The Sopranos Go to School

From an article in today's WJS by Tunku Varadarajan called Why We Can't Fuhgeddabout 'The Sopranos':

"This Thing of Ours: Investigating 'The Sopranos ,' " edited by David Lavery and published next month by Columbia University Press, under the rubric of Television/Cultural Studies. (It would have to be a Columbia book; after all, Meadow studies there!) It is a gloriously over-the-top exercise, proof -- if any more were needed -- of the way "The Sopranos " is now embedded in the culture generale. (It is proof, also, that the academy has not entirely lost its sense of humor.)

The book contains essays on "Weight, Body Image and Masculinity in 'The Sopranos' "; "Food, Violence and Family in 'The Sopranos' " (in which the author observes that in the series, the F-word is used elastically, "as an adjective, an adverb, a verb, a noun, as almost any conceivable grammatical unit"); Northern New Jersey and the "cultural geography" of "The Sopranos "; and, my favorite, "Beyond the Bada Bing: Negotiating Female Narrative Authority in 'The Sopranos .'

Varadarajan says this is proof that the academy hasn't lost it's humor. He's wrong. The academy takes this very seriously. And that's what's so pathetic.

Black vs. White

Lots of bloggers are commenting on Mandela's comparison of the way the U.S. deals with "black" Iraq vs. "white" Israel. I'll just repost something I blogged on regarding an even more idiotic comment by the UNH professor who claims that the U.S. killed 3000 civilians in Afghanistan:

The UNH professor who blithely reports Taliban civilian casualty figures (see my 8/21 blog below) to criticize the war in Afghanistan has this gem in his "dossier":


"What I am saying is that when the 'other' is non-white, the scale of violence used by the U.S. government to achieve its state objectives at minimum cost knows no limits. A contrary case might be raised with Serbia which was also recently subjected to mass bombing. But, the Serbs were in the view of U.S. policymakers and the corporate media tainted ('darkened') by their prior 'Communist' experience."


The stupidity of this comment is amazing. First, how does he know what was in the view of US policymakers and media? He doesn't quote anyone saying, "Let's bomb the Serbs; who cares if they're former Commies." He's just making that up in order to dismiss a clear case of the U.S. bombing Europeans that contradicts his thesis. Second, note how he turns the experience of being Communist into "darkening." Another made-up distinction. Who said being Communist is darkening? There are lots of other former Communists who have joined NATO--Poles, Hungarians, Czechs. No one thinks of them as "dark." But the liar has to use that term in order to make a connection between Serbs--who are white Europeans--and Afghans so that his thesis holds up. Note, too, that he uses "communist" in quotes, as if Yugoslavia wasn't a self-proclaimed communist state. Third, he fails to point out that the people the U.S. was saving by bombing the Serbs were...Muslims. In fact, people that the Serbs acutally did view as an "other" who deserved to be killed. And the U.S. was saving them by bombing the Serbs. But that doesn't fit his narrative, so he just lies about the facts and twists reality to make the U.S. bombing of European Serbs to protect Muslims into an example of Western hatred for dark people. Such is the world these American-haters live in.

Forgiveness?

At this time of the year, Jews have forgiveness on their minds. We pray for forgiveness of the Jewish people as a whole and for ourselves as individuals. We recite daily in the selichot prayers the Lord's 13 attributes of mercy as stated in the Torah and repeat them on Yom Kippur: "The Lord, the Lord, G-d, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, preserver of kindness for thousands of generations, forgiver of iniquity, willful sin, and error, who cleanses [sinners of sin]." We rely on his mercy to survive.

So forgiveness is a good thing, and all of use need it b/c we all screw up. But what about people who do really horrible things? What about rapists, murders, Nazis, and terrorists? Can we forgive them? Should we? Can we? Rabbi Benjamin Blech as an article addressing this question in jewish world review. He concludes, in what has become a standard Jewish response, that one person cannot forgive sins against another person. Forgiveness has to come from the person who has been wronged. Since the victims are dead, they certainly can't forgive, and their survivors aren't likely to either.

This is an okay response as far as it goes, but it seems too neatly to avoid answering the hard questions head on. If we could, should we forgive them? Does G-d forgive them? A better answer, I think, was given by Rabbi Shmuley Boteach (whom I generally don't like for various reasons) two years ago when he became frustrated with the statesman-like treatment Syrian dictator Hafez Assad recieved upon his death.

Boteach aptly wrote, The bottom line is that there are some offenses for which there is no forgiveness; some borders whose transgression society cannot tolerate under any circumstances, and mass murder is foremost among them. Only if we hate the truly evil passionately will we summon the determination to fight them fervently."

I Wasn't Making It Up

In a post below on the Earth Summit, I said that Greg Easterbrook's dismissal of the final declaration was too optimistic b/c even non-binding documents gain status through the efforst of the idiotarians. Read this article on Durban for an example: Since Durban: An entrenchment of hatred

With the blessing of the Commission, the High Commissioner proceeded to turn the non-binding result of the world conference into the centerpiece of the UN's anti-racism agenda, instead of the 1966 treaty against racial discrimination binding on almost all of the world's states, including the United States and Israel.

Even the body charged with monitoring the implementation of the racial discrimination treaty the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination now directs states' parties to consider Durban when applying the treaty. The same body issued a statement in March "welcoming" "the contribution of non-governmental organizations during the Durban Conference."

The Commission resolution of April 2002, injects Durban into every pore of the UN system. In its words, it calls upon "all relevant organs, organizations and bodies of the United Nations system to become involved in the follow-up to the World Conference Against Racism...and invites specialized agencies and related organizations of the United Nations system to...adjust...their activities, programs and...strategies to implement and follow-up the Durban Declaration..."

The human rights home page of the UN's Web site contains only five specific links, one of which is to the World Conference Against Racism alongside "The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights," "the Universal Declaration of Human Rights," and "Treaties."

Witness to the Palestinian Riot in Montreal

I just posted on Israpunditan e-mail message from a young women who was caught up in the Palestinian riot in Montreal that prevented Bibi from speaking. Please read it; it's scary. Interestingly enough, the woman appears to have been a Leftist activist in the past, having participated in the anti-Free Trade Area of the Americas protests in Quebec City last year.

You just can't satisfy some people

AP carries a report that some newspapers and anti-death penalty activists want to re-test DNA to try to prove that an executed man was . Re-test? Yes, that's right. There was already a test indicating that he was guilty, but now these people claim that new techniques should be used just to make sure.

First, we were told that every criminal should be entitled to a DNA test, b/c it's the only truly reliable evidence, and there are now state law and a proposed federal law to guarantee it. That leaves open the problem that DNA evidence mgiht become an expection, a floor for proof of guilt. Defense attorneys would argue that a prosecution case has reasonable doubt b/c "they don't even have DNA evidence!" But what if there's no DNA evidence for entirely understandable reasons, for example if a rape isn't completed? Not all cases yield DNA evidence, and the burden of proof on the prosecution should not be raised. Now, we're told that we have to keep testing DNA evidence b/c it might not be reliable. We've seen the same salami-slicing arguments on finger-print evidence, with one federal judge actually ruling that finger-printing is not scientifically valid enough for use as proof.

We all know that eyewitnesses aren't reliable, so its certainly better to have scientific evidence. But now we're being told that scientific evidence isn't good enough either. I'm all in favor of making sure the court gets the right guy. But I'm pretty sure that the reason some people keep attacking various forms of evidence not to exonerate the innocent, but to prevent anyone guilty from being punished.

Father of Mercy

This is the Av HaRachamim, "father of mercy," prayer, written originally to commemorate the victims of the Crusades, said following the Torah reading on the Sabbath and during memorial services:

The Father of mercy who dwells on high
in His great mercy
will remember with compassion
the pious, upright and blameless
the holy communities, who laid down their lives
for the sanctification of His name.
They were loved and pleasant in their lives
and in death they were not parted.
They were swifter than eagles and stronger than lions
to carry out the will of their Maker,
and the desire of their steadfast God.
May our Lord remember them for good
together with the other righteous of the world
and may He redress the spilled blood of His servants
as it is written in the Torah of Moses the man of God:
"O nations, make His people rejoice
for He will redress the blood of His servants
He will retaliate against His enemies
and appease His land and His people".
And through Your servants, the prophets it is written:
"Though I forgive, their bloodshed I shall not forgive
When God dwells in Zion"
And in the Holy Writings it says:
"Why should the nations say, 'Where is their God?'"
Let it be known among the nations in our sight
that You avenge the spilled blood of Your servants.
And it says: "For He who exacts retribution for spilled blood
remembers them
He does not forget the cry of the humble".
And it says:
"He will execute judgement among the corpse-filled nations
crushing the rulers of the mighty land;
from the brook by the wayside he will drink
then he will hold his head high".

Song of the Day

Every day after morning prayers, Jews say a song of the day. Below is the song for Wednesday, which is very appropriate in particular on this date:

Psalm 94
O God of vengence, Lord, appear!
Rise up, you judge of the earth. Pay back the haughty what they deserve.
How long shall the wicked--Lord!--how long will the wicked exult?
They pour out arrogant words; all the evil-doers boast.
Your nation, Lord, they crush, and they afflict your heritage.
The widow and the stranger they slay, and the orphans they murder.
They say, "The Lord will not see, neither will Ya`akov's God understand."
Consider, you senseless among the people; you fools, when will you gain wisdom?
He who implanted the ear, will he not hear? He who formed the eye, will he not see?
He who disciplines the nations, will he not punish? He who teaches man knows.
The Lord knows the thoughts of man, that they are futile.
Blessed is the man whom you discipline, Lord, and teach out of your law;
That you may give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit is dug for the wicked.
For the Lord will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.
For judgment will return to righteousness, all the upright in heart shall follow it.
Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will stand up for me against the evil-doers?Had the Lord not been a help to me, my soul would have soon dwelt in silence.
When I said, "My foot falters!" your loving kindness, Lord, supported me.
In the multitude of my foreboadings within me, your comforts cheered my soul.
Shall the throne of destruction be associated with you, those who fashion evil into a way of life?
They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.
But the Lord has been my stronghold, my God, the Rock of my refuge.
He has brought on them their own violence, and will cut them off in their own wickedness.
The Lord, our God, will cut them off.

Whew, That's a Relief

Switzerland joined the UN today. I don't mind; I just couldn't care less. And I don't think the world--or Switzerland--is that much safer. On the other hand, if we could trade Switzerland for, say, Iran, Iraq, or Syria, that would be cool. I support a similar policy for NATO enlargement. I'll take Romania and Bulgaria if we can get rid of France and Greece.

Satirewire, of course, had the best comment on this a few months ago when the Swiss voted to join: Tormented by New U.N. Classmates, Switzerland Already Wants to Go Home: "Everyone's mean to me, and the food sucks," says Tiny Nation's Ambassador.

By David

By David. The Lord is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life-whom shall I dread?
When evildoers approached me to devour my flesh, my oppressors and my foes, they stumbled and fell.
If an army were to beseige me, my heart would not fear; if war were to arise against me, in this I trust.
One thing I have asked of the Lord, this I seek: that I may dwell in the House of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the pleasantness of the Lord, and to visit His Sanctuary.
For He will hide me in His sanctuary on a day of adversity; He will conceal me in the hidden places of His tent; He will lift me upon a rock.
And then my head will be raised above my enemies around me, and I will offer in His sanctuary sacrifices of jubilation; I will sing and chant to the Lord.
Lord, hear my voice as I call; be gracious to me and answer me.
In Your behalf my heart says, "Seek My presence"; Your presence, Lord, I seek.
Do not conceal Your presence from me; do not cast aside Your servant in wrath. You have been my help; do not abandon me nor forsake me, God of my deliverance.
Though my father and mother have forsaken me, the Lord has taken me in.
Lord, teach me Your way and lead me in the path of righteousness, because of my watchful enemies.
Do not give me over to the will of my oppressors, for there have risen against me false witnesses, and they speak evil.
Had I not believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!
Hope in the Lord, be strong and let your heart be valiant, and hope in the Lord.

Let's Roll

Let's Roll

by Neil Young


I know I said I love you,
I know you know it's true,
I've got to put the phone down,
and do what we got to do.

One's standing in the aisleway,
Two more at the door,
We've got to get inside there,
Before they kill some more.

Time is runnin' out,
Let's roll.
Time is runnin' out,
Let's roll.

No time for indecision,
We've got to make a move,
I hope that were forgiven,
For what we got to do

How this all got started,
I'll never understand,
I hope someone can fly this thing,
And get us back to land.

Time is runnin' out,
Let's roll.
Time is runnin' out,
Let's roll.

No one has the answer,
But one thing is true,
You've got to turn on evil,
When it's coming after you,

You've gotta face it down,
And when it tries to hide,
You've gotta go in after it,
And never be denied,

Time is runnin' out,
Let's roll.

Let's roll for freedom,
Let's roll for love,
We're going after Satan,
On the wings of a dove.

Let's roll for justice,
Let's roll for truth,
Let's not let our children,
Grow up fearfull in their youth.

Time is runnin' out,
Let's roll.
Time is runnin' out,
Let's roll.
Time is runnin' out,
Let's roll.