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Total number of comments: 8 (since 2010-06-17 13:38:54)

Lockheed Ventura

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  • 'Forward' reports on Jewish wealth as factor in California cong'l race
  • 'Tahrir means Liberation': A report from Cairo
    • Lockheed Ventura January 25, 2011 at 8:05 pm

      I was watching the last live internet feed of Tahrir Square at 5:30 (EST) tonight when all hell broke loose. There was little visual available but there twenty minutes of shooting. I assume it was teargas and rubber bullets but there was no way to tell from the feed. The massive protest in Tahrir Square was cleared and the feed died. I have not seen this yet reported in the media.

  • Dep't of Homeland Security suggests anti-Semitism may be motive for assassination attempt in Arizona
    • Lockheed Ventura January 10, 2011 at 1:36 am

      Dear Phil-

      At this point, Jared Lee Loughner is just as likely to be a Democratic as he is a Tea Party Member. Future evidence may show him to be a right winger, but at this point it simply does not exist. In fact, the little tangible evidence that does exist implies he was more of a Democrat than a Republican.

      I find Sarah Palin's gun posing and Glenn Beck's psychotic vitriol disgusting, but in my mind, this guy was so far gone, that nothing really mattered. He was a sick, sick schizophrenic who needed medical attention and restraint. Regardless, I agree that violent metaphors and rhetoric should be toned down, but it is wrong to imply (based on current evidence) that he is part of some right wing political movement.

      There simply is no evidence.

  • Israelis demolish Shepherd's Hotel in occupied East Jerusalem to make way for Jewish housing
    • Lockheed Ventura January 10, 2011 at 1:18 am

      Jim-

      You're rather naive. In New York State at least, "Jewish only" housing settlements are allowed in Brooklyn and certain suburban communities.

  • Abunimah on settler murders: security for all
    • Lockheed Ventura September 1, 2010 at 12:34 pm

      Jerry Adams, the leader of Sinn Fein, usually carried the coffins and gave eulogies at the funerals of fallen IRA Volunteers.

      Sinn Fein often praised the violent actions of the IRA, but Sinn Fein did a much better job of separating its political wing from its terrorist wing. It helps when you use different names. Officially, Sinn Fein always denied that they coordinated actions with the IRA, but most serious observers believe that two organizations were closely involved on clandestine levels.

      Sinn Fein evolved as part of political wing of the Republican movement within Northern Ireland. Despite discrimination, Northern Ireland was still a democracy, albeit a severely warped one. Thus, the Republicans approached the dispute with both ballot and gun. Unfortunately, the Palestinians in the Occupied Territories have no political outlet in the Knesset which undermines many of the parallels between the two conflicts.

      The key difference in the conflict is that US truly was an honest broker in the Northern Ireland conflict. The Irish American community was organized enough that the negotiations would not simply be a whitewash in favor of the British. It also helped that both Bill Clinton and George Mitchell (as well as Tony Blair by the way) were of various degrees of Irish heritage which made them at least on some level sympathetic to the Irish people. Ironically, that clown, Peter King, a Republican Representative from Long Island, New York, was a very vocal supporter of both Sinn Fein and the IRA. Nowadays he condemns all terrorist actions, but he had a much more nuanced position just 15 years ago.

      Even more important for the ending of the Troubles, the World was changing. European integration made the conflict seem even more anachronistic as citizens of all EU countries would soon have the right to live where ever they pleased. Europe was entering into a post-nationalist phase and these forces were stronger than anything going on the ground in Ireland. The British Parliament had begun to embrace devolution with respect to Scotland and Wales, and there was little reason to believe that the same process would not also happen in the North of Ireland.

      If you are interested in the Troubles (and God help if you are) I think this UK program "The Provos" is a good place to start. It is available on Youtube. It is a very long series, that delves into much of minutia of the conflict. It has a pro-British bias at times, but still gives an excellent introduction to the conflict.

      link to youtube.com

  • Boycott by Irish artists marks a new way forward
    • Lockheed Ventura August 13, 2010 at 2:52 pm with 3 replies

      There is a strong tradition among Irish artists of dealing with political issues, especially in music. It is truly amazing how the imagery from one conflict is mirrored in current conflict in Palestine.

      link to youtube.com

      Elvis Costello, real name Patrick Declan McManus, is probably the most famous artist in the World to decide to cancel concerts in Israel. His amazing song "Oliver's Army" referencing Oliver Cromwell, is technically about the British Army, but with references to Ireland, Palestine and Johannesburg, the song has a global reach. Ever hear a pop song with so much political punch?

      How can you not love the line "Have you got yourself an OCCUPATION?"

      link to youtube.com

      In Irish music, political music is often referred to as "rebel songs". Sinead O'Connor threw the concept on its head in this song with the wonderful metaphor of national conflict as a relationship between lovers.

      link to youtube.com

      I believe the themes of this song can be interpreted as a poignant call to a one state solution in Palestine when people stop thinking in terms of nationalities in conflict, but human beings in a complicated relationship. I am particularly moved by the relevance of the line "How come you never said you're sorry?"

      As in personal relationships, the ability and willingness to say "I am sorry" is a critical step towards reconciliation and healing . That is what made British Prime Minister Cameron's recent apology to the people of Derry, Northern Ireland regarding the Bloody Sunday inquiry so powerful.

      link to youtube.com

      There is a deep synchronicity in the crowd reaction to the word "sorry" from Prime Minister Cameron and the lyrics of the Sinead O'Connor song. The apology was sincere, heart felt and without ambiguity, something that would have been unheard from a British Prime Minister only two decades ago. In these words was the recognition of the humanity of the "other" and glorious evidence that change and eventually peace are possible. The artists in any society have the freedom and obligation to express the intangible truths that we are all aware of, even if they are never uttered out loud.

      Let's look forward to a day when the words "I'm sorry" can be uttered by Israeli Prime Minister to the people of Palestine. I believe it is not only possible, but inevitable.

  • In the wasteland of democracy, Israel destroys Al-Arakib . . . again
  • Writing from the 'Ramallah bubble,' Friedman is blind to Gaza and West Bank poverty
    • Lockheed Ventura June 30, 2010 at 7:41 pm

      The NY Times and Israel are obviously pushing a divide and conquer strategy as to the West Bank and Gaza. In light of the Gaza Flotilla debacle, the NY Times has engaged on an obvious and concerted campaign to establish that the West Bank is flourishing and that the problems in Gaza are of the Palestinians own making. Friedman is only the most obvious example of this campaign. This piece on the nightlife in Ramallah is a case in point. In light of the global condemnation of the living condition in Gaza after the Israeli assault on the Free Gaza Flotilla, the NY Times published a Travel Section piece evidencing just how good the Palestinians have it, especially if they just obey.

      link to travel.nytimes.com

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