There is an oft debated question, from living rooms to college dorms to high falutin' intellectual salons. It is a discussion that has even more relevance today as the world approaches a brink from which there is no return. Certainly not to anything resembling what still remains with us at present, as fragile as it is. As threatened as it is. The question is multi-faceted. It ranges from the sublime to the ridiculous - maybe. We are finding that once unthinkable thoughts and premises are not so unthinkable at all. Even as we disguise our fears of the unpleasant possibilities by camouflaging them with a different milieu - different times, alien worlds, an earth that has never been. And yet. And yet...
Aeon flux. the Handmaids' Tale. The Walking Dead. Watchmen. The 100. Jericho. The Man in the High Castle. And on and on. Do not forget the literature, ranging from original novels of those shows, generated ideas for them, to the iconic ones such as Fahrenheit 451, Animal Farm, 1984, The Scarlet Letter, Lord of the Flies and on and on as well. There are relevant episodes from shows such as The Twilight Zone, Yellowjackets and other serial TV shows. It is truly not foreign to the thoughts and presentations of the literati of America and the world at large. Not at all.
So - who is imitating whom? Life of art or art of life? I it possible or unthinkable? Will the 'warnings' of these books, fiction and nonfiction, old and new, be heeded? Will viewers and readers see beneath the disguises? No, it is not the zombies who chow down on us, but whom and what they represent. They are the consequences of our errors, egregious errors, even as they become minor additions, casually shafted to the head, as civilians struggle to replace society? Democratic or autocratic? Mad Max or civilzation? A Jericho where one American town is shooting at another in the struggle for survival? A new flag? Where does it end? Or does it?
As American politics become more and more divided on striking red lines, on divisions that cut so deep that they are mortal to the country, we wonder. Is there anything to be done? Can we do it? Do we have the wherewithal, inner and outer to correct the situation, reboot America? Frankly, I believe it is getting worse and worse and am gradually, at a faster pace than ever, believing the worst of mankind. The selfishness, the madness, the insanity and cruelty are growing by leaps and bounds, becoming less and less newsworthy. As people turn to distractions such as the important question as to the quarrel of the Royal Family or Halle Berry's dress to the premiere of Moonfall. Or who is dating whom in the celebrity world. Who the hell cares?
"Wherever they burn books, in the end will also burn human beings." - Heinrich Heine
In 1933, copies of Heine's books were among the many burned on Berlin's Opernplatz. To commemorate the event, one of the most famous lines from Heine's 1821 play Almansor is now engraved at the site: "Dort, wo man Bücher verbrennt, verbrennt man am Ende auch Menschen." ("Where they burn books, they will, in the end, burn human beings too.")
A version of the original line from Heine's play and oh so unfortunately relevant today. How true it was, and many still espouse it, as multiple millions were burned in ovens, like garbage, or in mass graves as the murderers and enablers tried to hide evidence of their war crimes. Life of art, yes? But where do we draw the line? Is there even a line now? As a right-wing nut job masquerading as a pastor, screams, shouts, rants and raves about his planned book burning, deeming books such as the Harry Potter series, Huckleberry Finn. Maus, Maus!!!, Anne Frank's Diary in all its presentations, oh and the list goes on. Irredeemable. The movies will follow. The banning of free thought and free expression follows as sure as night follows day and day follows night- until we destroy even that. Destroy our world.
It is a world where science is maligned. A world where lifesaving vaccines are portrayed as the direct opposite, as weird, homicidal steps are touted. Where public opinion and hatred is disguised as caring for others, calling out those who disagree. Where Israel is held to a higher standard and no, not referring to Hebrew National. Although methinks we had better pay attention to the voice of G-d as it manifests itself in strange weather around the world.
Everyone Loves a Dead Jew. A book published and I am awaiting arrival. How true it is. Everyone now cries, maybe, crocodile tears if they desire to fake it, over the Holocaust, minimizing its purely anti-semitic birthing. Oh, sympathy for Israel when it was under attack by six nations, when it appeared that there would be an extension of the Holocaust, a great opportunity for the fake wringing of hands and the tears. But when Israel saved itself in 1967, in 1973, in all the attacks afterwards, all the terrorism - anyone hear a condemnation as myriad busses, schools, homes were invaded, shelled, and civilians died - on purpose. But no, Israel is now deemed an apartheid state. Really?! Remember the song from a Broadway play which went "We're sorry we won it; we must have overdone it/ A Jew who is a winner is a disgrace."
Visit Israel. See Arabs, even in traditional clothing, walk freely down the streets of Jerusalem, shop in the stores, at the malls, eat in the restaurants, freely, no hounding of them at all. Enter the stores and find the Arab owners or assistants. Enter a pharmacy and yes, that lovely lady speaking wonderful native Hebrew is an Arab, earned a degree in Hebrew University, and who cares. Arabs live among Jews but when a Jew wishes to buy, legally, with money changing hands, it is an oh no situation. How dare they!
Now, the inevitable corollary. They cannot be allowed to buy land in areas where there is no confusion: it is Jewish, state owned and designated land. But that would mean that a long outmoded lifestyle would be allowed to stunt natural, legal growth of the state. Bedouin lifestyle cannot continue in a crowded state, the only state which provide sure refuge for Jews of the world. Would that we had it in 1933. The country offers to build new townships for them, with schools, modern day rights for oppressed women, cleanliness, homes. Apartheid? Most definitely not.
No, Israel is not an Apartheid state. Does it make some errors? What a shock. To err is human. But much of the rage comes from a rage generated by the murderous attacks of Arabs against the state and its population. When one cannot be assured that a trip to the supermarket will not result in a funeral by end of day. Think of the rage of French when there are attacks in their country. Think of the rage of Americans after 9/11, the calls for revenge, for blood! Are we apartheid too, here in the USA?
No. Reality is no longer a recognizable reality. It has morphed, warped, changed so that at times, increasingly so, we are confused and know not which street to choose, how to choose, or are we even being given the opportunity to choose? Methinks the latter part of that sentence is increasingly the truth. How can it be otherwise when Trump even admitted that he had attempted to overturn the election, to commit treason, and he is not yet indicted!!!! What are we waiting for? Waiting for more deluded souls to shout for what they know not, for what they do not understand, for consequences which will fall on them too?
No. Be it life imitating art, or art imitating life, there often grows such an intermingling that there will be no choice, no differentiation and not pleasant at all. Can we find a Neo who will gradually recognize the truth and join the fight, attempt to cure, destroy the wrong? Beats me! But we had better wake up or we are truly condemned.
And that is ALL of us.
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