Elie Wiesel presents himself as a humanitarian whose personal narrative gives him special license to sermonize about tolerance and non-violence. Wiesel: “Wherever men and women are persecuted because of their race, religion, or political views, that place must—at that moment—become the center of the universe.” More Wiesel: “Never again becomes more than a slogan: It’s a prayer, a promise, a vow. Never again jail and torture. Never again the suffering of innocent people, or the shooting of starving, frightened, terrified children.” Continue reading →
Inappropriate for US states and municipalities
One might argue against the sale of Development Corporation for Israel bonds, aka Israel bonds, to government entities in the USA because the proceeds fund Israeli violations of international law, particularly the colonization of the West Bank, and other activities which violate internationally accepted norms, to include maintaining Gaza as a vast open air prison. But although these policies are likely to have a negative impact on Israel’s credit rating in the future, it is the characteristics of the bonds themselves, chiefly their illiquidity, which should put them off limits for states and municipalities in the first place. Treasurers and pension fund managers who buy these toxic, illiquid obligations are putting taxpayers and retirees at risk. Continue reading →
David Fromkin seems to dislike Arabs. In A Peace to End All Peace he enjoys repeating disparaging comments about them: “ . . . that mysterious child of lies, the Arab . . .” (Fromkin, p. 90); “cowardly . . . insolent yet despicable . . . vicious as far as their feeble bodies will admit . . . rapacious, greedy . . . animals,” (p.181); “predatory savages,” (p.443).
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