Here’s another perspective on the cancelled book affair at U. of Texas: The press “stood up to the boycotters and announced that if the Israelis aren’t published, the boycotters won’t be, either—even at the cost of canceling a book in which the university had already invested a good deal of time, effort and money.” The university “deserves kudos, not blame.” (And for word from the press:
http://goo.gl/2Wll8.)
University Deserves Kudos, Not Blame by Evelyn Gordon | Commentarywww.commentarymagazine.com
“The U. of Texas has been attacked as an anti-Israel boycotter for taking a courageous stand against the boycott.”
Posted on 31 May 2012
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Bernard Lewis, born in London on May 31, 1916, turns 96 today. He’s marked this birthday by publication of his memoirs (
http://amzn.to/JOn14a), an occasion for an interview with NPR’s Neal Conan two weeks ago. If you missed it, listen at the link. (And read this short excerpt from the memoir, on his intelligence work in WW2:
http://goo.gl/ILW9W.)
At 96, Historian Lewis Reflects On ‘A Century’ | NPRwww.npr.org
“Bernard Lewis has arguably become the world’s greatest historian of the Middle East. Now, at 96, Lewis turns his attention inward in a memoir that looks back on his life, work and legacy.”
Posted on 31 May 2012
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Jonah Goldberg’s new book, ‘The Tyranny of Cliches: How Liberals Cheat in the War of Ideas,’ quotes me (p. 235) regarding the quest for a “Muslim Martin Luther.” “As Kramer goes on to document, waiting for the Muslim Luther was a bit like waiting for Godot, because none of the candidates for the title panned out.” And, as Goldberg notes, those who made the analogy seemed not to understand Martin Luther.
The Tyranny of Cliches: How Liberals Cheat in the War of Ideas by Jonah Goldbergwww.amazon.com
“The idea seems to be that Martin Luther was some sort of moderate, soft-spoken reformer, a champion of tolerance and open inquiry.”
Posted on 30 May 2012
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There’s no end to the Philistinism of Palestinian “intellectuals,” one of whom has gotten the U of Texas Press to cancel an anthology of stories by Middle Eastern women, because two Israelis were included (book still on Amazon:
http://goo.gl/YVIV3). The book was to be in memory of Texas prof Elizabeth Fernea, no admirer of Israel but not a boycotter. The next attempt to memorialize her must include Israelis.
Palestinian author in UAE stops US book project by Mick O’Reilly | Gulf Newsgulfnews.com
“I am so proud of having the book cancelled,” Palestinian author Huzama Habayeb told Gulf News. “To be able to resist the illegal Israeli occupation of my homeland is something that I will cherish forever.”
Posted on 29 May 2012
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In his new memoirs, Bernard Lewis predicts that wherever the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamists come to power, Muslims will “gradually sink bank into medieval squalor.” Supporting evidence accumulates daily. Here, for example, is a Salafist demonstration in Tunisia (yes, the Tunisia that’s supposed to be the best-case scenario). It’s medieval squalor alright. Transcript:
http://bit.ly/KYFDd1.
Thousands of Tunisians Salafis: “Obama, We Are All Osama”| via MEMRI TV
Posted on 25 May 2012
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“While Turkey is an important partner in the Nato alliance, it is not indispensable. If Turkey’s actions lead it to be seen as a source of instability for Nato, then the alliance may well find a way to reconsider the country’s membership.” Given Turkey’s churlish and polarizing conduct at the Nato summit in Chicago (detailed here), this might be a good time to do just that.
Turkey risks walking off the Nato tightrope by Muddassar Ahmed | Telegraphwww.telegraph.co.uk
“The danger is that by misusing the Nato platform to push a narrow, self-interested agenda, Turkey risks progress on issues where it could still find some sympathy.”
Posted on 24 May 2012
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Today’s worst pun in a headline.
Egyptian Voters Flex Their Cheops by Kate Seelye | HuffPostwww.huffingtonpost.com
“Remembering where Egypt stood a year and a half ago, today's vote must be considered a very positive step along the way.”
Posted on 23 May 2012
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Good for Gal Beckerman, who explodes Bob Simon’s silly ‘60 Minutes’ story about Tel Aviv. “There is so much to say about this segment, but my fingers hurt too much from pounding my fist against the wall while I was watching.” Still, he manages to say what needs to be said, both about Simon’s simple-mindedness and the star status given to the ludicrous Gideon Levy. Will CBS ever learn?
Tel Aviv = Titanic or Pompeii or Sodom? by Gal Beckerman | Forwardblogs.forward.com
“The piece is framed as an exploration of the political apathy of the bronzed and beautiful citizens of Tel Aviv (all of them apparently working at start-ups by day and dancing on tables doing vodka shots at night).”
Posted on 23 May 2012
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“What’s the common denominator behind Sacha Baron Cohen’s four movies? Once you notice the pattern, the pieces fall into place: Baron Cohen never forgets. His four main characters have been animated by his weapons-grade animus against present or past foes of the Jews.” What, you just noticed?
Comedy That Never Forgets by Steve Sailer | Taki’s Magazinetakimag.com
“Guess what? Stereotypes are funny, especially if motivated by an ethnic animus as deep-seated as Baron Cohen’s.”
Posted on 21 May 2012
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“France’s new prime minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, who was chosen in part for his fluent German, is proving to be a headache in Arabic. When spoken, his family name is colloquial Arabic in many countries for the third-person singular possessive form of the male sex organ.”
France’s Ayrault Creates Anatomical Challenge for Arab Press | Bloombergwww.bloomberg.com
“The potential for embarrassment prompted France’s foreign ministry to put out a statement today as Ayrault took office with the recommended spelling in Arabic.”
Posted on 16 May 2012
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