I just watched yesterday’s video conversation between Tim Snyder and Heather Cox Richardson. They’re discussing Snyder’s writing about autocracy, freedom, tyranny, relating it to the current political reality in the US and the trump/Israel war against Iran, with Richardson providing historical analogues and analysis.
First of all, if you closed your eyes you might think the conversation had been scripted – it wasn’t – it was spontaneous. What you have are two well informed minds, able to be concise and still broad in how they articulate questions, and how they respond. This is basically an interview of Snyder by Richardson but there are no slow parts, no hesitations. It’s amazingly clear and to the point. It’s about 45 minutes – it will help you understand the complexity of the chaos being created by trump’s (and his advisorss’) naivety and lack of understanding of what it takes to undertake “war”. I recommend watching it and passing it on to other people.
Second, the other evening I watched “Breaking The Deadlock” on PBS – this simulation/discussion was about sports gambling and what it’s doing to young men.
The format of this program comes from the original Fred W Friendly Seminars [youtube.com/results] – the ones I remember most vividly are on Ethics in America [youtube.com/watch?v=8-9…].
This program on sports gambling was gripping because the panelists have to improvise responses to the escalating scenario slowly laid out by the moderator, who is terrific at controlling and containing the conflict between panelists as the story becomes more and more complicated, and they become more and more invested in their positions!
It’s an hour well spent!
This is how I’ve been spending much of my time these days – not watching videos, but reading the arguments of some fine minds as they’re struggling to make sense of what’s happening each day.
I try to share what I find most compelling; maybe it will help you think about the issues with new information.
With that in mind, I want to share a piece of writing I came across the other day:
From the Globe and Mail: As a Palestinian, this is what I wish the Jewish community could hear – [ theglobeandmail.com/gif…
As a Canadian Jew, this Palestinian’s perspective helped me understand how the Israeli destruction of Gaza and the West Bank looks from where they stand in the rubble!
It’s now also happening in Lebanon! Bridges destroyed, the country cut in two with the obvious intention of Israel occupying that southern 1/3 of Lebanon. Where does this leave the non-Hezbollah supporting Lebanese stuck in a new annexed strip of Israel? Refugees in their own land!
I keep reading, trying to make sense of what is essentially unintelligible, certainly beyond my understanding….
jmn 