it is not just one more place of pain among many contenders but, in the judgment of Unicef, the world’s most dangerous place to be a child.'
'Consider that in the first 18 months of Russia’s current war in Ukraine, at least 545 children were killed. Or that in 2022, by a United Nations count, 2,985 children were killed in all wars worldwide. In contrast, in less than five months of Israel’s current war in Gaza, the health authorities there report more than 12,500 children killed.'
'Among them were 250 infants less than 1 year old. I can’t think of any conflict in this century that has killed babies at such a pace.'
'Of course Israel had the right to respond militarily to the Oct. 7 attacks. Of course Hamas leaders should give up their hostages. But none of this excuses Israel’s “indiscriminate” bombing, in the words of President Biden, and restrictions on food and other assistance.'
'Because of America’s support for Israel’s invasion and diplomatic protection for it at the United Nations, this blood is on our hands, and that surely justifies increased scrutiny.'
'Yet here’s another double standard: We Americans condemn Russia, China or Venezuela for their violations of human rights, but the United States supports Israel and protects it diplomatically even as it has engaged in what President Biden has called an “over the top” military campaign.'
“How can the U.S. condemn Russia’s bombing of civilians in Ukraine as a war crime but fund Netanyahu’s war machine, which has killed thousands?” 'Senator Bernie Sanders asked.'
'So it’s fair to talk about double standards. They are real. They run in many directions, shielding Israel as well as condemning it. And in a world where we are all connected by our shared humanity, I believe we should never let our very human tangles of double standards and hypocrisies be harnessed to deflect from the tragedy unfolding today for the children of Gaza, or America’s complicity in it.' (NYTimes, By Nicholas Kristof) See gifted link below.
Love Mr Balla’s comment that explains why we honor OUR Heather: “how well we (Heather!) go (es) out of our (her) way to add perspective, to shine light on some issue we (all) care about.” We honor Heather as a member of our family of (philosophical) choice.
Yes, tired thinking about it. Like watching Cirque du Soleil on a pyramid of chairs twirling plates at the end of sticks and wondering which moving part will come apart first. I'm thinking I need to cover my eyes.
Would love to be a fly on the wall in FL when Orban and the former guy talk. What do two tryants talk about? How to make the most money possible exploiting their country's natural resources and their fellow citizens? How to stay in power for life? How to destroy all democratic norms, laws, and government structures? How to get the most pleasure out of harming people? How to most effectively threaten, intimidate, and strike fear in your fellow citizens. Will they share the direct line phone numbers to other like-minded world tyrant leaders that they can collude with? How will Orban be compensated for giving his masterclass on being an effective tyrant and killing democracy as quickly as possible? Will the former guy takes notes? No, I doubt it. I wonder who will? Would like to see a copy of that transcript.
Professor, thank you for giving us a solid outline for my (our?) minds to grasp. I am more interested in the SCOTUS decision and the State of the Union than Super Tuesday. Or anything the chump does. Or polls. Or talking heads.
I find that it is easier to get through a week like this when I can keep the Main Thing the Main Thing.
You don't have that luxury, so I will be thinking of you often, with gratitude and encouragement...
We knew this was going to be a difficult year. And it already is.
My nails are down to the quick.
We all need to remember mental health breaks.
The biggest concerns now are Ukraine and the SCOTUS delaying the DC Trump trial till it is too late to do before the election. And, of course, both defeating Trump and taking back the house, while extending the slim majority in the senate. No biggy, right?
OOOH - The dems will protect Johnson if he brings up the Ukraine spending for a vote. Nice move, Dems.
Re: Putin and Orban fanboy Trump.
As Woody Guthrie said of Hitler fanboy Charles Lindbergh:
So I'm a gonna tell you people: If Hitler's gonna be beat
The common workin' people has got to take the seat
In Washington, Washington
And I'm gonna tell you workers, 'fore you cash in your checks
They say "America First, " but they mean "America Next!"
In Washington, Washington
https://youtu.be/Mw9qJhvxytg?si=5c8FXudwxU4d7PNv
I'd gladly pay you Tuesday for a bond reduction today.
Yes, "packed with news," though one thing stands out here: our many who often cite humanities.
More do that here than on any other site I know – and the reason others do it less has nothing to do with how many good books, music, film they’ve had.
Citing humanities obliges us to draw also upon something in us. That – the personal – shapes how well we go out of our way to add perspective, to shine light on some issue we care about. It’s this, the personal, that has us draw from some novelist’s issues in his or her writing, from some lyricist’s in song, some film maker’s in film.
Orwell puts it like this. In “Politics and the English Language” he urges we always start with some sensation we have, some “concrete object” out there, some other person’s pain or social predicament. Get that picture. Then, and only then, seek apt words.
Feel, see others first.
Many don’t draw on humanities because school taught them to check at the door anything personal. They may consume novels, films, and songs, but impersonally. Thus, Orwell says, we lack the pictures artists have arranged, and when we write, prefabricated words just “come rushing in.”
One recent example is when a couple fellow commenters here objected to my use of the pronoun “our,” as when I say “our Heather.” They thought me presuming “possession” of her, “ownership.”
Truth is, if you note our best humanities, you see how our best have always used pronouns to widen participation, engagement, community: Woody Guthrie in “This Land is your land, this land is my land,” another classic in “This is my country, land that I love,” another in “My country, Tis of Thee.”
Some of our commenters let abstractions and error take over, as school taught them to chuck the personal in humanities. So they deny themselves the humanities that could check them, as do any so void, whether the lemmings of House Speaker Howdy Doody, or raving theocrats on the Clarence Court.
Heather, a LOT is riding on this decision tomorrow from the Supreme Court. My bet is they will side with Trump, although the Constitution is extremely clear. He should not be allowed on any ballot. He should not be allowed to hold any public office ever again.
What he needs to be is in a jail cell. He should have been locked up when he was indicted/arrested the first time, then simply transported from jail to jail on each indictment and arrest.
Trump has the Supreme Court right in the palm of his hand, and they will be the ruination of our Democracy and Constitution. This Supreme Court is a total embarrassment for America!!!
Hang in there (for us, please ). We are ALL so tired of all of the crap.
Viktor Orbán is visiting Trump at Mar-a-Lago next week. Does anyone have any thoughts on what he and Trump would be up to? Could he be a go-between for Putin? If Trump needs $, could they funnel it to him, or are fund transfers so well monitored that that would be impossible?
I am trying to stay optimistic, since every "traditional" sign would say Biden will prevail in the general election. The economy is doing well; record stock prices & job numbers. He's passed signifcant legislation - such that this coming decade will be one of investment in our infrastructure. And the CHIPS Act. The PACT Act. Yet - Biden's approval is at an all-time low. And the GOP offers us ....nothing, and takes away our rights. The House has passed NOTHING - and even when the Senate comes up with bipartisan legislation on the border, Trump forces the GOP not to even vote on it. Ukraine is suffering; the GOP won't even take the vote. And Trump is sounding crazier & crazier (and litterly demented) on the stump. AND YET -- the corrupt, broke, adjudicated sexual assaulter (rapist, according to the judge's definition) who is in thrall to Putin is leading in the polls. 4-5 points up on Biden in the poll just released by NYT/Siena. I can't belive it.
JUST THINK ABOUT THIS, Nicholas Kristof, New York Times Opinion Columnist, warned:
'When he was challenged about the bloodshed in Gaza on “Face the Nation” last weekend, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel responded, “What would America do” after something like the Oct. 7 Hamas attack? “Would you not be doing what Israel is doing? You’d be doing a hell of a lot more.”
'in less than five months of Israel’s current war in Gaza, the health authorities there report more than 12,500 children killed.'
'Some of the most incisive critics of Israel’s actions are from the very U.N. agencies and human rights groups whose staffs are risking their lives in the field to save lives in Sudan, Ethiopia and other countries.'
'In any case, there is a reason to focus on Gaza today, for it is not just one more place of pain among many contenders but, in the judgment of Unicef, the world’s most dangerous place to be a child.'
'Consider that in the first 18 months of Russia’s current war in Ukraine, at least 545 children were killed. Or that in 2022, by a United Nations count, 2,985 children were killed in all wars worldwide. In contrast, in less than five months of Israel’s current war in Gaza, the health authorities there report more than 12,500 children killed.'
'Among them were 250 infants less than 1 year old. I can’t think of any conflict in this century that has killed babies at such a pace.'
'Of course Israel had the right to respond militarily to the Oct. 7 attacks. Of course Hamas leaders should give up their hostages. But none of this excuses Israel’s “indiscriminate” bombing, in the words of President Biden, and restrictions on food and other assistance.'
'Because of America’s support for Israel’s invasion and diplomatic protection for it at the United Nations, this blood is on our hands, and that surely justifies increased scrutiny.'
'Yet here’s another double standard: We Americans condemn Russia, China or Venezuela for their violations of human rights, but the United States supports Israel and protects it diplomatically even as it has engaged in what President Biden has called an “over the top” military campaign.'
“How can the U.S. condemn Russia’s bombing of civilians in Ukraine as a war crime but fund Netanyahu’s war machine, which has killed thousands?” 'Senator Bernie Sanders asked.'
'So it’s fair to talk about double standards. They are real. They run in many directions, shielding Israel as well as condemning it. And in a world where we are all connected by our shared humanity, I believe we should never let our very human tangles of double standards and hypocrisies be harnessed to deflect from the tragedy unfolding today for the children of Gaza, or America’s complicity in it.' (NYTimes, By Nicholas Kristof) See gifted link below.
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/02/opinion/israel-gaza-double-standard.html?unlocked_article_code=1.aE0.yFZK.Kv0VxNTBKIQ8&smid=url-share
We’ve all been tired since November 2016. How little we understood then; we thought it was the worst of times.
Love Mr Balla’s comment that explains why we honor OUR Heather: “how well we (Heather!) go (es) out of our (her) way to add perspective, to shine light on some issue we (all) care about.” We honor Heather as a member of our family of (philosophical) choice.
Yes, tired thinking about it. Like watching Cirque du Soleil on a pyramid of chairs twirling plates at the end of sticks and wondering which moving part will come apart first. I'm thinking I need to cover my eyes.
Would love to be a fly on the wall in FL when Orban and the former guy talk. What do two tryants talk about? How to make the most money possible exploiting their country's natural resources and their fellow citizens? How to stay in power for life? How to destroy all democratic norms, laws, and government structures? How to get the most pleasure out of harming people? How to most effectively threaten, intimidate, and strike fear in your fellow citizens. Will they share the direct line phone numbers to other like-minded world tyrant leaders that they can collude with? How will Orban be compensated for giving his masterclass on being an effective tyrant and killing democracy as quickly as possible? Will the former guy takes notes? No, I doubt it. I wonder who will? Would like to see a copy of that transcript.
Professor, thank you for giving us a solid outline for my (our?) minds to grasp. I am more interested in the SCOTUS decision and the State of the Union than Super Tuesday. Or anything the chump does. Or polls. Or talking heads.
I find that it is easier to get through a week like this when I can keep the Main Thing the Main Thing.
You don't have that luxury, so I will be thinking of you often, with gratitude and encouragement...
We knew this was going to be a difficult year. And it already is.
My nails are down to the quick.
We all need to remember mental health breaks.
The biggest concerns now are Ukraine and the SCOTUS delaying the DC Trump trial till it is too late to do before the election. And, of course, both defeating Trump and taking back the house, while extending the slim majority in the senate. No biggy, right?
I think you guys will find that all Trump's financial debts with the courts will be mere chicken feed for Viktor Orban.