בכובד ראש התעצמו
כי בכובד לב יהללו
בימים האלו התחתנו
כי גורש גרשנו
בזאת קדימה הכריזנו
כי לאחורה השגנו
צמח תצמח על מעשה ידינו
כי באש נשרף מה היה לנו
With gravity we freed our country
for with sadness we will praise;
In those days we married
because surely we have divorced;
With 'this' we announce our way forward
when to the back we have arrived;
Surely sprout that burden of our handiwork
if in fire has burned that which has befallen us.
Wednesday 29 April 2009
Tuesday 20 January 2009
The Cost of Liberty
Sweetness of Liberty
so bitterly wrought
Its piercing call
sung in melancholic cacophony
Glorious victory bought with ignanimous downfall
triumph meets swift defeat
With our lives we pay her steep price
give me liberty and give me death
so bitterly wrought
Its piercing call
sung in melancholic cacophony
Glorious victory bought with ignanimous downfall
triumph meets swift defeat
With our lives we pay her steep price
give me liberty and give me death
Love's Child
That painful sorrow ensures
only bitterness is sought
for hate spawns hate
but love its likeness naught.
only bitterness is sought
for hate spawns hate
but love its likeness naught.
Haught and Circumstance
Haught and circumstance
your head so full of pomp
Your lofty gait
with nose held high
so sad the stench your own.
your head so full of pomp
Your lofty gait
with nose held high
so sad the stench your own.
Bound
Bound
by my past
these circumstantial chains
ephemeral yet mighty
illusory lock guarding phantasmal walls
My brow full of struggled sweat
to escape this loathsome jail
My hands writhe in pain
as the key digs into them
by my past
these circumstantial chains
ephemeral yet mighty
illusory lock guarding phantasmal walls
My brow full of struggled sweat
to escape this loathsome jail
My hands writhe in pain
as the key digs into them
The Dreaded Cold
I welcome the dreaded cold in whose dark thoughts I do lie
Despair be my honest friend; prove your worth faithfully
Foul stench becomes me; my effervescent reek profuse
Born wretched; corrupted still yet
If God damns not my immortal soul, of free volition will I.
Despair be my honest friend; prove your worth faithfully
Foul stench becomes me; my effervescent reek profuse
Born wretched; corrupted still yet
If God damns not my immortal soul, of free volition will I.
Thursday 15 January 2009
Secret Code
Even amidst pain and rejection, our deepest faith rings true. And even amidst our wildest triumphs, our strongest doubts, fears and alienations stand.
The dynamism of life doesn't allow us to be single minded, driven without the lonely angst of second guessing. Our purpose threatens stagnation, our ends drive wedges between our loves and ourselves. And amidst that sorrowful pain, that horrible bipartite division, that wretching discord, we achieve sight. Not of our some glorious higher version of ourselves; not of some ephemeral dream that knowingly eludes our tightest grasp; but that true sight whose prescience allows our darkest failures and our bravest triumphs.
That deep breath that for which we have fought so long and hard does not privilege us with any vain semblance of triumph. It may bring epiphanous relief, but in the same moment releases that steady stream of tears whose awesome specter holds its perhaps last but strongest sway over us.
And in that moment, we curse ourselves beyond the damnation that belongs only to the wretched. In that moment, where we truly grasp our highest image with our most perverse nature, a single voice emerges. Its beautiful contradiction our own, its poignant resolution ours as well.
That still small voice, clear and true, quietly screaming,
The dynamism of life doesn't allow us to be single minded, driven without the lonely angst of second guessing. Our purpose threatens stagnation, our ends drive wedges between our loves and ourselves. And amidst that sorrowful pain, that horrible bipartite division, that wretching discord, we achieve sight. Not of our some glorious higher version of ourselves; not of some ephemeral dream that knowingly eludes our tightest grasp; but that true sight whose prescience allows our darkest failures and our bravest triumphs.
That deep breath that for which we have fought so long and hard does not privilege us with any vain semblance of triumph. It may bring epiphanous relief, but in the same moment releases that steady stream of tears whose awesome specter holds its perhaps last but strongest sway over us.
And in that moment, we curse ourselves beyond the damnation that belongs only to the wretched. In that moment, where we truly grasp our highest image with our most perverse nature, a single voice emerges. Its beautiful contradiction our own, its poignant resolution ours as well.
That still small voice, clear and true, quietly screaming,
Wednesday 31 December 2008
Gaza
The usual tripe is coming forth from the woodwork: Israel is massacaring the Palestinians; Israel has a right to defend itself; the U.N. only complains when Israel fights back, not when Hamas serves the first volley; the occupation is a crime against humanity. Etc., etc., etc.
This disdainful excersize only proves what we all already knew: political discussion is not about rational argument, it's about partisan tribalism. Whenever the lines were drawn, the camps seem clear: Israel can do no wrong, Israel can do no right; the Palestinians can do no wrong, the Palestinians can do no right. But these are reflexive reactionary stances, not positions held consciously. Lip service is high on the agenda for the partisan supporter of each 'cause.' Judging by the actual implications of each position, however, it is opaque that these reservations are nothing more than window-dressing; shrift attempts to placate the great god of pc public opinion.
Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia (anti-Arabism?) are not the motivations of such narrow opinions, but often are the result. Naivite deludes us into casting motivation in the mold of result. But that simply distracts from the actual issues at stake. Screaming anti-Semitism and Islamophobia when we aren't dealing with intentional anti-Semites or Islamophobes is not only pointless, it is self-defeating. There is no quicker way to make sure that your opinions are discounted as nothing more than over-exuberant red herrings than to consistently miss the point. Where malicious intent is not present, accusation thereof are heard as nothing more than white noise.
But let's not confuse the argument for rational dialouge. Rationality may play a significant part in the dialectic. It helps the natives get from point A to B to B1, B2, and B3. But it doesn't give the support for point A. Obviously this is a stickfigure drawing of how positions and preferences progress. There are mulitple point 'A's in any person's thought that lead the procession. But the gist is rationality is not the name of the game. It's not surprising, then, that rational argument doesn't lead to dissuasion.
This skepticism sounds odd, however. Moral reletavism is just a dangerous as extremist certitude. Moral reletavism buys into certain aspects of the extremist mentality in that it is totalizing and meaning imposing, even if only in negative senses. Extremism says that only one option is viable- it denies your choice. Relativism says that no options are viable- it denies your choice.
In our case, particularly, reletavism seems to offer no help. Saying that the Palestinians and Israelis are equal is meaningless and impractical. Meaningless as it illicts the question why one would bother offering an opinon at all; impractical as moral reletavism never seems to lead to a neutral opinion. If it ever does, the opinion then becomes meaningless. This is not to mention all the absurd vacilation that doubt leads to.
The remaining option, then, is to pick a side and understand why that side was chosen. Not to merely soldier on. Nor to ignore the humanity of the other side. Not to forget the reasons for acting in the first place, but to judge the actions constantly and vigilantly.
Hamas is a terrorist group. That doesn't make everything it does irrational. Israel has the right to defend itself. That doesn't make everything it does permissable.
This is not an opinion. This is the merely the frame. Where the pieces fall is another story.
This is not a call to abandon your post, to throw down arms and to forget brethren. It is not a choice between the extremes of everything being equal, and forgetting the other. It is a choice between totalizing blindness, and guarded reserve. It is a call for rational prudence.
This disdainful excersize only proves what we all already knew: political discussion is not about rational argument, it's about partisan tribalism. Whenever the lines were drawn, the camps seem clear: Israel can do no wrong, Israel can do no right; the Palestinians can do no wrong, the Palestinians can do no right. But these are reflexive reactionary stances, not positions held consciously. Lip service is high on the agenda for the partisan supporter of each 'cause.' Judging by the actual implications of each position, however, it is opaque that these reservations are nothing more than window-dressing; shrift attempts to placate the great god of pc public opinion.
Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia (anti-Arabism?) are not the motivations of such narrow opinions, but often are the result. Naivite deludes us into casting motivation in the mold of result. But that simply distracts from the actual issues at stake. Screaming anti-Semitism and Islamophobia when we aren't dealing with intentional anti-Semites or Islamophobes is not only pointless, it is self-defeating. There is no quicker way to make sure that your opinions are discounted as nothing more than over-exuberant red herrings than to consistently miss the point. Where malicious intent is not present, accusation thereof are heard as nothing more than white noise.
But let's not confuse the argument for rational dialouge. Rationality may play a significant part in the dialectic. It helps the natives get from point A to B to B1, B2, and B3. But it doesn't give the support for point A. Obviously this is a stickfigure drawing of how positions and preferences progress. There are mulitple point 'A's in any person's thought that lead the procession. But the gist is rationality is not the name of the game. It's not surprising, then, that rational argument doesn't lead to dissuasion.
This skepticism sounds odd, however. Moral reletavism is just a dangerous as extremist certitude. Moral reletavism buys into certain aspects of the extremist mentality in that it is totalizing and meaning imposing, even if only in negative senses. Extremism says that only one option is viable- it denies your choice. Relativism says that no options are viable- it denies your choice.
In our case, particularly, reletavism seems to offer no help. Saying that the Palestinians and Israelis are equal is meaningless and impractical. Meaningless as it illicts the question why one would bother offering an opinon at all; impractical as moral reletavism never seems to lead to a neutral opinion. If it ever does, the opinion then becomes meaningless. This is not to mention all the absurd vacilation that doubt leads to.
The remaining option, then, is to pick a side and understand why that side was chosen. Not to merely soldier on. Nor to ignore the humanity of the other side. Not to forget the reasons for acting in the first place, but to judge the actions constantly and vigilantly.
Hamas is a terrorist group. That doesn't make everything it does irrational. Israel has the right to defend itself. That doesn't make everything it does permissable.
This is not an opinion. This is the merely the frame. Where the pieces fall is another story.
This is not a call to abandon your post, to throw down arms and to forget brethren. It is not a choice between the extremes of everything being equal, and forgetting the other. It is a choice between totalizing blindness, and guarded reserve. It is a call for rational prudence.
Tuesday 23 December 2008
Offensive titles n' such
I find this yahoo! article title extremely curious. As clearly stated within the article, it is Arab diplomats who have presented the jewlery to Miss Rice. A title claiming that 'Arab' are the ones lavishing the gifts seems to imply that either some random Arabs off the streets are ponying up or that there is some diplomatic entity known as Arabia. To the best of my knowledge, the Arab League enjoys no such international consideration.
Wednesday 3 September 2008
Palin's teen daughter is pregnant.
No, I don't really care about a teenage girl's indiscretions. She can do what she wants, well, as long as nobody gets hurt. However, I wonder how this will frame the issues in the upcoming elections. As I mentioned in a previous post, John McCain's appointment of Sarah Palin for VP is not about substance per se, but about manipulating the debate. Rather than the media focusing on the fact that Obama isn't well, white, the media can now focus on the fact that Palin isn't well, male. Although these facts could cancel each other out, and leave only substantive issues in their wake, the likelihood is that Palin's being a woman will be a prime topic.
The news that her daughter is pregnant likewise has the power to tune debate. The possible smears against the family are obvious, but an issue driven backlash is also likely. From the Democratic side, Bristol Palin will literally be the poster girl for the failed moral applicability of Republican sentiments. It doesn't take talking about sex for kids to want to have sex- they want, and are going, to have it either way.
But, the news was leaked by the Republicans, and for a reason: abortion. Much larger than the issues of the pill, sex-ed and the distribution of condoms, abortion looms as one of the most contentious issues in the country. Much as the Democrats can spin Bristol as the poster girl for sex-ed, the Republican party can use her as the poster girl for anti- abortion sentiment, if not legislation. A teenage pregnancy is one the more easily justifiable types of abortion, and yet abortion is out of bounds for the Palin family.
Expect this, like previous presidential elections, to be about flash, and not substance.
The news that her daughter is pregnant likewise has the power to tune debate. The possible smears against the family are obvious, but an issue driven backlash is also likely. From the Democratic side, Bristol Palin will literally be the poster girl for the failed moral applicability of Republican sentiments. It doesn't take talking about sex for kids to want to have sex- they want, and are going, to have it either way.
But, the news was leaked by the Republicans, and for a reason: abortion. Much larger than the issues of the pill, sex-ed and the distribution of condoms, abortion looms as one of the most contentious issues in the country. Much as the Democrats can spin Bristol as the poster girl for sex-ed, the Republican party can use her as the poster girl for anti- abortion sentiment, if not legislation. A teenage pregnancy is one the more easily justifiable types of abortion, and yet abortion is out of bounds for the Palin family.
Expect this, like previous presidential elections, to be about flash, and not substance.
Saturday 30 August 2008
Republican Jewish Coalition kvetches about Palin's nomination.
Say this in a New York Jewish accent:
"Senator Lieberman and Representative Cantor would also have been excellent choices," said RJC spokeswoman Suzanne Kurtz, but McCain's nominee was just as good.
My, what Jewish humor does to any quote.
"Senator Lieberman and Representative Cantor would also have been excellent choices," said RJC spokeswoman Suzanne Kurtz, but McCain's nominee was just as good.
My, what Jewish humor does to any quote.
Friday 29 August 2008
McCain ensures that American voters are either.....
In a stunningly weird move John McCain has ensured that this campaign won't be about the issues, and will be about whether one is a racist or a sexist. In choosing the Governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin, McCain has shown that it is fluff and not policy or credentials that make the most importance to his campaign. Part of Obama's strength (and weakness) is in his 'novelty' of being black. What better a PR move for the McCain campaign than to ensure his campaign is also the focus of novelty- although a chihuahua might have been more original, as Geraldine Ferraro already ran on the Dukakis ticket back when I was born- rather than substance.
The question, simply put, is who is Palin? She's a novice, so her appointment clearly has nothing to do with augmenting McCain's stand, diversifying his stance on issues, or moving him more towards the center. And unlike the benefit of newcomer status to the Obama campaign, a political newbie taking on the VP will be seen as inherently subordinate to the President- especially one with longstanding credentials such as John McCain has. Fresh blood isn't what McCain wants to bring into his campaign, just a fresh pair of stockings.
Indeed, Yahoo! already has news items up asking whether Palin will cause Clinton supporters to go to McCain. McCain was already well entrenched within the bitter masses of the Clinton wing, so what is it that will sway voters on account of Palin? He already has the 'issues' people, now he's going to get everyone who was going to vote for Hillary because she's a woman. Because, guess what, now you get to be either a sexist or a racist.
The question, simply put, is who is Palin? She's a novice, so her appointment clearly has nothing to do with augmenting McCain's stand, diversifying his stance on issues, or moving him more towards the center. And unlike the benefit of newcomer status to the Obama campaign, a political newbie taking on the VP will be seen as inherently subordinate to the President- especially one with longstanding credentials such as John McCain has. Fresh blood isn't what McCain wants to bring into his campaign, just a fresh pair of stockings.
Indeed, Yahoo! already has news items up asking whether Palin will cause Clinton supporters to go to McCain. McCain was already well entrenched within the bitter masses of the Clinton wing, so what is it that will sway voters on account of Palin? He already has the 'issues' people, now he's going to get everyone who was going to vote for Hillary because she's a woman. Because, guess what, now you get to be either a sexist or a racist.
Sunday 20 July 2008
Zimbabwe's hyperinflation.
Yahoo! equivocation at its finest. The ecomonic crisis in Zimbabwe is not related to the U.S.'s financial woes, but if you just looked at the headlines you wouldn't realize that there was at best only a tangential relation. Mind you, it is important to note that while Americans are paying more than ever for gas, they are still doing it with about 4 dollars, and 100 billion dollar bills...
Thursday 26 June 2008
Wednesday 25 June 2008
Translations
I love your accent:
(where appropriate) You're foreign, let's sleep together
(where the previous one was not) Wow, you conform to all my stereotypes about your country. If you don't, you do.
You know, I don't hate (insert race/religion/ethnicity/gender) but...:
You know, I really f***ing hate (said race/religion/ethnicity/gender) but I've been told that people don't listen to racists anymore.
My Black/Jewish/Arab/Asian/Muslim/Christian friend told me....:
I have no friends, except this minority dude cause all the whities realize that racism is outdated. F*** them.
Fast Food:
Fat Food
Hello:
Let's make out
or
Hello. (but probably the first one....)
G-d Bless America:
'Cause, like, we need him to pick up our slack....
(where appropriate) You're foreign, let's sleep together
(where the previous one was not) Wow, you conform to all my stereotypes about your country. If you don't, you do.
You know, I don't hate (insert race/religion/ethnicity/gender) but...:
You know, I really f***ing hate (said race/religion/ethnicity/gender) but I've been told that people don't listen to racists anymore.
My Black/Jewish/Arab/Asian/Muslim/Christian friend told me....:
I have no friends, except this minority dude cause all the whities realize that racism is outdated. F*** them.
Fast Food:
Fat Food
Hello:
Let's make out
or
Hello. (but probably the first one....)
G-d Bless America:
'Cause, like, we need him to pick up our slack....
Wednesday 16 April 2008
Why bother being Philosemetic...
if all it means is to be against antisemitism?
If the state of the Jews is so paltry that even a lover of Jews has nothing positive to say about them, then surely we need to take back what's ours. Introducing my new blog: Pioneering a New Judaism.
Links: http://philosemitism.blogspot.com/
http://anewjudaism.blogspot.com/
If the state of the Jews is so paltry that even a lover of Jews has nothing positive to say about them, then surely we need to take back what's ours. Introducing my new blog: Pioneering a New Judaism.
Links: http://philosemitism.blogspot.com/
http://anewjudaism.blogspot.com/
Tuesday 15 April 2008
From Simply Jews:
Being unaware of the existence of Jews, the ancient Maya ascribed all their misfortunes to the dark forces of nature.
Monday 14 April 2008
Friday 11 April 2008
Wednesday 9 April 2008
" 'Two Israelis die' on Gaza border"
That's the headline of the BBC. How did they die? Did they have heart attacks? Or the Ebola virus? Is there an outbreak of Ebola in Israel- otherwise why is this news?
Oh wait....this was part of a terrorist attack by Palestinians on Jews, and that's why its news. So, tell me again why it doesn't say 'killed'? Are terrorist attacks on Jews now considered natural causes?
As for the those murdered, BD'H.
Update: Yes, they've changed it now. I need to learn how to screen shot, etc.
Update: See HonestReporting for some more background. Heh, you thought I was just making it up, didn't you?
Oh wait....this was part of a terrorist attack by Palestinians on Jews, and that's why its news. So, tell me again why it doesn't say 'killed'? Are terrorist attacks on Jews now considered natural causes?
As for the those murdered, BD'H.
Update: Yes, they've changed it now. I need to learn how to screen shot, etc.
Update: See HonestReporting for some more background. Heh, you thought I was just making it up, didn't you?
Thursday 27 March 2008
May his name be sanctified
יתגדל ויתקדש שמיה רבה
שוכן ממרום עלה ונתעלה
פושט יד לאביונום ונותן להם התקווה
ומקים את עמך אשר בם בחרת
ושרתי עוד ישמע בערי יהודה
וראיתי כל העם צהלה ושמחה
אבל רוצה לשאול איכה
May His name be magnified and sanctified
He dwells upon high, higher and higher
He extends his hand to the destitute and gives to them 'The Hope'
And He establishes his nation that in them He has chosen
And I've sung 'May it be heard in the cities of Judah'
And I saw the whole nation 'Cheerful and Happy'
But I would like to ask, however, 'Where are you?'
שוכן ממרום עלה ונתעלה
פושט יד לאביונום ונותן להם התקווה
ומקים את עמך אשר בם בחרת
ושרתי עוד ישמע בערי יהודה
וראיתי כל העם צהלה ושמחה
אבל רוצה לשאול איכה
May His name be magnified and sanctified
He dwells upon high, higher and higher
He extends his hand to the destitute and gives to them 'The Hope'
And He establishes his nation that in them He has chosen
And I've sung 'May it be heard in the cities of Judah'
And I saw the whole nation 'Cheerful and Happy'
But I would like to ask, however, 'Where are you?'
Tuesday 25 March 2008
Monday 17 March 2008
Finally, my feet are planted.
פסיעות רגלי
סוף סוף מגעיים ארצי
אולי יתמו נדודי
סוף סוף אל השמים אשא כפי
כי עד כאן ניטעו רגלי
ואהלל את אדוני
כי שלם את אשר נשבע לאבותי
The steps of my feet
Are finally reaching my land
Perhaps my wanderings will finish
Finally towards the heavens I will lift my hands
For until now my feet were not planted
And I will praise the Lord
For he has fulfilled what he swore to my fathers
G-d why have you?
אלי אלי למה עזבתני
האם נטרח בעולה תמימה ושכחתני
ענית אבותי ולא עניתני
האם גם כן הלכת
כי איפה השבוע שנשבעת
אוכל נרדם אולי מספר
הרבה ארבה את זרעכם עד לא יסופר
בימי הצורך יגעתי ולא נמצאת
בקשתי אלי נא ענה ושקטת
אולי אמתין עוד מעט ותלמידני
כי חשבתי שחשקתני
כי עכשיו נראה רק שכזבתני
My G-d, my G-d, why have you forsaken me?
Are you too busy with your perfect offering, that you’ve forgotten me?
You answered my fathers, but you did not answer me
Have you also went-
For where is the promise that you made-
Are you eating, sleeping, perhaps talking?
‘I will surely increase your offspring until they cannot be counted’
In the days of need, I strained, but you were not to be found
I pleaded ‘My G-d, please answer me,’ but you were silent
Perhaps I should wait a little more and then you will teach me
For I thought that you want me
Because right now it seems only that you lied to me.
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