Monthly Archives: June 2010

(Community Matters) I regret that I sometimes come across as so judgmental. I certainly don’t believe that I’m above reproach or without way more warts than many.

I also rarely believe myself to be the smartest on any particular topic, though often well-informed and at least articulating thoughts intended to foster further discussion and understanding.

(Community Matters) what the internet does to the brain – NPR

Hat Tip: Stephen Yelenosky

(Community Matters) I’m sure there’s no connection between his ownership interest in Moody’s credit rating nor in Goldman Sach; nevertheless, his recent defending of them and the revelations that he holds over $60B in derivatives (ie, financial instruments of mass destruction) don’t enhance his well groomed image

Buffett Defends How Rating Agencies Are Paid

(Community Matters) David Grossman is a leading Israeli scholar, author, former journalist and peace activist. Steven and I had breakfast with him in Jerusalem a couple of years ago.  I’m hoping to reconnect with him while there with Steve Adler & Diane Land next week.

(This situation breaks my heart. The soldiers – no one can fault them for defending themselves; the passengers who attacked them with knives & lead pipes deserve no compassion. As to the politicians & military leadership who sent these soldiers into harms way and who risked Israel’s remaining political goodwill, they are incompetent)

His editorial in the UK Guardian:

The Gaza flotilla attack shows how far Israel has declined

The closure of Gaza is the consequence of a clumsy, calcified policy, which resorts by default to the use of massive force. No explanation can justify or whitewash the crime that was committed, and no excuse can explain away the stupid actions of the government and the army. Israel did not send its soldiers to kill civilians in cold blood; this is the last thing it wanted. Yet, a small Turkish organisation, fanatical in its religious views and radically hostile to Israel, recruited to its cause several hundred seekers of peace and justice, and managed to lure Israel into a trap, because it knew how Israel would react, knew how Israel is destined and compelled, like a puppet on a string, to react the way it did.

How insecure, confused and panicky a country must be, to act as Israel acted! With a combination of excessive military force, and a fatal failure to anticipate the intensity of the reaction of those aboard the ship, it killed and wounded civilians, and did so – as if it were a band of pirates – outside its territorial waters. This assessment does not imply agreement with the motives, overt or hidden, and often malicious, of some participants in the Gaza flotilla. Not all its people are peace-loving humanitarians, and the declarations of some of them regarding the destruction of the state of Israel are criminal. But these facts are simply not relevant at the moment: such opinions do not deserve the death penalty.

Continue reading →

(Community Matters) Lilly Archuletta is having a hard week; wish I was there to be of help/comfort/just get drunk together.

(Community Matters) I would have bought something there last week if I’d seen this earlier

Vodpod videos no longer available.

(Community Matters)

The Independent

Daniel Gordis

Haaretz (an Israeli daily)

and here