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04:24 PM
AMRAM MITZNA
is already being described
in some circles
as a “bleeding heart” with “blood on his hands.” These same sources are urging the new Labor candidate for prime minister of Israel to move his party politically to the right, much in the same way that corporation-friendly Democrats in the United States are herding more liberal and progressive members toward the center.
Mr. Mitzna has long been
an ideological opponent of Ariel Sharon
, and he promises, if elected, he will unilaterally pull troops and Jewish settlers out of the Gaza Strip and return to the peace table with anyone the Palestinians choose to represent them.
The Associated Press quotes him as saying, “Morality is an inseparable part of Israel’s code of behavior, or should be. The reality is that our intolerable friction with the Palestinians harms basic values of ours — purity of arms, respect for freedoms, and human rights.”
Though much of what Mr. Mitzna says makes more than a little sense, even those sympathetic to his cause believe
he has little chance of winning
the race against his right-wing Likud opponent, who will most likely be either Mr. Sharon or Foreign Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
But we can always hope.
:::
SO WHEN I COME HOME
feeling tired and beat
I’ll go up where the air is fresh and sweet
I’ll get far away from the hustling crowd
And all the rat-race noise down in the street
On the roof
, that’s the only place I know
Look at the city, baby
Where you just have to wish to make it so
Let’s go up
on the roof
.
— Gerry Goffin-Carole King
:::
JOSH MARSHALL
of
Talking Points Memo
is directing readers to Paul Krugman’s op-ed piece in the
New York Times
, entitled “
Victors and Spoils
,” that explains the real benefit behind privatizing 850,000 federal jobs. (The move has nothing to do with saving the taxpayers money.)
While perusing the
Times
, I also recommend the Nicholas D. Kristof piece, “
China’s Three Lies
.” In particular, is this definition of fascism:
Chinese leaders are not so much Communists as fascists, for they aim to preside over a capitalist economic system with a large state-controlled sector, while using military power to suppress opposition.
Of course, the definition cannot be applied in good conscience to other nations, right?
:::
A COUPLE OF QUIRKY
, off-the-beaten-track, totally unrelated items items caught my eye during my daily surf.
The first, a profile of “
Iraq’s Portrait Artist
” in the
New York Times
, examines the source of those enormous Saddam Hussein faces one sees looming in Iraqi public places. The story is a grim depiction of unquestioning allegiance to corrupt authority. Salaam Abid, the artist profiled, dismisses “His Excellency’s” atrocities with religious fervor: “If you see Saddam Hussein at very close quarters, as I did, he displays all the characteristics of a prophet.” One wonders how many others share Mr. Abid’s ardor. (Hopefully, not many.)
On a more positive and, as I said, totally unrelated note,
Smithsonian
is offering a brilliant online exhibition of “
New Hotels for Global Nomads
.” Included is one of our personal favorites, the London Savoy Hotel. (Get it? Savoy?) Don’t miss it. [Hat tip:
Typographica
.]
:::
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC NEWS
interviews
American author and freelance journalist Sandra Mackey, who has reported on the Middle East for more than 20 years and who envisions “problems of control” in the invasion of Iraq. Ms. Mackey believes that “In some ways, the region may be more aware of the fragility of Iraq than the Bush administration,” and she examines many of the reasons it will be difficult for Iraqis to govern themselves. Fascinating reading. [Note: Ms. Mackey will take part in an AOL live chat tomorrow night at 9 p.m. The AOL keyword is “Mideast History”. Those using AOL as their ISP might want to tune in.]
Meanwhile, according to an appalling international poll of 18-to-24-year-olds, in the United States only 17 percent
could find Afghanistan
on a map. Can anybody say “illiteracy?” Only Mexico scored lower in the Roper survey, which included citizens of Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Sweden and the United States.
By the way, Sweden scored highest.
Need help teaching your kids geography (or learning it yourself)? Try
GeoSpy
.
I’ll be brutally honest: my skills need considerable work.
:::
SPEAKING OF LITERACY
, my friend Steven Duggan should be pleased with today’s opening of the
International Children’s Digital Library
, as it will likely provide him with an abundant source of stories to tell his young children. The site also encourages them to read. Great idea.
We are indebted to Mr. Duggan, as he introduced us to
Blackmask Online
, a brilliant resource for those who love the written word, and one I have been too-long remiss in recommending. Thanks, Steven.
:::
THOSE WITH AN EXTRA
$5000 burning a hole in their pockets might use it to purchase the
Segway HT
from
Amazon.com
.
Or they might use the cash to
liberate the stonefish
from the bonds of indebtedness to Microsoft (and still have enough left over to treat their significant others to a vacation in Hong Kong).
Segway or Switch? You be the judge.
:::
FINALLY
,
By Sand and Sea
’s
Islam
entry bears reading ... twice.
And if you aren’t yet a part of this year’s
Link and Think
project, there’s no time like the present to get on board.
Fatherland security
10:20 AM
LAST NIGHT
the lame-duck Senate handed President Bush a major victory by
passing the Homeland Security Act
in a 90-9 vote.
Forget for a moment that the White House originally opposed the creation of a Cabinet-level post, until realizing it could be used to bust federal employee unions and sidestep the Freedom of Information Act.
Forget that the bill excludes the CIA and FBI — the only two agencies needing common oversight and a vehicle for the exchange of information.
Forget that the legislation
contains egregious riders
, of which Tom Daschle — who, incidentally, voted to approve it — said, “That is not good government. That is shabby government.”
Remember this: Nested inside the Homeland Security Act like a Russian doll was the 16-page
Cyber Security Enhancement Act
, a bill that will allow law enforcement officers to read your email or listen to your telephone voice mail without probable cause and without first asking the court’s permission.
Remember it the next time you drop an intimate line to a romantic interest or jokingly disparage your employer or complain about a government agency.
Remember it the next time you telephone your best friend and begin to share the very private details of your medical examination or your collapsing marriage or your personal finances with their voice mail.
No email, no voice mail can now be considered private.
Police states do not begin with broad, sweeping mandates. Instead, they begin with subtle changes in one’s way of doing things. Like offering up a little privacy here, a little due process there.
Or, as Alexander Solzhenitsyn once said, “Blow the dust off the clock. Your watches are behind the times. Throw open the heavy curtains which are so dear to you — you do not even suspect that the day has already dawned outside.”
If I sound like an alarmist, it’s because I am. Speech is only free when its privacy can be insured. The Cyber Security Enhancement Act goes a long way toward compromising that privacy and, in fact, curtailing free speech.
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