If you've come to believe in the maxim that TV is a giant wasteland, especially in summer, I've got a film recommendation for you: Joyeux Noel, directed by Christian Carlon(2006). It sounds a little bit out of season, but it really isn't: it's about the Christmas truce of l9l4 on the western front, when Germans, French and British soldiers spontaneously stood down for a Christmas hiatus. They clambered out of their trenches, sang Christmas carols, exchanged gifts, shook hands in No Man's Land. Paul Fussell once said that this was the last time in the 20th century, and maybe ever, that you could feel that human beings were basically nice, decent creatures.
This version is fictionalized, and is a bit much in some places, but I ended up enjoying it--it's another great film about World War I. You can get a brief synopsis here.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
In the blackest black numbers on the calendar--June 28
Once again, the loss of focus on dates caused me to fail to comment on the most fateful of days--June 28. I'm not sure that people properly appreciate this date in European history, so a brief review is in order:
June 28, 1389: The Ottoman Turks defeat the forces of Prince Lazar of Serbia, on Kosovo polje(Blackbird field). The Serbs lose their Balkan empire and are plunged into despair and defeat. They will spend the next five centuries attempting to avenge this loss, and will partially succeed in l9l2, by recapturing Kosovo. But Bosnia-Hercegovina, a key component in Prince Lazar's empire, has eluded them--Austria-Hungary has it in l9l2.
Thus, on JUNE 28, l9l4, Serbian nationalists decide to send Austria-Hungary a message by assassinating Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austrian throne. They somehow think Austria-Hungary will exit Bosnia. Instead, they set in motion the series of events that will lead to World War I, the collapse of 4 empires and the deaths of 9 million people.
On JUNE 28, l9l9, the Versailles Treaty was signed in Paris, to general approbation. Serbia gets Bosnia, kind of, in the new Yugoslav state that they insist on ruling. The world will come to know that the signing of the treaty merely marks an armistice in the war, which concludes temporarily, then recommences on September 1, l939.
On JUNE 28, l948, the Soviet leader, Stalin, expels rebellious Tito and the Yugoslavs from the Soviet empire, confidently predicting that "I will move my little finger and Tito will disappear!" Tito does not disappear, but is encouraged in his neutrality by effusive praise and money coming from the western camp in the Cold War.
On JUNE 28, l989, Slobodan Milosevic sounds the death knell for Tito's Yugoslavia with an incendiary speech about the Serbs, Kosovo, and, implicitly, the coming Serbian domination of post-Tito Yugoslavia. These words resound like a cannon shot throughout Yugoslavia, ultimately resulting in the Slovene exit, the Croat-Serb war over Bosnia and the Kosovo hostilities.
On June 28, 2004. Slobodan Milosevic is arrested and indicted in the Hague for war crimes during the Bosnian war. He later dies in captivity.
Is there any other date that lives in fame/infamy like 28 June? Post your nominations, please
June 28, 1389: The Ottoman Turks defeat the forces of Prince Lazar of Serbia, on Kosovo polje(Blackbird field). The Serbs lose their Balkan empire and are plunged into despair and defeat. They will spend the next five centuries attempting to avenge this loss, and will partially succeed in l9l2, by recapturing Kosovo. But Bosnia-Hercegovina, a key component in Prince Lazar's empire, has eluded them--Austria-Hungary has it in l9l2.
Thus, on JUNE 28, l9l4, Serbian nationalists decide to send Austria-Hungary a message by assassinating Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austrian throne. They somehow think Austria-Hungary will exit Bosnia. Instead, they set in motion the series of events that will lead to World War I, the collapse of 4 empires and the deaths of 9 million people.
On JUNE 28, l9l9, the Versailles Treaty was signed in Paris, to general approbation. Serbia gets Bosnia, kind of, in the new Yugoslav state that they insist on ruling. The world will come to know that the signing of the treaty merely marks an armistice in the war, which concludes temporarily, then recommences on September 1, l939.
On JUNE 28, l948, the Soviet leader, Stalin, expels rebellious Tito and the Yugoslavs from the Soviet empire, confidently predicting that "I will move my little finger and Tito will disappear!" Tito does not disappear, but is encouraged in his neutrality by effusive praise and money coming from the western camp in the Cold War.
On JUNE 28, l989, Slobodan Milosevic sounds the death knell for Tito's Yugoslavia with an incendiary speech about the Serbs, Kosovo, and, implicitly, the coming Serbian domination of post-Tito Yugoslavia. These words resound like a cannon shot throughout Yugoslavia, ultimately resulting in the Slovene exit, the Croat-Serb war over Bosnia and the Kosovo hostilities.
On June 28, 2004. Slobodan Milosevic is arrested and indicted in the Hague for war crimes during the Bosnian war. He later dies in captivity.
Is there any other date that lives in fame/infamy like 28 June? Post your nominations, please
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Another fateful anniversary
I was so taken with the Vatican's Ten Commandments for Drivers, or Pastoral Care on Our Roads, that I nearly forgot to remind everyone that yesterday, June 22, 2007, was the anniversary of the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union in l941. That day marks one of history's most notorious doublecrosses, Stalin having declared himself the eternal friend of Hitler in the Nazi-Soviet pact of August l939 only to see his fellow dictator come after him with the strongest army in the world to date less than 2 years later. You know something of the road to June 22, e.g. the partitioning of Poland and the murder of the Polish home guard, Stalin's snatch of west Ukraine, the Baltic states and Bessarabia in l940, the buildup of German forces in huge numbers all along the Soviet border, the steady stream of German officials LEAVING the USSR, and finally all the espionage reports that pinpointed the exact day and hour of this outrage. Stalin, who had apparently convinced himself that nothing bad could happen, and/or that he was missing the the military leadership who could've helped counter this threat, did absolutely nothing. In fact, he forbade preparations and defensive measures that could've saved thousands of lives. He, Stalin, was not going to be tricked into provoking Hitler(!).
What followed was a terrible ordeal for the Soviet people, who already had endured two revolutions, a civil war, famine, a brutal industrialization regime and waves of political purges that saw thousands of people get one bullet in the back of the head or an impossibly long sentence in camp at hard labor. But it was the beginning of opportunity for Stalin, who drove his people to the end of their strength to push the Germans out of the Soviet Union. He then got to pose as the liberator of eastern Europe from the hated Nazis, his armies being the first to encounter the horror of Auschwitz and Treblinka, while making plans to install the Red Army and re-conquer the "liberated" people. He got all the way to Berlin and rendez-voused with the Allies before the Red Army halted. At that point, the Soviet Union had half of Europe and the British, French and Americans had the other.
That's the way it stayed until November 9, l989, when the Berlin Wall came down, bringing to an end the Soviet occupation of Eastern Europe.
What I am trying to say is, Hitler's invasion was the beginning of the division of Europe, the real beginning of the Cold War. Who woulda thunk it then?
What followed was a terrible ordeal for the Soviet people, who already had endured two revolutions, a civil war, famine, a brutal industrialization regime and waves of political purges that saw thousands of people get one bullet in the back of the head or an impossibly long sentence in camp at hard labor. But it was the beginning of opportunity for Stalin, who drove his people to the end of their strength to push the Germans out of the Soviet Union. He then got to pose as the liberator of eastern Europe from the hated Nazis, his armies being the first to encounter the horror of Auschwitz and Treblinka, while making plans to install the Red Army and re-conquer the "liberated" people. He got all the way to Berlin and rendez-voused with the Allies before the Red Army halted. At that point, the Soviet Union had half of Europe and the British, French and Americans had the other.
That's the way it stayed until November 9, l989, when the Berlin Wall came down, bringing to an end the Soviet occupation of Eastern Europe.
What I am trying to say is, Hitler's invasion was the beginning of the division of Europe, the real beginning of the Cold War. Who woulda thunk it then?
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Vehicling with the Vatican, or Puttering along with the Pope
If you thought the Vatican was obsessed with abortion, euthanasia, stem-cell research and sex, well, you're just wrong. In fact, the good men in red and their Chief are worried about you and your driving on the world's roadways. And how else would you communicate this concern, if not through a series of Commandments? Here are the Driver's Ten, as articulated just today:
1. You shall not kill.
2. The road shall be for you a means of communion between people and not of mortal harm.
3. Courtesy, uprightness and prudence will help you deal with unforeseen events.
4. Be charitable and help your neighbor in need, especially victims of accidents.
5. Cars shall not be for you an expression of power and domination, and an occasion of sin.
6. Charitably convince the young and not so young not to drive when they are not in a fitting condition to do so.
7. Support the families of accident victims.
8. Bring guilty motorists and their victims together, at the appropriate time, so that they can undergo the liberating experience of forgiveness.
9. On the road, protect the more vulnerable party.
10. Feel responsible toward others.
Armed with these commandments, and maybe a Rosary--they advise praying the Rosary as you roll gently along--go forth and sin no more in your auto...
1. You shall not kill.
2. The road shall be for you a means of communion between people and not of mortal harm.
3. Courtesy, uprightness and prudence will help you deal with unforeseen events.
4. Be charitable and help your neighbor in need, especially victims of accidents.
5. Cars shall not be for you an expression of power and domination, and an occasion of sin.
6. Charitably convince the young and not so young not to drive when they are not in a fitting condition to do so.
7. Support the families of accident victims.
8. Bring guilty motorists and their victims together, at the appropriate time, so that they can undergo the liberating experience of forgiveness.
9. On the road, protect the more vulnerable party.
10. Feel responsible toward others.
Armed with these commandments, and maybe a Rosary--they advise praying the Rosary as you roll gently along--go forth and sin no more in your auto...
Monday, June 18, 2007
Movie Recommendation
I went to Portland yesterday with a friend of mine for a day of shopping. He had read a movie review in the NY Times about a movie called The Wind that Shakes the Barley. This takes place in Ireland in 1917. It's about two brothers, one who is a guerilla (Teddy) and the other who is about to go to medical school (Damien). Damien does join his brother's cause against the Black and Tan army until truce is signed. Damien continues to fight for a whole Ireland while Teddy joins the army hoping to placiate the British until Ireland can be whole again. Obviously because of the subject matter you know there is not going to be a happy ending. This is a great movie and I highly recommend it when it comes out on DVD or if you are planning to travel to Portland anytime soon, it's playing at the Hollywood Theater located on the corner of 41st and Sandy Blvd. In fact, I think Mo could use this movie the next time she teaches about the Troubles. Oh yeah, we started the day at an Irish Pub, Kells, with Corned Beef hash and Irish Soda Bread toast. Yum. They had more corned beef than hash. It was a great way to start the day.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Knowing your enemy
There's an interesting article in the International Herald Tribune today by two correspondents who were uncertain about just what Islamic jihadists believe, or if you will, what their rule book says. They decided on the direct approach: they arranged to meet some jihadists and ask them personally. As they were citizens of nations affiliated with the Great Satan, they proceeded at great personal risk, but it turns out that the jihadis were interested in setting forth their views.
Among the highlights? It is technically forbidden in the Koran to kill innocents, but you can do so with confidence in a jihadi operation because God will sort out the wicked from the righteous and only the wicked will be killed.
Similarly, the Koran says children are innocent and should not be harmed, but the jihadis maintain that children receive special dispensation from God and will immediately be advanced upon entry into Paradise to the age of 20, where they may enjoy the 72 or so virgins to which they would be entitled at that age. No word on what happens to female children.
This is one of the difficulties with Islam...in Christianity, each denomination typically has a leader that formulates policy and sets standards for clergy. For example, Catholics look to the Pope for leadership, and what he says is official church policy, period. Not so in Islam, where it seems that anyone who wishes to call himself an Imam can. Thus there are lots of official prohibitions in the Koran, yet anyone can interpret it according to their own objectives. Some pretty creative doctrine twisting there...in any case, you can read all about jihadi etiquette here.
These views will be repugnant, but it's always wise to know your enemy.
Among the highlights? It is technically forbidden in the Koran to kill innocents, but you can do so with confidence in a jihadi operation because God will sort out the wicked from the righteous and only the wicked will be killed.
Similarly, the Koran says children are innocent and should not be harmed, but the jihadis maintain that children receive special dispensation from God and will immediately be advanced upon entry into Paradise to the age of 20, where they may enjoy the 72 or so virgins to which they would be entitled at that age. No word on what happens to female children.
This is one of the difficulties with Islam...in Christianity, each denomination typically has a leader that formulates policy and sets standards for clergy. For example, Catholics look to the Pope for leadership, and what he says is official church policy, period. Not so in Islam, where it seems that anyone who wishes to call himself an Imam can. Thus there are lots of official prohibitions in the Koran, yet anyone can interpret it according to their own objectives. Some pretty creative doctrine twisting there...in any case, you can read all about jihadi etiquette here.
These views will be repugnant, but it's always wise to know your enemy.
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
A fateful day
June 6 is a fateful day on the historical calendar. On this day in l944, combined American, British, Canadian and other forces launched the long-anticipated invasion of Europe. The Soviet Union had already turned the tide against Nazi Germany in the east and were chasing the Nazi armies back towards Berlin. On June 6, the USSR's allies formally joined the endgame, dislodging Nazi forces from the French coast and beginning to back them out of France and Belgium. The operation was enormously costly--the 9,000 plus graves in the Normandy American cemetery are proof of that--but there is little doubt that this was the most important military campaign of the 20th century. I hope everyone today will remember all the men and women, living and dead, who made the D-Day launch a success.
On June 6, l968, Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated in Los Angeles, after his victory in the California Democratic primary over Gene McCarthy. RFK wasn't a perfect man or candidate by any means, but I admired his honesty and courage tremendously. He said flat out that the Vietnam war was a mistake, that he helped to deepen our involvement there and he was running for President to try to undo the mistake he and his brother made. It might have been bad timing, it might have been opportunistic, but I thought he made a compelling case for his candidacy, and his death diminished us.
I was a ten-year-old campaigner in l968, and I liked RFK because he took time out to come over and talk with the little kids at his rally. Anyone who liked kids was at the top of my list. In fact, they still are at the top of my list...
On June 6, l968, Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated in Los Angeles, after his victory in the California Democratic primary over Gene McCarthy. RFK wasn't a perfect man or candidate by any means, but I admired his honesty and courage tremendously. He said flat out that the Vietnam war was a mistake, that he helped to deepen our involvement there and he was running for President to try to undo the mistake he and his brother made. It might have been bad timing, it might have been opportunistic, but I thought he made a compelling case for his candidacy, and his death diminished us.
I was a ten-year-old campaigner in l968, and I liked RFK because he took time out to come over and talk with the little kids at his rally. Anyone who liked kids was at the top of my list. In fact, they still are at the top of my list...
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