Crusading We Shall Go!

 CRUSADING WE SHALL GO!

I'm for it - - a Crusade.  We haven't had a real crusade since 1271-1272, nearly a thousand years ago when once again Christian Europe decided to take back the Holy Land from a guy named Baibars and the Muslims.  Now I know that Nigeria isn't the holy land, not even close actually, but we have the scent of a new holy war - - once again Christians vs. Muslims.  What can be better than that?

I'm aware that Hindus and Muslims get into it occasionally by slaughtering each other, but nothing like the Christians and Muslims used to do.  Not only do we have the Holy Land to learn from, but Spain as well.  History is replete with religious conflict and it is time to add to it.  

Trump has decided that maybe this isn't such a bad idea.  Our opening salvo was bombing Muslims in Nigeria.  Bombing really doesn't have the cachet that actual killing each other in person has - -  like a thousand years ago in the Holy Land.  What we really  need are troops on the ground.  It is unlikely that Trump himself will lead them as Edward did in 1271-1272, but maybe he could send our Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to lead them.  That should placate those who demand royalty for authentication.

From what I understand, Edward didn't accomplish much but we need to give him an "A" for effort.  Unfortunately, he had to get back to England to handle matters there.  Apparently there were people taking advantage of his absence.  Of course, this would be the same reason that Trump wouldn't lead the troops himself - - things could get out of hand at home.

Now I know that most of you who are reading this will think this idea of a new crusade absurd, but we do have a resurgence here in the States of new religious intolerance that needs an outlet and what better place for it than in Nigeria.  I personally would rather see it there than here.  There is nothing better than pitting one intolerant group against another intolerant group and those guys in Nigeria who purport to be Muslims are a fitting opponent.  So let's go get them and slaughter them in style, not from some airplane or helicopter where you can't even see the bodies.  

This gives our people a proper outlet for their aggression and surely would also bring to fruition the aspirations of those guys in Nigeria who are now kidnapping school girls.  Kidnapping school girls doesn't seem to be much of an accomplishment.  But if we could send over a regiment or two of devout Christians determined to liquidate them and make the world safe for Christianity again, such a battle would be something to brag to their grandchildren about.

Pete Hegseth is just the guy to do it too.  He absolutely relishes being in charge and able to fire generals at will.  He would be perfect - - get him a helmet, some camouflage, and a rifle with a retinue of photographers in tow and we have the perfect scenario for a modern holy war and Nigeria would be the perfect place for it - - several thousands of miles from here. 

So let's have at it.

Richard E H Phelps II

Mingo

American Pastoral

 AMERICAN PASTORAL

Philip Roth

Books for Bigots

Now a Jewish novel, after a Black novel and a Cheyenne novel, in my continued search for Books for Bigots.  I enjoyed American Pastoral; it's a good read, but does not end well for our hero Seymour "Swede" Levov.  The Swede as he is known in much of the book grows up in a successful, hardworking Jewish family - - the maker of fine gloves in Newark.

Manufacturing fine gloves in Newark is the first indication that things may not turn out so well as hoped and they don't.  This is not to say unnecessary disparaging remarks about New Jersey's largest city, but after all it is Newark and the Newark riots are amply covered in the story of the Levov's manufacturing of fine gloves.  This coverage within the story of the Levov's, of Black people rioting in Newark, will give most Bigots satisfaction of the sort - - of the "I told you so" variety.

The issue with The Swede is that he is a fabulous athlete the opposite of all those with whom he grows up.  He is called the Swede for that very reason - - big, strong, and amazingly athletic for a Jewish kid growing up in Newark, New Jersey with typical Jewish looking, non-athletic parents, friends, and relatives.

The perfect life with wealth, looks, a Miss New Jersey wife  (a Catholic by the way), but a daughter who stutters and then blows things up and disappears; reappearing finally, emaciated and a Jain who won't eat and doesn't want help while living in a dump presumably being raped at random.  Oh, and the Mrs. is, at the end of the book, having an affair with a local, historically knowledgeable neighbor architect who has been engaged by his wife to build them a new house.

But as far as Bigots are concerned, we have a Jewish novel here.  The Jewish thing has currently become complicated for Bigots.  We now have the Jewish state of Israel destroying Palestine which is Moslem.  Bigots are now conflicted and you can see in their reactions to current events.  They are suppose to detest Jews which is usually a requirement for Bigotry here in the United States, but both the Christians and the Moslems believe that the second coming will occur in the Holy Land which, unfortunately, is Jewish.  However, the crux of the matter is that the average Bigot can not decide which he or she dislikes more, Jews or Muslims - - as I said, complicated.

And I say complicated for the reason that it is difficult for a Bigot to parse out his hatred for Jews and for Muslims considering current events in the Middle East. Yes, we are glad that Moslems are being slaughtered wholesale, but not so happy over who is doing it - - the Jews.  Shouldn't it be the Christians like back when we had such things as Crusades?  Do we really have to praise the Jews for doing it?  This is causing conflict within the mind of Bigotry.

   Even though we see The Swede as a pretty unpretentious and nice guy who is polite and a gentleman to all those he encounters, the simple fact that the book is about Jewish people would concern many Bigots.  As with all Bigots, they do not want to know more than they already do about Jewish people so the idea of reading a Jewish novel would not occur to them in the first place.  

I would suggest to any Bigot willing at least to adventure into a Jewish novel, The Swede is pretty solidly American and non-Jewish and it has little to offend, and in the end,  one might actually feel bad for the guy.  A man who never had a bad thought about anyone in his life; nor acted badly with anyone.  So I say, give it a try, the book will not convert you, attempt to convert you, nor want to convert you.  It is simply a story about a very successful, nice, pleasant, unpretentious guy with athletic ability,  wealth, beautiful wife, nice friends, whose life in the end goes to shit - - something that could happen to any of us - - which makes it literature.

As for the title of the book American Pastoral and for those unfamiliar with the term "pastoral", it is a literary genre originating with shepherds tending their flocks leading simple, uncomplicated lives free from adversity or the daily complications of modern existence.  The Swede, a good example of the pastoral man, loses his flock to destruction, desertion, unfaithfulness, and contempt; and, asks the author, a former high school classmate, now writer,  to chronicle it.  If the reader could just think of it as a pastoral novel rather than a Jewish novel, it might help.

With a final note though, it must be concluded that most Bigots would not enjoy this book for the standard reasons that a) it is a book, b) it is a Jewish book, c) it contains Jewish characters. d) there anti-Vietnam war sentiments espoused, e) the daughter becomes a Jain, f) things don't end well for the main character,  i. e. it's not a happy ending. 

Richard E H Phelps II

Mingo

Hello Greenland!

 HELLO GREENLAND!

I wonder how well a tank would do on a glacier.  It would be fun to find out, wouldn't it?  This idea to invade Greenland is great.  A new adventure for those wandering around looking for something to do.  Boredom is a terrible thing; it causes one to do things one normally wouldn't do such as invade other countries.  We apparently have a bored government desperately looking for things to do; you know, like invade Venezuela or annex Greenland.

It hadn't occurred to me that our current administration would be so eager to add a bunch of eskimos to our national population.  We would have to do the same with Canada, which I assume will be next after Greenland.  Afterall, we can't just get in our car and drive to Alaska, now can we?  We should not have to put up with border guards just to get to Nome.

But back to Greenland.  My understanding is there are about 50,000 people who live in Greenland who speak Danish or Inuit apparently ( foreign languages to those ill-informed) and have no business doing that.  They need to speak English, American English.  They have no business speaking anything else and we should insist on it once we annex them.

This business about what Greenlanders want or how the Danes feel about it is irrelevant.  The Chinese and Russians have the right idea when it comes to annexing countries:  what the people of those countries want is irrelevant.  For examples, Tibet and now Ukraine and soon to be Taiwan.  We can still purport to be a democracy, caring about what the people living in target countries want, while simply ignoring them - - just like here in America where what the people either want or really should want is irrelevant to those in charge.  

What's really exciting about this whole idea is that once we have Greenland, Canada will be surrounded and we can annex them next.  The only question is, do we really want Quebec.  After all they speak French and are quite proud of the fact.  That might take a rather lengthy effort.  We could always annex the rest of Canada and leave the Quebecers alone for now; just put it on our to-do list, that way we won't irritate France either.

The whole thing sounds pretty exciting.  I'm not sure we would then be as big as Russia, but certainly getting close and all this nonsense about exotic minerals to operate our iphones would be moot.  All for the simple reason that our people here in charge are bored and need something to do which doesn't cause unnecessary problems locally in the US; and, at the same time gives them a chance to, as they say, "Expand their horizons" a little with some foreign intervention and accumulation of other people who we can immediately turn into Americans - - something we have been doing for centuries actually.

Once again, all I can say is, it sounds pretty exciting and I really do want to see a video of an army tank on a glacier.  We could have war games there in preparation for a war on the Siberian tundra.

Richard E H Phelps II

Mingo

The Lathe of Heaven

 THE LATHE OF HEAVEN

Ursula K. Leguin

Books for Bigots

I find it only appropriate that I comment on what I read and for the specific purpose of suggesting, or not suggesting as the case may be, Books for Bigots.  The Lathe of Heaven would be a tough read for most Bigots.  George Orr's dreams change reality - - what he dreams becomes instantly what is.

Another disturbing item is that aliens have arrived, and being peaceful, are being allowed to stay and mingle with the human population.  This, of course, is the worst case scenario for a Bigot in that all Bigots, Bigotry in general, has its basis in sameness.  If you are not like me, be gone.

This "being like me" concept is the basis of all bigotry.  Difference is anathema and the core of all unpleasantness.  In THE LATHE OF HEAVEN, Leguin pretty much hits on all the buttons of difference.  George seeks legal aid from a black, female, attorney who hates the law apparently - - not necessarily a good choice with regard to hating the law, not for the fact of female or black, although there are a good many bigots who would not condone either female or black when it comes to positions of authority or to for assistance in a legal matter.  There are times when you would think that we live in a Muslim country when it comes to the  Bigot view of the responsibilities and duties of the female of the species, not that there aren't female Bigots as well.  Bigotry is not limited to the male sex.

But the main issue here is that when George dreams something it becomes reality affecting everything, including people.  For instance, if several downtown buildings were to be not included in a dream of that section of downtown, they would simply not be there when he awakens (nor the people in them).  Pretty scarcely really, but the most brilliant and exciting method of getting rid of people, including aliens, that one could possibly devise which will appeal to all Bigots instantly.   It is a Bigot fantasy - - to wish it or to dream it and it will be.  Bigotry wishful thinking.

I might have to rethink this book for purposes of recommended reading for Bigots.  In many ways, it would be ideal, in others, however, especially the acceptance of aliens, it might be anathema.  There is a conflict here that may be too much for the average Bigot - - Bigots are uncomfortable with ambiguity and this book has it.  

Certainty has always been a clear prerogative of Bigots; it is one of the trademarks of a Bigot.  Without certainty Bigotry is subject to vacillation which is never a sought for condition.  Hence, I am ambivalent.  The book is an interesting read and holds your interest throughout and has a number of interesting comments that get your attention.  However, weighing all the factors presented here, I will have to say that most Bigots would not enjoy the book.

Richard E H Phelps II

Mingo