From Gilad Atzmon:
In the above clip I elaborate on US academic Ali Abunimah’s attitude towards history and culture.
I contend that since Israel defines itself as the Jewish state and its tanks are decorated with Jewish symbols, we are entitled to ask ourselves who are the Jews and what is Judaism and Jewishness? In my work I try to understand the role and the impact of Jewish culture on Israeli and Jewish politics – something I believe is necessary to bring peace to the region and beyond.
But Ali Abunimah doesn’t agree. In reference to a talk I gave at the Stuttgart One State Conference in Decemebr 2010, he suggested that history and politics are detached from culture – an unusual approach which contradicts all recognized, intellectual and philosophical understandings of humanity, history, politics as well as culture.
Abunimah says “Talking about Jewish culture is wrong because such arguments can be made about anyone. We could blame German culture for the history of Germany...”
Someone should tell Abunimah that this is exactly what intellectuals, historian and political scientists do. They search for the origins of political thoughts in culture, ideology, religion and heritage. For instance, those who study the Nazi era try to comprehend the impact of Wagner, the German symphony, Protestant culture, German philosophy, Martin Luther’s The Jews and their lies, Hegel and the German spirit, German early romanticism, Lebensphilosophie, Heine, Athens versus Jerusalem, and so on.
It is obvious to me that, Abunimah hasn’t thought it through. However, it is never too late to admit a mistake and put it right.
To view Atzmon’s Stuttgart presentation click here.
Tuesday, 3 April 2012
Sunday, 25 March 2012
Friday, 23 March 2012
Tuesday, 13 March 2012
What happened to Palestine's steam railways?
From Stuart Littlewood:
Not all is doom and gloom here in the UK. The North Norfolk Railway (Poppy Line) put on its Spring Steam Gala last weekend and a good time was had by young and old.
Their cute little J15 was celebrating her 100th birthday, dwarfed by wildlife artist David Shepherd's mighty 'Black Prince'. The B12, which had been undergoing a major overhaul, emerged into the sunlight looking as brand spanking new as she did the day she was built in 1928. And two visitors joined the proceedings - the Great Western 'Kinlet Hall', 83 years old but absolutely immaculate, and a Black Five - to round off this steam spectacular.
North Norfolk Railway's Spring Steam Gala
As I snapped these snorting, chuffing, hissing beauties and basked in waves of nostalgia I couldn't help wondering what happened to Palestine's steam railways. In the days of the British Mandate there was an extensive rail network in the Holy Land with Lydda the hub.
When Britain quit Palestine in 1948 it left behind a considerable steam rail legacy. Does anyone have memories? But Lydda was renamed Lod after the Israelis attacked and annexed it. The same fate befell other Palestinian towns. Did anything survive? What happened to the trackbeds, locomotives and rolling stock? Are some hidden away in old sheds or did the Israelis steal everything that was moveable and destroy everything they could carry away?
In Britain the government discarded our fine steam locomotives in its unseemly rush for diesel in the 1960s. It was nothing short of criminal to treat our priceless heritage so carelessly. Enthusiasts scraped some money together and rescued what they could, and today there are well over 100 resurrected railways and tramways with more than 500 miles of track and some 400 stations. They carry about 7 million passengers a year and play a valuable role in tourism.
It is believed that nearly 3000 locomotives have been preserved or are restoration projects. The 120-ton 'Black Prince' is a class 9F heavy freight locomotive and one of the last to be build in the UK for main line use. David Shepherd paid just £3000 to save it from the scrap yard in 1967. "She was eight years old, she'd just had an overhaul and they were going to just chuck her away and cut her up," he said. "I managed to save her and thank God I did.
"You can have all sorts of emotional feelings on an engine when it's in steam! I just love this engine for the pleasure it gives."
In Palestine, as a consequence of the UN's daft Partition plan, key bridges and other rail infrastructure were destroyed in the 1948 war. Had the Palestinians been left in peace their steam railways would no doubt have played a major role in building the nation's economy and bringing prosperity.
By now they'd probably have a number of steam preservation lines in their coastal resorts and population centres like Jerusalem and Ramallah to excite the children, charm their parents and celebrate the romance of the steam age.
What a different world it could have been.
Not all is doom and gloom here in the UK. The North Norfolk Railway (Poppy Line) put on its Spring Steam Gala last weekend and a good time was had by young and old.
Their cute little J15 was celebrating her 100th birthday, dwarfed by wildlife artist David Shepherd's mighty 'Black Prince'. The B12, which had been undergoing a major overhaul, emerged into the sunlight looking as brand spanking new as she did the day she was built in 1928. And two visitors joined the proceedings - the Great Western 'Kinlet Hall', 83 years old but absolutely immaculate, and a Black Five - to round off this steam spectacular.
North Norfolk Railway's Spring Steam Gala
As I snapped these snorting, chuffing, hissing beauties and basked in waves of nostalgia I couldn't help wondering what happened to Palestine's steam railways. In the days of the British Mandate there was an extensive rail network in the Holy Land with Lydda the hub.
When Britain quit Palestine in 1948 it left behind a considerable steam rail legacy. Does anyone have memories? But Lydda was renamed Lod after the Israelis attacked and annexed it. The same fate befell other Palestinian towns. Did anything survive? What happened to the trackbeds, locomotives and rolling stock? Are some hidden away in old sheds or did the Israelis steal everything that was moveable and destroy everything they could carry away?
In Britain the government discarded our fine steam locomotives in its unseemly rush for diesel in the 1960s. It was nothing short of criminal to treat our priceless heritage so carelessly. Enthusiasts scraped some money together and rescued what they could, and today there are well over 100 resurrected railways and tramways with more than 500 miles of track and some 400 stations. They carry about 7 million passengers a year and play a valuable role in tourism.
It is believed that nearly 3000 locomotives have been preserved or are restoration projects. The 120-ton 'Black Prince' is a class 9F heavy freight locomotive and one of the last to be build in the UK for main line use. David Shepherd paid just £3000 to save it from the scrap yard in 1967. "She was eight years old, she'd just had an overhaul and they were going to just chuck her away and cut her up," he said. "I managed to save her and thank God I did.
"You can have all sorts of emotional feelings on an engine when it's in steam! I just love this engine for the pleasure it gives."
In Palestine, as a consequence of the UN's daft Partition plan, key bridges and other rail infrastructure were destroyed in the 1948 war. Had the Palestinians been left in peace their steam railways would no doubt have played a major role in building the nation's economy and bringing prosperity.
By now they'd probably have a number of steam preservation lines in their coastal resorts and population centres like Jerusalem and Ramallah to excite the children, charm their parents and celebrate the romance of the steam age.
What a different world it could have been.
Saturday, 3 March 2012
Wednesday, 29 February 2012
Saturday, 25 February 2012
A night of powerful and personal conversation, poetry and music featuring Gilad Atzmon
Despite relentless attempts by the bigots of the Zionist "Anti-Defamation League", as well as self-styled "anti-Zionist" Zionists, to cancel this crucial meeting, the event is going ahead! If you happen to be in the Bay area, please come and stand with us – and demonstrate your right to free speech.
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