#612 Musings Beyond the Bunker (Monday March 20)
Good morning,
Happy Spring Equinox and Happy Nowruz!
A potpourri today…
NORUZ AND WOMEN’S RIGHTS
Today is the Iranian New year (or Persian New Year) of Nowruz. Originally a Zoroastrian holiday, it now is celebrated by Persians around the world. The festival, which celebrates the connection of humans and nature, has a history extending over 3,000 years. The 13th century poet Saadi wrote of this Spring holiday, “Awaken, the morning Nowruz breeze is showering the garden with flowers.” Omar Khayyam describes it as the “rebirth of the world.”
In this time of trial for the people of Iran, we should be aware of the crackdowns on freedom and women’s rights in the Islamic Republic. While it is of most immediate concern for mankind whether the Iranian government achieves nuclear weapons, it is tragic what is going on and what is happening to the Iranian people. Under the guise of religion, a police state has been established. Brutal oppression already has happened and protests have been met with brutal responses. We have not seen the last.
The saying we see on buildings and posters “woman, life, freedom” is the latest rallying cry of those oppressed throughout history.
I visited Iran many years ago, right before the revolution. The people were wonderful, the cities and their architecture inspiring, the mountains majestic. Things were not perfect (not even close) but much of the population was literate and educated, living by the standards of a developed western society. Perhaps they will live under such conditions again in the future. It may take another revolution.
POLITICALLY CORRECT TO CHANGE BUT MORALLY INEXPLICABLE
Roald Dahl’s books are being reissued by the publisher with a number of references, particularly those describing people as fat, whitewashed so as not to offend. Mind you, children are actually killed in Willy Wonka. These killings, apparently, are all right, but calling someone fat is not. Similarly, there is no disclaimer about his infamous antisemitic comments, about which he was quite public and unapologetic. Kill off kids in your stories and hate Jews. Just don’t say I’m fat…
Dahl had a lot of horrible antisemitic comments during his life. It is hard to reconcile these comments with the contributions he made to children’s literature. Similarly reprehensible people have produced art, much of which continues to entertain, inform, and challenge. I still love Richard Wagner’s works and I think Annie Hall and Midnight in Paris are examples of Woody Allen’s cinematic genius. Neither of these men stands as a role model, whose personal beliefs or behaviors we want to encourage children to emulate. That said, the world is somehow a lesser place without their contributions.
THE SUPER BOWL HOMAGE TO KANYE WEST (AKA, “YE”)
The Super Bowl is now over a month back in our rear-view mirror. Historically this often was a ho-hum one-sided game punctuated by great commercials and a lavish halftime show (after all, they had to keep our interest). In recent years, the game has improved considerably, with only the rare blow-out. The halftime show, however, has become a hit-and-miss affair. This year, Rihanna was the star, performing without the typical recent phenomena of multiple headliners and various cameos. It didn’t move me in the slightest.
But it was more than a mediocre show, as Noa Tishby has noted. She proclaims that the Super Bowl half time show was an “homage” to Kanye West. As we all know, Kanye says he loves Hitler, called for “Death Con 3 on Jewish people,” and has repeatedly and unapologetically voiced his antisemitism.
Here are some notes on Rihanna’s performance:
Her first song, “Bitch Better Have My Money” (Really? Who names these songs or writes their lyrics?) was produced by Kanye
A later song was “Run This Town,” which featured Kanye.
She also performed Kanye’s song, “All of the Lights.”
After the performance, the 13 year-old song “All of the Lights” jumped to #1 on iTunes.
Ms. Tishby posted a comment, that said, “Did she have to perform a Kanye song?” After this posting, she received the typical numerous vulgar responses, some with adoring references to Hitler. Like “Hitler should have completed the work.”
Comments made to Ms. Tishby included “Jew needs to shut the hell up” “Love you Karen #Jew” and “NO SHE ISN’T YOU WILL ONCE AGAIN STAY THE FUCK OUT OF BLK PEOPLE’S BUSINESS…AND COMING FOR YOUR FATASS.”Antisemitism is alive and well. Sadly, it goes beyond the rantings of a person like Kanye. It’s out there on college campuses, in subtle (and not so subtle) references and in the perpetration of antisemitic tropes.
When will people, including those in groups against whom hatred has been directed, understand that hate is hate is hate is hate? It doesn’t matter against whom it is directed or who is spewing the vitriol.
MEANWHILE AT STANFORD…
A conservative jurist from the Fifth Circuit was verbally abused on a recent visit to Stanford Law School. At this bastion of liberal education, it is impossible for a United States Circuit Court Judge to share his beliefs. After the abuse, Stanford University apologized. But the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion officer responsible for the law school instead defended the hecklers, noting that they were “hurt” by the presence of this judge and had every right to make it impossible for a person who didn’t share their views from ever speaking. Disrespect has no place in the academic sphere and openness to hearing reasonably held beliefs by those with whom we disagree should flourish. This DEI officer has it precisely backward.
Have a good day,
Glenn
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