As is no secret to many who have read here a while, you know that I am a big fan of Herman Wouk. While I was in Israel last week-I had the opportunity to visit Yad Vashem. Yad Vashem is the Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem. I had not visited Yad Vashem in over 20 years. It is an amazing sight-and at the same time-a depressing place. The main point Yad Vashem drives home is this: the Holocaust represents a huge human tragedy in our history, one for which we all bear some level of anguish and sorrow. The idea that a nation-a nation that was the home of a revolution in Christianity-decided with methodical consistency to extinguish a whole generation of humanity. How could that happen? And why was the rest of the world so apathetic to the real evidence of its occurrence?
The video below was made in 2001 in California. It is very, very, long. ( almost an hour). But it is worth your time. I am envious-I will never have the ability to use words the way this man can. You should read his books and hear his words. They are awesome. He is an ardent defender of Israel-for better or worse. Nonetheless-he makes one understand the pull of this one nation over all others in our world.
Watch it and observe for your self:
It is well worth your time. It is important to hear-to understand the modern Jewish State. The State that I admire dearly-but only understand about halfway.
Herman Wouk was a true genius with words. His description of tropical living in Don't Stop the Carnival was a description of living in Hawaii (and any place tropical or even very hot) captured the true essence of the benefits and tribulations of "paradise."
I wish someone could explain to me WHY the world waits for the US to act in Syria ? There are 1.2 Billion Muslims and almost half live in the Middle East with some having formidable air forces and yet NO one acts….is it any wonder that Isreal is obssessed with having a robust military…the ability to defend itself and not depend on the world?
@ Richard: Good points. Why does the US have to get it's hands dirty? Also, it will be the Chinese companies who will get all of the construction contracts after the shooting is done, why don't they send their own military to help out?
Why indeed? There are no easy ways to go in-and no matter what we do, we lose. If the rebels win-there is no guarantee they won't be any friendlier to the US. Not to mention the extra added bonus of reinforcing the idea that the US wants to take over the Arab world.
There is no number of Arabs that are worth the life of a single American.
Let em slog it out themselves.
I finally got around to watching this yesterday, and it is well worth the time. I have read "Winds of War" and "War and Remberance" many times. Hearing him read Aaron Jastrow's final diary entry was very moving, as was the Don Quishote's speech from "The Hope". Thanks for posting it.
I definitely agree with Benjamin. Herman Wouk was a genius with words. His description of tropical living in Don’t Stop the Carnival was a description of living in Hawaii (and any place tropical or even very hot) captured the true essence of the benefits and tribulations of “paradise.”