I was rooting for France during the later stages of the World Cup; it seemed as though Italy had a strong diaspora fan-base, and I’ve been to France (not to Italy), and I’ve been influenced by French philosophers and theologians more than Italian (despite my appreciation for Eco and Vattimo, and various historic monks and clergy) — so I was disappointed for France and for football when Zizou lost control.
But his loss of perspective pales beside the colossal catastrophes around the world, to which the U.S. government has responded with the cavalier lack of concern that it typically addresses to any topic that’s not at the focus of its limited agenda. Disasters in Mumbai? “Sorry, wrong number.” Israel-Palestine conflict boiling over and engulfing Lebanon? “I have to wash my hair. Besides, I’m worrying about the price of oil!” I don’t suppose that the present weak-tea Democratic Party would do much better, either — but what a terrible shame that the last superpower, which claims to be a beacon of hope to the world, has so little to offer wounded, grieving, starving, chaotic peoples.
David Grossman, on Bill Moyer’s Faith & Reason last night, commented that, like Samson, Israel seems to come to the edge of a momentous decision — and always take the wrong turn.
I wonder if our present administration is getting ready to get a haircut, too.
but what a terrible shame that the last superpower, which claims to be a beacon of hope to the world, has so little to offer wounded, grieving, starving, chaotic peoples.
We’ve been stretched pretty thin with the wounded, grieving, starving, chaotic peoples of Iraq and Afghanistan. You can’t shut down the terrorists in every single corner of the world.