Thursday, October 30, 2003
Abraham Foxman lecture
Abraham Foxman to speak at inaugural Irving J. Block Memorial Lecture
by Wally Dobelis
On Monday, November 3, 7 p.m., the Brotherhood Synagogue will mark the first anniversary of the passing of Dr. Irving J. Block, its founding Rabbi, with the opening lecture in a memorial series dedicated to the late renowned community leader. The speaker will be the National Director of the Anti-Defamation League, Abraham H. Foxman.
Dr. Block, until his retirement in 1994, had led the synagogue for 40 years. He and the synagogue frequently linked hands with the ADL, to fight not only anti-Semitism but also to combat bigotry and discrimination in all parts of the nation and the world. Brotherhood Synagogue has frequently hosted traditional Passover seders for guests of the non-Jewish community, and World of Difference programs , to instill an understanding of different cultures among the young of diverse faiths.
Abraham H. Foxman has been with the ADL since 1965,and its National Director since 1987.He has had experiences in his personal life that epitomize the need for faiths and cultures to co-exist, for survival. Born in Poland during WWII, he was rescued by the family’s Polish nurse and brought up in the Catholic faith. Reunited with other surviving members of his family after the hostilities, he came to the US with his parents in 1950. A product of a Yeshiva education and the crossover experience that was City College and NYU Law School, he has been in the forefront of the efforts leading to the cooperation of all faiths in the struggle. He has spoken against bigotry and racial hatred in Jasper, Texas, in Oklahoma City, as well as in .Kosovo and the turmoil that is the Middle East.
His new book, Never Again?: The Threat of New Anti-Semitism (October 2003, Harper San Francisco) warns against the growth of this threat throughout the world, and not just as a handful of incidents. He sees a pattern of recurring violence of word and deed, violent speech and actions, fostered by enemies of peace against Jews, following the Nazi model. But ways to counteract are available.
There will be more, at the lecture. A lifelong watcher on the fire tower, Foxman weighs the current events in the world and the nation from both a Jewish and an American perspective, with valuable conclusions.
Brotherhood Synagogue, 28 Gramercy Park South, nr. 3rd Avenue, (212)-674-5750.
by Wally Dobelis
On Monday, November 3, 7 p.m., the Brotherhood Synagogue will mark the first anniversary of the passing of Dr. Irving J. Block, its founding Rabbi, with the opening lecture in a memorial series dedicated to the late renowned community leader. The speaker will be the National Director of the Anti-Defamation League, Abraham H. Foxman.
Dr. Block, until his retirement in 1994, had led the synagogue for 40 years. He and the synagogue frequently linked hands with the ADL, to fight not only anti-Semitism but also to combat bigotry and discrimination in all parts of the nation and the world. Brotherhood Synagogue has frequently hosted traditional Passover seders for guests of the non-Jewish community, and World of Difference programs , to instill an understanding of different cultures among the young of diverse faiths.
Abraham H. Foxman has been with the ADL since 1965,and its National Director since 1987.He has had experiences in his personal life that epitomize the need for faiths and cultures to co-exist, for survival. Born in Poland during WWII, he was rescued by the family’s Polish nurse and brought up in the Catholic faith. Reunited with other surviving members of his family after the hostilities, he came to the US with his parents in 1950. A product of a Yeshiva education and the crossover experience that was City College and NYU Law School, he has been in the forefront of the efforts leading to the cooperation of all faiths in the struggle. He has spoken against bigotry and racial hatred in Jasper, Texas, in Oklahoma City, as well as in .Kosovo and the turmoil that is the Middle East.
His new book, Never Again?: The Threat of New Anti-Semitism (October 2003, Harper San Francisco) warns against the growth of this threat throughout the world, and not just as a handful of incidents. He sees a pattern of recurring violence of word and deed, violent speech and actions, fostered by enemies of peace against Jews, following the Nazi model. But ways to counteract are available.
There will be more, at the lecture. A lifelong watcher on the fire tower, Foxman weighs the current events in the world and the nation from both a Jewish and an American perspective, with valuable conclusions.
Brotherhood Synagogue, 28 Gramercy Park South, nr. 3rd Avenue, (212)-674-5750.
LOOKING AHEAD by Wally Dobelis
Party-less primary proposal needs your reflection
The November 4th election promises to be a dull one, except for Proposal (Question) Three on the ballot, Mayor Michael J. Bloomberg’s initiative for open, party-less primary elections in New York. The general idea is to let anyone run in the primary, then have the top two vote getters contend in the general election.
This is not a good idea, not purely as “the Republicans are trying to destroy the Democratic party” emotional issue, there are basic democratic principles involved. Bloomberg, a lifelong Democrat who ran in the September 2001 primary on the Republican ticket, handily defeating former Congressman, Bronx Borough President and Republican/Liberal Fusion Comptroller candidate Herman Badillo, proved the case that a rich unaffiliated do-gooder can win a major election over bemedalled, long-term party backed politician, despite total inexperience in matters of governance. In essence, he avoided the internecine pushing and shoving in the Democratic primary that proved pernicious to both Green and Ferraro, the top contenders.
Granted, some such disclosures contribute to the general disrepute that politicians have acquired in the past decades, fostering a cynical attitude that is not good for the political process. On the other hand, they provide a revelation of the contenders’ political views and personal lives, information that helps the electorate in determining the suitability of the candidates, both as individuals and political persons. It forces candidates to take positions. The Bloomberg proposal makes for a scene akin to the California recall vote, where a screen celebrity with great name recognition and unlimited funds can ride into office by pronouncing a short list of “motherhood” objectives and enter a decision-maker’s role without proving that he knows what he is doing. In effect, he is putting himself into the hands of experienced party advisors, who are often lackeys of the usual political influences. When a business enterprise tolerates such big-name “innocents” (to be generous) at the top, disaster results. Look at H. Carl McCall at the NYSE, trustingly approving Richard Grasso’s megamillion compensation package. Ugh!
Former Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, another Democrat who won on the GOP ticket, supports the Proposal. The proponents’ general attitude is that the party structure enables a small group of activists, people who participate in political clubs on a year-round basis, to choose candidates, voluntarily work for them by collecting signatures on designating petitions and vote for them in primaries, which attract low voter participation (typically under 20%) and assure party stalwarts of election, by discouraging opposition. Bloomberg points to the City Council election in which only 47 of the 51 members face opposition. Shouldn’t he consider that candidates may be hoarding up their money for the better chances at term limit expiry times?
The New York Democratic party and the good government organizations oppose the party-less primary concept. Herman “Denny” Farrell, the state chairman, has been speaking against the proposition in public meetings, and on October 30 he will appear at the Samuel J. Tilden Democratic Club. The NYPIRG, the Citizens Union and such groups as the UFT actively oppose Proposal Three, the latter declaring that such measure would disenfranchise people who belong to a political party so that they cannot choose the party’s candidate, blindfold voters by not requiring party identifications, help the wealthy candidates and silence the poor candidates, particularly the minorities. Interestingly, the US has moved away from the “popularity contest” type choice of Presidential candidates in conventions, favoring primaries, to recognize the grassroots party voters’ rights of choice.
The local Democratic clubs are incensed about the Proposition. It can effectively destroy a club of whatever persuasion, by eliminating the venue by which poor people with political views and objectives can rise to elective office. The means for most ordinary citizens to arrive politically is to join a club, learn the structure, work for others as volunteers, acquire credibility, then announce their candidacy and ask for the clubs’ support, by speaking in meetings, declaring their political philosophy and objectives, trotting out their credentials and subjecting themselves to merciless questioning . That’s democracy. This goes for Democrats, Republicans, Liberals, Conservatives or Independence voters, Politics 101, if you wish. Michael Long, chairman of the Conservative Party, has told the New York Times that “voters have the right to know the candidate’ philosophy.” People with means who want to help their cause may rent petition gatherers, that’s not acting illegally, it is a time-hallowed practice.
Note that the practice of Democrats who enlist the support of the Liberal or Republican party structure has given us not only Bloomberg but also such mayors as LaGuardia and Giuliani. The fact that Bloomberg may keenly feel the nominal betrayal of his principles for the sake of “saving the city” is tough. I day nominal, because at the middle there is not much difference, the Bloomberg elephants and Clinton donkeys may safely rest in the same stable. Be big, Mayor B. I did forecast your election, way ahead of all others, in April 2000, and you are still pulling, in my book.
Party-less primary proposal needs your reflection
The November 4th election promises to be a dull one, except for Proposal (Question) Three on the ballot, Mayor Michael J. Bloomberg’s initiative for open, party-less primary elections in New York. The general idea is to let anyone run in the primary, then have the top two vote getters contend in the general election.
This is not a good idea, not purely as “the Republicans are trying to destroy the Democratic party” emotional issue, there are basic democratic principles involved. Bloomberg, a lifelong Democrat who ran in the September 2001 primary on the Republican ticket, handily defeating former Congressman, Bronx Borough President and Republican/Liberal Fusion Comptroller candidate Herman Badillo, proved the case that a rich unaffiliated do-gooder can win a major election over bemedalled, long-term party backed politician, despite total inexperience in matters of governance. In essence, he avoided the internecine pushing and shoving in the Democratic primary that proved pernicious to both Green and Ferraro, the top contenders.
Granted, some such disclosures contribute to the general disrepute that politicians have acquired in the past decades, fostering a cynical attitude that is not good for the political process. On the other hand, they provide a revelation of the contenders’ political views and personal lives, information that helps the electorate in determining the suitability of the candidates, both as individuals and political persons. It forces candidates to take positions. The Bloomberg proposal makes for a scene akin to the California recall vote, where a screen celebrity with great name recognition and unlimited funds can ride into office by pronouncing a short list of “motherhood” objectives and enter a decision-maker’s role without proving that he knows what he is doing. In effect, he is putting himself into the hands of experienced party advisors, who are often lackeys of the usual political influences. When a business enterprise tolerates such big-name “innocents” (to be generous) at the top, disaster results. Look at H. Carl McCall at the NYSE, trustingly approving Richard Grasso’s megamillion compensation package. Ugh!
Former Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, another Democrat who won on the GOP ticket, supports the Proposal. The proponents’ general attitude is that the party structure enables a small group of activists, people who participate in political clubs on a year-round basis, to choose candidates, voluntarily work for them by collecting signatures on designating petitions and vote for them in primaries, which attract low voter participation (typically under 20%) and assure party stalwarts of election, by discouraging opposition. Bloomberg points to the City Council election in which only 47 of the 51 members face opposition. Shouldn’t he consider that candidates may be hoarding up their money for the better chances at term limit expiry times?
The New York Democratic party and the good government organizations oppose the party-less primary concept. Herman “Denny” Farrell, the state chairman, has been speaking against the proposition in public meetings, and on October 30 he will appear at the Samuel J. Tilden Democratic Club. The NYPIRG, the Citizens Union and such groups as the UFT actively oppose Proposal Three, the latter declaring that such measure would disenfranchise people who belong to a political party so that they cannot choose the party’s candidate, blindfold voters by not requiring party identifications, help the wealthy candidates and silence the poor candidates, particularly the minorities. Interestingly, the US has moved away from the “popularity contest” type choice of Presidential candidates in conventions, favoring primaries, to recognize the grassroots party voters’ rights of choice.
The local Democratic clubs are incensed about the Proposition. It can effectively destroy a club of whatever persuasion, by eliminating the venue by which poor people with political views and objectives can rise to elective office. The means for most ordinary citizens to arrive politically is to join a club, learn the structure, work for others as volunteers, acquire credibility, then announce their candidacy and ask for the clubs’ support, by speaking in meetings, declaring their political philosophy and objectives, trotting out their credentials and subjecting themselves to merciless questioning . That’s democracy. This goes for Democrats, Republicans, Liberals, Conservatives or Independence voters, Politics 101, if you wish. Michael Long, chairman of the Conservative Party, has told the New York Times that “voters have the right to know the candidate’ philosophy.” People with means who want to help their cause may rent petition gatherers, that’s not acting illegally, it is a time-hallowed practice.
Note that the practice of Democrats who enlist the support of the Liberal or Republican party structure has given us not only Bloomberg but also such mayors as LaGuardia and Giuliani. The fact that Bloomberg may keenly feel the nominal betrayal of his principles for the sake of “saving the city” is tough. I day nominal, because at the middle there is not much difference, the Bloomberg elephants and Clinton donkeys may safely rest in the same stable. Be big, Mayor B. I did forecast your election, way ahead of all others, in April 2000, and you are still pulling, in my book.
Saturday, October 25, 2003
In preaise of Middle of the Road, the salvation of the world
LOOKING AHEAD by Wally Dobelis
A message from a reader: "I'm confused. Where do you stand? In one article you defend the US against accusations of imperialism, in another you talk of our oil politics. You defend the attack on Iraq but complain of lack of thinking and exit strategy. Kindly explain."
Let us explore, or populate our matrix. In the immortal words of Robert DeNiro, as he removed the barrel of his gun from Billy Crystal's left nostril, I am deeply conflicted. Note, though, that mine is a common condition these days. Anyone who can retain clear vision and unwavering consistency today is frozen in his thinking. As Heraclitus recognized 2,500 years ago, the law of nature is that everything changes, and so do we, and our opinions.
Having been registered at the polls for different parties at various times, and being an issue-oriented line-crossing voter over the last half-century, I recognize all this in myself and others. More importantly, there is a broad zone between contrary ideas that allows for compromises. Moreover, this homogenized middle-of-the-road "unprincipled" voter who straddles this zone, becried equally by the Greens, the religious radicals and deep conservatives, is the salvation of the country, if not the world. Are we unprincipled, in the words of my friend the Old Curmudgeon, a strict constructionist Constitutional lawyer? An anti-death penalty priest willing to make the concession in the case of Bundy, a Senator Goodman admitting the need for the ultimate penalty for those already under life imprisonment sentences who murder guards and inmates with impunity - are they unprincipled? I think not.
The defining domestic knife edge issues are ambivalent too. Abortion, women's rights to their own bodies? All feminists do not condone unfettered abortion rights, and some right-to-lifers permit abortions for certain life and death and rape situations, and the rest of us have our own zones of compromise.
Gun control? Under certain conditions guns in the house are acceptable for all parties (hunting); again, the demilitarized zone of compromise is indefinite. Root for the caribou but neglect the spotted owl? Quelle contradiction, but I can defend. The size of the Alaskan oil reserve and the cost of exploration do not make economic sense.
Homeland defense? Even the ACLU lawyers who point out arrests and long imprisonment of suspected terrorists admit need for some defenses that transgress the law, while attacking the extremes of Ashcroft's Patriot Act. Stereotyping? All police work involves matching current crimes to comparables. Note Justice Jackson's dictum: "Defense of the Bill of Rights is no excuse for national suicide."
Instant democracy for Iraq, and US withdrawal? By all means, but that'll bring on the rule of the Shiite majority, a rule by sharia law, and revolt of the Kurds and Sunnis, a recipe for bloody new wars and unrest throughout the MidEast. Is the peace solution for the MidEast to deport Arafat the terrorist supporter and then try to pacify the Palestinians? Yes and no, principle vs. survival. It is not easy to think Jewish.
Now the big one - can we condone the neocons and the Bush administration in attacking Iraq, using spurious WMD and nuclear threat scenarios and references to 9/11 to justify their actions? Not really? But what about the Baathist tortures and genocide of their own non-Sunni groups, Saddam's unabashed paymaster role in Palestinian terrorist financing, the continued threat to our ally Israel? What about need to show our muscle to Iran and North Korea, the incipient nuclear weapon powers on the track of blackmailing the world? What about the majority of Iraqis, exemplified by Salaam Pax, the pre-war Baghdad blogger, who wants us out but states than in 10 years Iraq will be a model country, thanks to our incursion?
Globalism? The world cannot exist without it, we have become totally interdependent. Yet, should the US firms export manual jobs to Mexico and China and Cambodia, and outsource high technology jobs to India, Russia and Pakistan, losing incomes for both middle class and laboring class Americans? There is a Chicago economist who claims that while we lost 10M jobs, we added 40M in the past 10 years. I don't think so. More power to the NJ senator who passed the law taking jobs from IT contractors who outsource offshore. Ethnicity vs assimilation? Retain your ethnicity, but ethnic politics and history interpretations are divisive.
Tax cuts for those who invest in business expansion, and can create jobs? Nah, I don't think it computes. So far there are no results for the needy.
If you detect a yearning for compromise. I'll gladly accept the opprobrium of the ideologues and fanatics, I'll be glad to be the lukewarm, to be spit out by the fussy, and will always see the half-full vessel, even if only the bottom of the cup is wet. As to Heraclitus and the laws of change, I offer the words of Rabbi Daniel Alder, that the love of God, love of your neighbors, decency and humanity are the immutables that must remain constant in this world of changes that we have been condemned to.
A message from a reader: "I'm confused. Where do you stand? In one article you defend the US against accusations of imperialism, in another you talk of our oil politics. You defend the attack on Iraq but complain of lack of thinking and exit strategy. Kindly explain."
Let us explore, or populate our matrix. In the immortal words of Robert DeNiro, as he removed the barrel of his gun from Billy Crystal's left nostril, I am deeply conflicted. Note, though, that mine is a common condition these days. Anyone who can retain clear vision and unwavering consistency today is frozen in his thinking. As Heraclitus recognized 2,500 years ago, the law of nature is that everything changes, and so do we, and our opinions.
Having been registered at the polls for different parties at various times, and being an issue-oriented line-crossing voter over the last half-century, I recognize all this in myself and others. More importantly, there is a broad zone between contrary ideas that allows for compromises. Moreover, this homogenized middle-of-the-road "unprincipled" voter who straddles this zone, becried equally by the Greens, the religious radicals and deep conservatives, is the salvation of the country, if not the world. Are we unprincipled, in the words of my friend the Old Curmudgeon, a strict constructionist Constitutional lawyer? An anti-death penalty priest willing to make the concession in the case of Bundy, a Senator Goodman admitting the need for the ultimate penalty for those already under life imprisonment sentences who murder guards and inmates with impunity - are they unprincipled? I think not.
The defining domestic knife edge issues are ambivalent too. Abortion, women's rights to their own bodies? All feminists do not condone unfettered abortion rights, and some right-to-lifers permit abortions for certain life and death and rape situations, and the rest of us have our own zones of compromise.
Gun control? Under certain conditions guns in the house are acceptable for all parties (hunting); again, the demilitarized zone of compromise is indefinite. Root for the caribou but neglect the spotted owl? Quelle contradiction, but I can defend. The size of the Alaskan oil reserve and the cost of exploration do not make economic sense.
Homeland defense? Even the ACLU lawyers who point out arrests and long imprisonment of suspected terrorists admit need for some defenses that transgress the law, while attacking the extremes of Ashcroft's Patriot Act. Stereotyping? All police work involves matching current crimes to comparables. Note Justice Jackson's dictum: "Defense of the Bill of Rights is no excuse for national suicide."
Instant democracy for Iraq, and US withdrawal? By all means, but that'll bring on the rule of the Shiite majority, a rule by sharia law, and revolt of the Kurds and Sunnis, a recipe for bloody new wars and unrest throughout the MidEast. Is the peace solution for the MidEast to deport Arafat the terrorist supporter and then try to pacify the Palestinians? Yes and no, principle vs. survival. It is not easy to think Jewish.
Now the big one - can we condone the neocons and the Bush administration in attacking Iraq, using spurious WMD and nuclear threat scenarios and references to 9/11 to justify their actions? Not really? But what about the Baathist tortures and genocide of their own non-Sunni groups, Saddam's unabashed paymaster role in Palestinian terrorist financing, the continued threat to our ally Israel? What about need to show our muscle to Iran and North Korea, the incipient nuclear weapon powers on the track of blackmailing the world? What about the majority of Iraqis, exemplified by Salaam Pax, the pre-war Baghdad blogger, who wants us out but states than in 10 years Iraq will be a model country, thanks to our incursion?
Globalism? The world cannot exist without it, we have become totally interdependent. Yet, should the US firms export manual jobs to Mexico and China and Cambodia, and outsource high technology jobs to India, Russia and Pakistan, losing incomes for both middle class and laboring class Americans? There is a Chicago economist who claims that while we lost 10M jobs, we added 40M in the past 10 years. I don't think so. More power to the NJ senator who passed the law taking jobs from IT contractors who outsource offshore. Ethnicity vs assimilation? Retain your ethnicity, but ethnic politics and history interpretations are divisive.
Tax cuts for those who invest in business expansion, and can create jobs? Nah, I don't think it computes. So far there are no results for the needy.
If you detect a yearning for compromise. I'll gladly accept the opprobrium of the ideologues and fanatics, I'll be glad to be the lukewarm, to be spit out by the fussy, and will always see the half-full vessel, even if only the bottom of the cup is wet. As to Heraclitus and the laws of change, I offer the words of Rabbi Daniel Alder, that the love of God, love of your neighbors, decency and humanity are the immutables that must remain constant in this world of changes that we have been condemned to.
Thursday, October 23, 2003
Baseball is an almost gentlemanly game, except...
LOOKING AHEAD by Wally Dobelis
There was something almost biblical about Game 7 of the AL Championship Series between the Yankees and the Red Sox, an event that led to the fans' shallow breathing, inability to speak and muttered prayers, as though they were facing a nuclear calamity. There was the clashing of the traditional enemies of 80-odd years, a mythical curse, the pitcher hero who would lead the Reds out of the darkness, his hubris in Game 3, his need to validate himself by staying to the victorious end in game 7, only to see the results of his ego excesses bring the team down in overtime.
This was a follow-up of the drama of Game 3 confrontations at Fenway Park, which dominated the discourses of our office lunchtime sports fan club during the work week. When some younger members insisted that Pedro Martinez should have hung his head in shame for trying to bean Karim Garcia in the 4th inning of Game 3, then pushing down the 72-year old coach Don Zimmer as he came at the pitcher, fists swinging, some of the grizzled heads noted that no pitcher has ever, in the recorded history of mankind, admitted to deliberately aiming the killer ball at a hitter. It has always been "brushing back the hitter who's encroaching on my territory," as though the inside of the home plate were the pitchers' homeland. Apologies from the pitchers? That would be an admission of guilt, and invite fines for the
players and clubs.
Closest to an admission of wrongdoing was the story of the roommates Bill White and Bob Gibson of the St. Louis Cardinals, the latter a Hall of Famer
who started in nine games in three World Series and won seven. When White was traded and the pitcher Gibson hit him with a ball and, after the game,
invited his old friend for dinner, White refused. Whereupon Gibson offered the following ethic: "We are pals outside the park. Whatever happens
inside, during the course of doing business, should not interfere with our friendship." Which White bought. Does that remind us of Life in the Big
City?
Memorable headhunters and chin-music experts were brought to the group's attention. The six-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens, who, during
his years at Boston and Toronto, was seen as the bitter enemy by the Bombers' fans, actually at most has hit 14 batters per season (lifetime HBP of
140, or one every 30 innings).That's low, compared with Kerry Wood of the Cubs, who hit 21 this year, matching the Angels' Tom Murphy in 1969, and
below the Reds' "Tornado" Jake Weimer's 23 in 1907. Clemens's notoriety may be due to the incident in the 2000Yankee-Mets Subway Series Game 2,
when the Rocket threw Mike Piazza's broken bat into the runner's path, this after having beaned the Mets' catcher in an inter-league game, early
that July. Jeter, who once hated the then Blue Jays' pitcher with a passion, showed the greatest composure in standing squarely athwart the way of Manny
Ramirez, the Boston hitter who came to bat after the Karim Garcia incident fearing Clemens's counter-attack, and overreacted to a perceived revenge
pitch, thus initiating the main melee.
The notorious Sal "The Barber" Maglie, for whom the term of "chin music" was invented, playing with the 1950s Giants had a 44 HBP (one in 39
innings), never more than 10 a season. On the other hand, Don Drysdale of the Dodgers, a Hall of Famer of beanball repute, had 154 HBP (one in 22
innings), 20 in his deadliest season. As for any MLB players ever admitting to the breaking of rules, spitball pitchers were mentioned. The greatest of
them, Gaylord Perry, was caught a few times, and only admitted to it after the end of his career, when he wrote a book of his tricks.
One asks why such a big deal about a slipped pitch, common occurrence? And, why does MLB permit the benches to flood the ball field for any mishap, when football, basketball and hockey umpires throw out, penalize and suspend any player who leaves the bench, steps out, or joins a fight?
The answer may be that MLB is such a placid non-body-contact game, almost gentlemanly by comparison, that any fracas or injury is unusual. After all, the most grisly fight in MLB known to mankind was during the 1965 pennant race between the Dodgers and the Giants, whose Juan Marichal's pitches had knocked down Sandy Wills and Ron Fairly. When Marichal came to hit in the 3rd inning (pitchers do in NL), the Dodgers' Sandy Koufax refused to retaliate, and his catcher John Roseboro, a karate
expert, decided to pay back via ball returns to the mound, brushing Marichal's physiognomy twice. He expected to provoke fisticuffs, but
Marichal grabbed a bat and brained the catcher, opening a 14-stitch gash and a full-press fracas that emptied both benches.
But don't get me wrong, I'm for ML baseball, warts, overpaid players and all. It is a lot cleaner than ML Wall Street.
Wally also thanks Dan Daly of Washington Times & Jeff Meron of ESPN.
There was something almost biblical about Game 7 of the AL Championship Series between the Yankees and the Red Sox, an event that led to the fans' shallow breathing, inability to speak and muttered prayers, as though they were facing a nuclear calamity. There was the clashing of the traditional enemies of 80-odd years, a mythical curse, the pitcher hero who would lead the Reds out of the darkness, his hubris in Game 3, his need to validate himself by staying to the victorious end in game 7, only to see the results of his ego excesses bring the team down in overtime.
This was a follow-up of the drama of Game 3 confrontations at Fenway Park, which dominated the discourses of our office lunchtime sports fan club during the work week. When some younger members insisted that Pedro Martinez should have hung his head in shame for trying to bean Karim Garcia in the 4th inning of Game 3, then pushing down the 72-year old coach Don Zimmer as he came at the pitcher, fists swinging, some of the grizzled heads noted that no pitcher has ever, in the recorded history of mankind, admitted to deliberately aiming the killer ball at a hitter. It has always been "brushing back the hitter who's encroaching on my territory," as though the inside of the home plate were the pitchers' homeland. Apologies from the pitchers? That would be an admission of guilt, and invite fines for the
players and clubs.
Closest to an admission of wrongdoing was the story of the roommates Bill White and Bob Gibson of the St. Louis Cardinals, the latter a Hall of Famer
who started in nine games in three World Series and won seven. When White was traded and the pitcher Gibson hit him with a ball and, after the game,
invited his old friend for dinner, White refused. Whereupon Gibson offered the following ethic: "We are pals outside the park. Whatever happens
inside, during the course of doing business, should not interfere with our friendship." Which White bought. Does that remind us of Life in the Big
City?
Memorable headhunters and chin-music experts were brought to the group's attention. The six-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens, who, during
his years at Boston and Toronto, was seen as the bitter enemy by the Bombers' fans, actually at most has hit 14 batters per season (lifetime HBP of
140, or one every 30 innings).That's low, compared with Kerry Wood of the Cubs, who hit 21 this year, matching the Angels' Tom Murphy in 1969, and
below the Reds' "Tornado" Jake Weimer's 23 in 1907. Clemens's notoriety may be due to the incident in the 2000Yankee-Mets Subway Series Game 2,
when the Rocket threw Mike Piazza's broken bat into the runner's path, this after having beaned the Mets' catcher in an inter-league game, early
that July. Jeter, who once hated the then Blue Jays' pitcher with a passion, showed the greatest composure in standing squarely athwart the way of Manny
Ramirez, the Boston hitter who came to bat after the Karim Garcia incident fearing Clemens's counter-attack, and overreacted to a perceived revenge
pitch, thus initiating the main melee.
The notorious Sal "The Barber" Maglie, for whom the term of "chin music" was invented, playing with the 1950s Giants had a 44 HBP (one in 39
innings), never more than 10 a season. On the other hand, Don Drysdale of the Dodgers, a Hall of Famer of beanball repute, had 154 HBP (one in 22
innings), 20 in his deadliest season. As for any MLB players ever admitting to the breaking of rules, spitball pitchers were mentioned. The greatest of
them, Gaylord Perry, was caught a few times, and only admitted to it after the end of his career, when he wrote a book of his tricks.
One asks why such a big deal about a slipped pitch, common occurrence? And, why does MLB permit the benches to flood the ball field for any mishap, when football, basketball and hockey umpires throw out, penalize and suspend any player who leaves the bench, steps out, or joins a fight?
The answer may be that MLB is such a placid non-body-contact game, almost gentlemanly by comparison, that any fracas or injury is unusual. After all, the most grisly fight in MLB known to mankind was during the 1965 pennant race between the Dodgers and the Giants, whose Juan Marichal's pitches had knocked down Sandy Wills and Ron Fairly. When Marichal came to hit in the 3rd inning (pitchers do in NL), the Dodgers' Sandy Koufax refused to retaliate, and his catcher John Roseboro, a karate
expert, decided to pay back via ball returns to the mound, brushing Marichal's physiognomy twice. He expected to provoke fisticuffs, but
Marichal grabbed a bat and brained the catcher, opening a 14-stitch gash and a full-press fracas that emptied both benches.
But don't get me wrong, I'm for ML baseball, warts, overpaid players and all. It is a lot cleaner than ML Wall Street.
Wally also thanks Dan Daly of Washington Times & Jeff Meron of ESPN.
Thursday, October 16, 2003
Dr. P. discovers nepotism in Washington
LOOKING AHEAD by Wally Dobelis
Dr. P. claims that he has, in search of inside stories, once more visitedthe Midtown bar where the Texan who knows makes his headquarters.The man was there, drinking Maker's Mark on rocks, in the company of astriking blonde, introduced as Marina, nln.In answer to Dr. P.'s query about the Joseph Wilson affair and therevelation of his wife's CIA cover, the Texan sat back, thought a bit, thenspoke: "Let me ask a few questions, to help you populate your matrix. Go aways back. To whose benefit was it to forge a Nigerean state documentsuggesting sales efforts of yellowcake to Saddam in 1999-2001, and sneak it tointelligence sources (the attribution to an Italian magazine that some news sources make is inaccurate, Panoramawent to the CIA in October 2002)? Was it to further American interventionand the creation of the neocons' and Irving Kristol's imperialist NewAmerican Century? Was it the Bushists' initiative? The latter is unlikely,if you keep in mind that it was VP Cheney who asked the questions andprompted CIA's Tenet to send Wilson in February 2002 to investigate theNiger allegations. Why did the Brits buy into the palpable fraud (was MI6at work, as per Seymour Hersh?)What made Washington hide behind the Blair story? Why did Wilson onJuly 6, a year later, start publicly talking about the administration'sshoehorning of the spurious yellowcake story into the President's January 2003SOTH message? Why such a dumb act of revenge, later in July, with "twosenior administration officials" telling six journalists about Wilson's CIAwife getting him the investigation gig? Why would Robert Novak spread thenepotism story on July 14, then try to wheedle out by implying ValeriePlame was a non-covert agent, "as all Washington knew"? If so, then he tooshould have known that the 40-year old woman who joined the CIA in 1985,straight out of Penn State, held a covert "non-official cover" job (NOC, nodiplomatic privilege claim available, when arrested) in the US and abroad?Why did he further blow her CIA's cover operation, the Brewster-Jenningscompany? All of the above disclosures are injurious and possibly deadly toher contacts and destructive to the CIA terror-stopper function."Irving Kristol says that the CIA is at war with the White House, and Stateand Defense departments are at war with each other. Get granular, and and youmay surmise that Novak is acting as a covert White House mouthpiece, andthat all kinds of politics are involved here, not just party."As for nepotism, call it influence-peddling, all Washington is full of it.Every retired Congressman and general gets a job through connections. Startwith the Bushes, W. and W. H. both products of nepotism. Michael Powell, son of Colin; ElaineChao, the Secretary of Labor, is the wife of Mitch McConnell, the Senatemoney raiser. Chao's lead labor attorney, Eugene Scalia, is the son ofAntonin! The gun-totin' Rehnquist daughter, in Health and Human Services(for a little while). Liz Cheney, the Veep's daughter, is a Deputy AssistantSecretary of State, with her mama the Arts chief and her husband the chiefcounsel in OMB. In the states, look at the governors, Jeb Bush in Florida,Mitt Romney in Mass; the Senators, John Sununu in New Hampshire, MarkPryor in Arkansas, Elizabeth Dole in North Carolina."In publicly owned business, the progeny of founders get preference, Fisk Johnson ofJohnson Wax, Lachlan Murdoch of Rupert Everything, Harold McGraw, WilliamFord. In theatre, Rob Reiner, Tori Spelling, Sean Lennon, Enrique Iglesias,Jane and Peter Fonda, Tatum O'Neal, Michael Douglas, Kate Hudson (daughterof Goldie Hawn), they all got a leg up from their parents."And the Democrats are no different. Al Gore! Andrew Cuomo! The Kennedyclan!"When that opening brought on questions about the Schwarzeneggergovernorship, the blonde interjected: "Anyone who tries to get a personnaked in a public elevator is a low-class boor. Socially acceptablepeople would keep at least one layer of clothing between them whileattempting congress." That made the Texan burst out in a loud guffaw. Oncerecovered, he pointed his finger at the woman and stuttered, in his best DeNiro imitation: "You?...you?…you?…you're good!" before collapsing. "Not funny,"she muttered and stalked out, breaking up the festivities.When Dr. P, asked the barman what made her leave, he explained: "Klugmanblew her cover. She's Marina Good, the Washington hostess and socialtone-setter. Gee, another tip!"The author thanks Dana Priest, WP, and Adam Bellow, Atlantic Monthly.
Dr. P. claims that he has, in search of inside stories, once more visitedthe Midtown bar where the Texan who knows makes his headquarters.The man was there, drinking Maker's Mark on rocks, in the company of astriking blonde, introduced as Marina, nln.In answer to Dr. P.'s query about the Joseph Wilson affair and therevelation of his wife's CIA cover, the Texan sat back, thought a bit, thenspoke: "Let me ask a few questions, to help you populate your matrix. Go aways back. To whose benefit was it to forge a Nigerean state documentsuggesting sales efforts of yellowcake to Saddam in 1999-2001, and sneak it tointelligence sources (the attribution to an Italian magazine that some news sources make is inaccurate, Panoramawent to the CIA in October 2002)? Was it to further American interventionand the creation of the neocons' and Irving Kristol's imperialist NewAmerican Century? Was it the Bushists' initiative? The latter is unlikely,if you keep in mind that it was VP Cheney who asked the questions andprompted CIA's Tenet to send Wilson in February 2002 to investigate theNiger allegations. Why did the Brits buy into the palpable fraud (was MI6at work, as per Seymour Hersh?)What made Washington hide behind the Blair story? Why did Wilson onJuly 6, a year later, start publicly talking about the administration'sshoehorning of the spurious yellowcake story into the President's January 2003SOTH message? Why such a dumb act of revenge, later in July, with "twosenior administration officials" telling six journalists about Wilson's CIAwife getting him the investigation gig? Why would Robert Novak spread thenepotism story on July 14, then try to wheedle out by implying ValeriePlame was a non-covert agent, "as all Washington knew"? If so, then he tooshould have known that the 40-year old woman who joined the CIA in 1985,straight out of Penn State, held a covert "non-official cover" job (NOC, nodiplomatic privilege claim available, when arrested) in the US and abroad?Why did he further blow her CIA's cover operation, the Brewster-Jenningscompany? All of the above disclosures are injurious and possibly deadly toher contacts and destructive to the CIA terror-stopper function."Irving Kristol says that the CIA is at war with the White House, and Stateand Defense departments are at war with each other. Get granular, and and youmay surmise that Novak is acting as a covert White House mouthpiece, andthat all kinds of politics are involved here, not just party."As for nepotism, call it influence-peddling, all Washington is full of it.Every retired Congressman and general gets a job through connections. Startwith the Bushes, W. and W. H. both products of nepotism. Michael Powell, son of Colin; ElaineChao, the Secretary of Labor, is the wife of Mitch McConnell, the Senatemoney raiser. Chao's lead labor attorney, Eugene Scalia, is the son ofAntonin! The gun-totin' Rehnquist daughter, in Health and Human Services(for a little while). Liz Cheney, the Veep's daughter, is a Deputy AssistantSecretary of State, with her mama the Arts chief and her husband the chiefcounsel in OMB. In the states, look at the governors, Jeb Bush in Florida,Mitt Romney in Mass; the Senators, John Sununu in New Hampshire, MarkPryor in Arkansas, Elizabeth Dole in North Carolina."In publicly owned business, the progeny of founders get preference, Fisk Johnson ofJohnson Wax, Lachlan Murdoch of Rupert Everything, Harold McGraw, WilliamFord. In theatre, Rob Reiner, Tori Spelling, Sean Lennon, Enrique Iglesias,Jane and Peter Fonda, Tatum O'Neal, Michael Douglas, Kate Hudson (daughterof Goldie Hawn), they all got a leg up from their parents."And the Democrats are no different. Al Gore! Andrew Cuomo! The Kennedyclan!"When that opening brought on questions about the Schwarzeneggergovernorship, the blonde interjected: "Anyone who tries to get a personnaked in a public elevator is a low-class boor. Socially acceptablepeople would keep at least one layer of clothing between them whileattempting congress." That made the Texan burst out in a loud guffaw. Oncerecovered, he pointed his finger at the woman and stuttered, in his best DeNiro imitation: "You?...you?…you?…you're good!" before collapsing. "Not funny,"she muttered and stalked out, breaking up the festivities.When Dr. P, asked the barman what made her leave, he explained: "Klugmanblew her cover. She's Marina Good, the Washington hostess and socialtone-setter. Gee, another tip!"The author thanks Dana Priest, WP, and Adam Bellow, Atlantic Monthly.
World Series - seriously
The Saturday silliness at Fenway Park dominated the discourses of our office lunch sports fan club. When some younger members insisted that Pedro Martinez should have hung his head in shame for trying to bean Karim Garcia in the 4th inning, then pushing down the 72-year old coach Don Zimmer, as he came at the pitcher, fists swinging, some of the grizzled heads noted that no pitcher has ever, in the recorded history of mankind, admitted to deliberately aiming the killer ball at a hitter. It has always been "brushing back the hitter who’s encroaching on my territory," as though the inside of the home plate were the pitchers’ homeland. Apologies from the pitchers? That would be an admission of guilt, and invite fines for the players and clubs.
Closest to an admission of wrongdoing was the story of the roommates Bill White and Bob Gibson of the St. Louis Cardinals, the latter a Hall of Famer who started in nine games in three World Series and won seven. When White was traded and the pitcher Gibson hit him with a ball and, after the game, invited his old friend for dinner, White refused. Whereupon Gibson offered the following ethic: "We are pals outside the park. Whatever happens inside, during the course of doing business, should not interfere with our friendship." Which White bought. Does that remind us of Life in the Big City?
Memorable headhunters and chin-music experts were brought to the group’s attention. The six-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens, who, during his years at Boston and Toronto, was seen as the bitter enemy by the Bombers’ fans, at most has hit 14 batters per season (lifetime HBP of 140, or one every 30 innings).That’s low, compared with Kerry Wood of the Cubs, who hit 21 this year, matching the Angels’ Tom Murphy in 1969, and below the Reds’ "Tornado" Jake Weimer’s 23 in 1907. Clemens’s notoriety may be due to the incident in the 2000Yankee-Mets Subway Series Game Two, when the Rocket threw Mike Piazza’s broken bat into the runner’s path – this after having beaned the Mets' catcher in an inter-league game, early that July. Jeter who once hated the then Blue Jays’ pitcher with a passion, showed the greatest composure in standing squarely athwart the way of Manny Ramirez, the Boston hitter who came to bat after the Karim Garcia incident fearing Clemens’s counter-attack, and overreacted to a perceived revenge pitch, thus initiating the main melee.
The notorious Sal "The Barber" Maglie, for whom the term of "chin music" was invented, playing with the 1950s Giants had a 44 HBP (one in 39 innings), never more than 10 a season. On the other hand, Don Drysdale of the Dodgers , a Hall of Famer of beanball repute, had 154 HBP (one in 22 innings), 20 in his deadliest season. As for any MLB players ever admitting to the breaking of rules, spitball pitchers were mentioned. The greatest of them, Gaylord Perry, was caught a few times, and only admitted to it after the end of his career, when he wrote a book of his tricks. One asks why such a big deal about a common occurrence? Why does MLB permit the benches to flood the ball field for any mishap, when football, basketball and hockey umpires throw out, penalize and suspend any player who leaves the bench, steps out, or joins a fight.
The answer may be that MLB is such a placid game that any excitement is welcomed. After all, the most grisly fight in MLB known to mankind was during the 1965 pennant race between the Dodgers and the Giants, whose Juan Marichal’s pitches had knocked down Sandy Wills and Ron Fairly. When Marichal came to hit in the 3rd inning (this is NL), the Dodgers’ Sandy Koufax refused to retaliate, and his catcher John Roseboro, a karate expert, decided to pay back via ball returns to the mound, brushing Marichal’s physiognomy twice. He expected to provoke fisticuffs, but Marichal grabbed a bat and brained the catcher, opening a 14-stitch gash and and a full-press fracas that emptied both benches.
But don’t get me wrong, I’m for ML baseball, warts, overpaid players and all. It is a lot cleaner than ML Wall Street. Some stories are courtesy of Dan Daly of
Closest to an admission of wrongdoing was the story of the roommates Bill White and Bob Gibson of the St. Louis Cardinals, the latter a Hall of Famer who started in nine games in three World Series and won seven. When White was traded and the pitcher Gibson hit him with a ball and, after the game, invited his old friend for dinner, White refused. Whereupon Gibson offered the following ethic: "We are pals outside the park. Whatever happens inside, during the course of doing business, should not interfere with our friendship." Which White bought. Does that remind us of Life in the Big City?
Memorable headhunters and chin-music experts were brought to the group’s attention. The six-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens, who, during his years at Boston and Toronto, was seen as the bitter enemy by the Bombers’ fans, at most has hit 14 batters per season (lifetime HBP of 140, or one every 30 innings).That’s low, compared with Kerry Wood of the Cubs, who hit 21 this year, matching the Angels’ Tom Murphy in 1969, and below the Reds’ "Tornado" Jake Weimer’s 23 in 1907. Clemens’s notoriety may be due to the incident in the 2000Yankee-Mets Subway Series Game Two, when the Rocket threw Mike Piazza’s broken bat into the runner’s path – this after having beaned the Mets' catcher in an inter-league game, early that July. Jeter who once hated the then Blue Jays’ pitcher with a passion, showed the greatest composure in standing squarely athwart the way of Manny Ramirez, the Boston hitter who came to bat after the Karim Garcia incident fearing Clemens’s counter-attack, and overreacted to a perceived revenge pitch, thus initiating the main melee.
The notorious Sal "The Barber" Maglie, for whom the term of "chin music" was invented, playing with the 1950s Giants had a 44 HBP (one in 39 innings), never more than 10 a season. On the other hand, Don Drysdale of the Dodgers , a Hall of Famer of beanball repute, had 154 HBP (one in 22 innings), 20 in his deadliest season. As for any MLB players ever admitting to the breaking of rules, spitball pitchers were mentioned. The greatest of them, Gaylord Perry, was caught a few times, and only admitted to it after the end of his career, when he wrote a book of his tricks. One asks why such a big deal about a common occurrence? Why does MLB permit the benches to flood the ball field for any mishap, when football, basketball and hockey umpires throw out, penalize and suspend any player who leaves the bench, steps out, or joins a fight.
The answer may be that MLB is such a placid game that any excitement is welcomed. After all, the most grisly fight in MLB known to mankind was during the 1965 pennant race between the Dodgers and the Giants, whose Juan Marichal’s pitches had knocked down Sandy Wills and Ron Fairly. When Marichal came to hit in the 3rd inning (this is NL), the Dodgers’ Sandy Koufax refused to retaliate, and his catcher John Roseboro, a karate expert, decided to pay back via ball returns to the mound, brushing Marichal’s physiognomy twice. He expected to provoke fisticuffs, but Marichal grabbed a bat and brained the catcher, opening a 14-stitch gash and and a full-press fracas that emptied both benches.
But don’t get me wrong, I’m for ML baseball, warts, overpaid players and all. It is a lot cleaner than ML Wall Street. Some stories are courtesy of Dan Daly of
Sunday, October 12, 2003
Dr. Paranoia in search of truth
Dr. P, claims, that, once more, in search of inside stuff, he visited the Midtown bar where the Texan who knows makes his headquarters.
The man was there, drinking Maker’s Mark on rocks, in the company of a striking blonde, introduced as Marina, nln.
In answer to Dr. P’s query about the Wilson affair, the Texan exploded: “Don’t talk to me agout nepotism, Washinhton is full of it! Start with the Bushes,W and W. H.! Michael Powell, son of Colin, Elaine Chao, the Secretary of Labor, wife of Mitch McConnell, the Semate moneyraiser, and her labor attorney, Eugene Scalia, son of Antonin! Gun-totin’ XXRehnquist, in Health and Human Services (but not for long), Liz Cheney, the daughter , Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, her mama the Arts chief and husband the chief counsel in OMB. And Democrats were no better. Al Gore! In the staes, look at the governors, Jeb Bush in Florida, Mitt Romney in Mass, the Senators, John Sununu in New Hamphshire, Mark Pryor in Arkansas, Elizabeth Dole in North Carolina.
“In publicly owned business, the progeny of founders, Fisk Johnson of Johnson Wax, Lachlan Murdoch of Rupert Everything, Harold McGraw, William Ford. In theatre, Rob Reiner, Tori Spelling, Sean Lennon, Enrique Iglesias, , Jane and Peter Fonda, Tatum O’Neal, Michael Douglas, Kate Hudson (daughter of Goldie Hawn), they all got a leg up from their parents.
When Dr. P, started asking questions about the Schwarzenegger governorship, Marina interjected: “Anyone who tries to get a person naked in a public elevator is a low-class turd. Society people would keep at least one layer of clothing between them while attempting congress.”
That made the Texan burst out in a lowd guffaw. Once he recovered, he pointed his finger at the woman and stuttered, in his best De Niro imitation:”You..you…you…are good!” before collapsing, once more. “Notr funny,” she replied and stalked out.
When after the festivities, I asked the barman what made her leave, he explained: “He blew her cover. She’s Marina Good, the great Washington hostess. Gee, a tip!”
The man was there, drinking Maker’s Mark on rocks, in the company of a striking blonde, introduced as Marina, nln.
In answer to Dr. P’s query about the Wilson affair, the Texan exploded: “Don’t talk to me agout nepotism, Washinhton is full of it! Start with the Bushes,W and W. H.! Michael Powell, son of Colin, Elaine Chao, the Secretary of Labor, wife of Mitch McConnell, the Semate moneyraiser, and her labor attorney, Eugene Scalia, son of Antonin! Gun-totin’ XXRehnquist, in Health and Human Services (but not for long), Liz Cheney, the daughter , Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, her mama the Arts chief and husband the chief counsel in OMB. And Democrats were no better. Al Gore! In the staes, look at the governors, Jeb Bush in Florida, Mitt Romney in Mass, the Senators, John Sununu in New Hamphshire, Mark Pryor in Arkansas, Elizabeth Dole in North Carolina.
“In publicly owned business, the progeny of founders, Fisk Johnson of Johnson Wax, Lachlan Murdoch of Rupert Everything, Harold McGraw, William Ford. In theatre, Rob Reiner, Tori Spelling, Sean Lennon, Enrique Iglesias, , Jane and Peter Fonda, Tatum O’Neal, Michael Douglas, Kate Hudson (daughter of Goldie Hawn), they all got a leg up from their parents.
When Dr. P, started asking questions about the Schwarzenegger governorship, Marina interjected: “Anyone who tries to get a person naked in a public elevator is a low-class turd. Society people would keep at least one layer of clothing between them while attempting congress.”
That made the Texan burst out in a lowd guffaw. Once he recovered, he pointed his finger at the woman and stuttered, in his best De Niro imitation:”You..you…you…are good!” before collapsing, once more. “Notr funny,” she replied and stalked out.
When after the festivities, I asked the barman what made her leave, he explained: “He blew her cover. She’s Marina Good, the great Washington hostess. Gee, a tip!”
Thursday, October 09, 2003
LOOKING AHEAD by Wally Dobelis
Harvest in the Square celebration a success
New American Cuisine, the fusion of ethnic foods in all possible permutations, was the key phrase heard about the fares presented by nearly 70 local restaurants, who, with their wine merchant companions, feasted us in the Big Tent, at the 8th annual Harvest in the Square celebration. It took place on Union Square on Thursday, October 2, 2003, under the sponsorship of the 14th Street-Union Square LDC/BID. Although it was deferred two weeks by the threat of Hurricane Isabel, New Yorkers did not let the postponement and the unseasonably cool weather interfere with their cheerful enjoyment of what some have termed the greatest and best food and wine tasting event of this city. They were not timid with their praise, cheerfully rating the taste delights and disputing each other’s choices. Two big favorites were the Coffee Shop’s Lobster Tamales, with Heirloom Tomatoes, Salsa and Crème Fraiche, served on a corn leaf, and City Bakery’s Dark Chocolate Cheesecake, followed by Fleur de Sel’s Goat Cheese Ravioli with American Sturgeon Caviar, Blue Smoke’s Chocolate Peanut Butter Parfait (to die for, I’m told), Wild Salmon Duo from Blue Water Grill, a Watermelon and Feta Cheese creation from Gramercy Tavern, Olive’s Crispy Lamb Spare Ribs, Noodle Salad with Fried Wontons from Republic, StripHouse’s New York Strip Steak, and Murgh Lazeez Minced Chicken with Basmati Rice from Tamarind.
People also raved about Angelo and Maxie’s Sliced Filet Mignon, Thai Red Curry Broth with Seafood Cilantro Salad from AZ, Black Duck’s Torcho of Hudson Valley Foie Gras, Chango’s Shrimp Ceviche, Duck Carnitas & Tamale Pops from Dos Caminos, the creamy Savory Corn Panna Cotta of Eleven Madison Park, Chilled Corn Soup with Poached Shrimp from Kitchen 22, Short Ribs Beef Bourguignon from L’Express, National Art Club’s Chili, Park Avalon’s Penne with Heirloom Tomatoes, the Rugelach from 71 Irving Place, Sushi Samba’s Tuna Tartare Seviche, the soft Mung Bean Hummus on a hard crouton from Tabla, Union Square Ballroom’s Shark Sandwich, and Cantaloupe Popsicles at Wichcraft.
The festivities started with the arrivals receiving flutes of Italian brut, Ameri Prosecco, at the entrance, and hors d’oeuvres of Chili Verde, Quesadillas (dumplings) and Flautas (chicken) from Flaco’s & Tequila, Yucca Frita Chimichuri, Maduros (plantains) and Chorizos (sausage) from Habana Central, grilled T-Bones, Cod Cakes and Gazpacho Shooters from Knickerbocker Bar and Grill, Octopus Cocktails, Tostadas of Duck Confit Escabeche (marinade) and Guacamole from Lucy, a new girl on the block. The vegetarians among us had a choice of Butternut Squash & Mushroom Salad with Truffle (essence only, to be sure) from Arezzo, Almond Crusted Brie Puffs from Belmont Lounge, an admired Seven Bean Salad from Beppe, Fig, Goat Cheese and Pumpernickel Terrine from Candela., Galaxy Global’s Hempnut Crusted Edamame (soybean) Cakes, Red and Yellow Gazpacho featured by Greenmarket Farmers Market, while Tocqueville proclaimed tomato supremacy.
For seafood lovers there were Steamed Mussels from Aleo, intriguingly named White Anchovies & Marinated Zucchini Vinaigrette from Amuse , Grilled Whiting over Plantain Squares served by Bambou, City Bakery’s Shrimp & Grits, Warm Pemequid Oysters and Lump Crab Meat from City Crab & Seafood, neat Yellowtail Seviche from Morells, and Savory Tuna Tartlet Provencale out of SushiSamba 7. Meat fanciers headed for Café Deville’s Hanger Steak Wrap Bordelaise with Mashed Potatoes, Dukes St. Louis BBQ Ribs, Heartland Brewery’s Applewood-smoked Buffalo Sausage with Creole Slew, Spicy Pork Shoulders on Coconut Flatbread by Sage. Desert cravers also liked the Sour Cherry Sundae from Olive’s, and the Pumpkin Cheesecake from Union Square Café, a personal favorite. In beverages, Dallis Coffee had Puerto Rican Clou de Mont Vintage, TSalon featured Rafia Tea and Sultan Tea., 71 Irving offered their personal house blend. Beers flowed - Heartland’s Smiling Pumpkin Ale, Old Fashioned Root Beer and Oktoberfest Lager, and the great brands from Labatt US, Stella Artois, Carlsberg, Bass and such. Union Square Wines & Spirits, as ever, offered a multitude of fine wines. Quel success!
Of the wines, best represented were chardonnays (5) and merlots (4). Australian shiraz is still the major import, and Californian /Mexican brands (tasted L.A. Cetto from Valle de Guadalupe) are playing catch-up taste-wise, with inexpensive Delicato the US leader. For the lovers of white who may fault the California chards as overly oaky, there were the Santa Clara (LI) and Smoking Loon (CA) viogniers, fruity and complex. Long Island and Finger Lakes showed good varietals. From the other side of the ocean, among Italian wines were a Feudi di San Grigorio, a nice white, and a Viticcio chianti; the white pinot grigios are still their main imports. A Remy Anjou rose, a German Richter Mulheimer riesling and a New Zealand sauvignon blanc fromVia Maria were noted. New Zealand wines are substantially different from the Australians, because the South Island is much cooler. Of the aperitifs, saw a tawny port and a Hakusan sake. The latter, an acquired taste, is low-cal (no sugar), also good with shellfish, chicken and spicy foods, I’m told.
Harvest in the Square was organized by the 14th Street-Union Square LDC & BID, with Karen H. Shaw, Executive Director, Christina M. Brown, Deputy Director, and Henry Choi, Director of Public Affairs in the lead. The LDC’s long-time Chairman Eugene R. McGrath, head of ConEd, proclaimed us the best-tasting community of New York. In a conversation he also conveyed greetings from his former counterpart, Jonathan Fanton, then of New School, now of McArthur Foundation in Chicago.
The event was chaired by the usual hard-working suspects, aka The Seeds of the Harvest, led by Danny Meyer, five of whose restaurants were present under the Big Top, Eric Petterson (two presences) and Joseph Fortunato. Restaurant chairs were Todd English and Victor LaPlaca of Olives, and wine chair was Gary Tornlund of the Premier/Pinnacle Wines and Spirits. The producer of the event was Martha Bear Dallis, of the eponymous firm. Eric, who was hands-on at the event until the end, estimated that there will be around $100,000 in proceeds. The funds will be used for the LDC’s local development initiatives. A capital campaign is being launched for the redesign of Union Square’s North End, to enhance the open spaces, the playgrounds, and the Greenmarket’s Farmers Market, our local pride.
If the Local Development Corporation/ Business Improvement District concept is new to you – these are coalitions of business, community and government movers and strivers, formed to chase out drug dealers and upgrade business conditions. The LDC incorporated in 1979, and the BID five years later, in a period when the 14th Street and Union Square area was rife with shuttered stores, abandoned buildings and rooming houses for druggies and prostitutes. The Greenmarket, inspired by Park Commisioner Adrian Benepe’s landscape architect father Barry, gave the neighborhood its first push towards recovery, and the LDC/BID further turned the neighborhood around by fostering new and rehab construction, suing slumlords, adding community-supported sanitation and security services and fostering restaurants and theatres. Now there are LDC/BIDs all throughout the city.
Harvest in the Square celebration a success
New American Cuisine, the fusion of ethnic foods in all possible permutations, was the key phrase heard about the fares presented by nearly 70 local restaurants, who, with their wine merchant companions, feasted us in the Big Tent, at the 8th annual Harvest in the Square celebration. It took place on Union Square on Thursday, October 2, 2003, under the sponsorship of the 14th Street-Union Square LDC/BID. Although it was deferred two weeks by the threat of Hurricane Isabel, New Yorkers did not let the postponement and the unseasonably cool weather interfere with their cheerful enjoyment of what some have termed the greatest and best food and wine tasting event of this city. They were not timid with their praise, cheerfully rating the taste delights and disputing each other’s choices. Two big favorites were the Coffee Shop’s Lobster Tamales, with Heirloom Tomatoes, Salsa and Crème Fraiche, served on a corn leaf, and City Bakery’s Dark Chocolate Cheesecake, followed by Fleur de Sel’s Goat Cheese Ravioli with American Sturgeon Caviar, Blue Smoke’s Chocolate Peanut Butter Parfait (to die for, I’m told), Wild Salmon Duo from Blue Water Grill, a Watermelon and Feta Cheese creation from Gramercy Tavern, Olive’s Crispy Lamb Spare Ribs, Noodle Salad with Fried Wontons from Republic, StripHouse’s New York Strip Steak, and Murgh Lazeez Minced Chicken with Basmati Rice from Tamarind.
People also raved about Angelo and Maxie’s Sliced Filet Mignon, Thai Red Curry Broth with Seafood Cilantro Salad from AZ, Black Duck’s Torcho of Hudson Valley Foie Gras, Chango’s Shrimp Ceviche, Duck Carnitas & Tamale Pops from Dos Caminos, the creamy Savory Corn Panna Cotta of Eleven Madison Park, Chilled Corn Soup with Poached Shrimp from Kitchen 22, Short Ribs Beef Bourguignon from L’Express, National Art Club’s Chili, Park Avalon’s Penne with Heirloom Tomatoes, the Rugelach from 71 Irving Place, Sushi Samba’s Tuna Tartare Seviche, the soft Mung Bean Hummus on a hard crouton from Tabla, Union Square Ballroom’s Shark Sandwich, and Cantaloupe Popsicles at Wichcraft.
The festivities started with the arrivals receiving flutes of Italian brut, Ameri Prosecco, at the entrance, and hors d’oeuvres of Chili Verde, Quesadillas (dumplings) and Flautas (chicken) from Flaco’s & Tequila, Yucca Frita Chimichuri, Maduros (plantains) and Chorizos (sausage) from Habana Central, grilled T-Bones, Cod Cakes and Gazpacho Shooters from Knickerbocker Bar and Grill, Octopus Cocktails, Tostadas of Duck Confit Escabeche (marinade) and Guacamole from Lucy, a new girl on the block. The vegetarians among us had a choice of Butternut Squash & Mushroom Salad with Truffle (essence only, to be sure) from Arezzo, Almond Crusted Brie Puffs from Belmont Lounge, an admired Seven Bean Salad from Beppe, Fig, Goat Cheese and Pumpernickel Terrine from Candela., Galaxy Global’s Hempnut Crusted Edamame (soybean) Cakes, Red and Yellow Gazpacho featured by Greenmarket Farmers Market, while Tocqueville proclaimed tomato supremacy.
For seafood lovers there were Steamed Mussels from Aleo, intriguingly named White Anchovies & Marinated Zucchini Vinaigrette from Amuse , Grilled Whiting over Plantain Squares served by Bambou, City Bakery’s Shrimp & Grits, Warm Pemequid Oysters and Lump Crab Meat from City Crab & Seafood, neat Yellowtail Seviche from Morells, and Savory Tuna Tartlet Provencale out of SushiSamba 7. Meat fanciers headed for Café Deville’s Hanger Steak Wrap Bordelaise with Mashed Potatoes, Dukes St. Louis BBQ Ribs, Heartland Brewery’s Applewood-smoked Buffalo Sausage with Creole Slew, Spicy Pork Shoulders on Coconut Flatbread by Sage. Desert cravers also liked the Sour Cherry Sundae from Olive’s, and the Pumpkin Cheesecake from Union Square Café, a personal favorite. In beverages, Dallis Coffee had Puerto Rican Clou de Mont Vintage, TSalon featured Rafia Tea and Sultan Tea., 71 Irving offered their personal house blend. Beers flowed - Heartland’s Smiling Pumpkin Ale, Old Fashioned Root Beer and Oktoberfest Lager, and the great brands from Labatt US, Stella Artois, Carlsberg, Bass and such. Union Square Wines & Spirits, as ever, offered a multitude of fine wines. Quel success!
Of the wines, best represented were chardonnays (5) and merlots (4). Australian shiraz is still the major import, and Californian /Mexican brands (tasted L.A. Cetto from Valle de Guadalupe) are playing catch-up taste-wise, with inexpensive Delicato the US leader. For the lovers of white who may fault the California chards as overly oaky, there were the Santa Clara (LI) and Smoking Loon (CA) viogniers, fruity and complex. Long Island and Finger Lakes showed good varietals. From the other side of the ocean, among Italian wines were a Feudi di San Grigorio, a nice white, and a Viticcio chianti; the white pinot grigios are still their main imports. A Remy Anjou rose, a German Richter Mulheimer riesling and a New Zealand sauvignon blanc fromVia Maria were noted. New Zealand wines are substantially different from the Australians, because the South Island is much cooler. Of the aperitifs, saw a tawny port and a Hakusan sake. The latter, an acquired taste, is low-cal (no sugar), also good with shellfish, chicken and spicy foods, I’m told.
Harvest in the Square was organized by the 14th Street-Union Square LDC & BID, with Karen H. Shaw, Executive Director, Christina M. Brown, Deputy Director, and Henry Choi, Director of Public Affairs in the lead. The LDC’s long-time Chairman Eugene R. McGrath, head of ConEd, proclaimed us the best-tasting community of New York. In a conversation he also conveyed greetings from his former counterpart, Jonathan Fanton, then of New School, now of McArthur Foundation in Chicago.
The event was chaired by the usual hard-working suspects, aka The Seeds of the Harvest, led by Danny Meyer, five of whose restaurants were present under the Big Top, Eric Petterson (two presences) and Joseph Fortunato. Restaurant chairs were Todd English and Victor LaPlaca of Olives, and wine chair was Gary Tornlund of the Premier/Pinnacle Wines and Spirits. The producer of the event was Martha Bear Dallis, of the eponymous firm. Eric, who was hands-on at the event until the end, estimated that there will be around $100,000 in proceeds. The funds will be used for the LDC’s local development initiatives. A capital campaign is being launched for the redesign of Union Square’s North End, to enhance the open spaces, the playgrounds, and the Greenmarket’s Farmers Market, our local pride.
If the Local Development Corporation/ Business Improvement District concept is new to you – these are coalitions of business, community and government movers and strivers, formed to chase out drug dealers and upgrade business conditions. The LDC incorporated in 1979, and the BID five years later, in a period when the 14th Street and Union Square area was rife with shuttered stores, abandoned buildings and rooming houses for druggies and prostitutes. The Greenmarket, inspired by Park Commisioner Adrian Benepe’s landscape architect father Barry, gave the neighborhood its first push towards recovery, and the LDC/BID further turned the neighborhood around by fostering new and rehab construction, suing slumlords, adding community-supported sanitation and security services and fostering restaurants and theatres. Now there are LDC/BIDs all throughout the city.
Friday, October 03, 2003
Conflicted
A message from a reader: "I'm confused. Where do you stand? In one issue you defend the US against accusations of imperialism in another you talk of our oil politics. You defend the attack on Iraq but complain of lack of thinking and exit strategy. Kindly explain." Let us explore, or populate our matrix.
In the immortal words of Robert DeNiro, as he removed the barrel of his gun from Billy Crystal's left nostril, I am deeply conflicted. Note, though, that mine is a common condition these days. Anyone who can retain clear vision and unwavering consistency today is frozen in his tracks. As Heraclitus recognized 2,500 years ago, the law of nature is that everything changes, and so do we, and our opinions.
Having been registered at the polls for three parties at various times, and being an issue-oriented line-crossing voter over the last half-century, I recognize all this in myself and others. More importantly, there is a broad zone between contrary ideas that allows for compromises. Moreover, this homogenized middle-of-the-road “unprincipled” voter, becried equally by the Greens, the religious radicals and deep conservatives, is the salvation of the country, if not the world. Are we unprincipled, in the words of the Old Curmudgeon, a strict constructionist Constitutional lawyer? An anti-death penalty rabbi willing to make the concession in the case of Bundy, Senator Goodman admitting the need for the ultimate penalty for those already under life imprisonment sentences who murder guards and inmates with impunity – are they unprincipled? I think not.
Homeland defense? Even the ACLU lawyers who point out arrests and long imprisonment of suspected terrorists admit need for some defenses that transgress the law, while decrying Ashcroft's Patriot Act extremes. Stereotyping? All police work involves matching current crimes to comparables. Note Justice Jackson's dictum: "Defense of the Bill of Rights is no excuse for national suicide."
Instant democracy for Iraq, and US withdrawal? Yeah, that'll bring on the rule of the Shiite majority, a rule by sharia law, and revolt of the Kurds and Sunnis, a recipe for bloody new wars and unrest throughout the MidEast. Is the peace solution for the MidEast to deport Arafat the terrorist supporter and pacify the Palestinians? Remember the words of Prince Bandar , the Saudi ambassador, who aided Clinton in the 1999 Camp David negotiations, when Barak gave away 92 % of the Green zone and East Jerusalem? Arafat walked around the camp, holding his head and crying: "I cannot, I cannot, they will kill me and my family!" There may still be room for compromise.
Now the big one - can we condone the neocons and the Bush administration attacking Iraq, using spurious WMD and nuclear threat scenarios and references to 9/11 to justify their actions? Not really? But what about the Baathist tortures of their Iraqi opponents, the genocide of their own non-Sunni groups, Saddam's unabashed paymaster role in Palestinian terrorist financing, the continued threat to our ally Israel? What about need to show our muscle to Iran and North Korea, the incipient nuclear weapon powers on the track of blackmailing the world? What about the majority of Iraqis, exemplified by Salaam Pax, the pre-war Baghdad blogger, who wants us out but states than in 10 years Iraq will be a model country, thanks to our incursion?
The defining domestic knife edge issues are ambivalent too. Abortion, women's rights to their own bodies? Feminists do not condone unfettered abortion rights, and some right-to-lifers permit abortions for certain life and death and rape situations, and the rest of us have our own zones of compromise.
Gun control? Under certain conditions guns in the house are acceptable for all parties (hunting); again, the demilitarized zone of compromise is indefinite. Root for the caribou but neglect the spotted owl? Quelle contradiction, but I can defend. The size of the Alaskan oil reserve and the cost of exploration do not make economic sense.
Globalism? The world cannot exist without it, we have become totally interdependent. Yet, should the US firms export manual jobs to Mexico and China and Cambodia, and outsource high technology jobs to India, Russia and Pakistan, losing incomes for both middle class and laboring class Americans? There is a Chicago economist who claims that while we lost 10M jobs, we added 40M in the past 10 years. I don't think so. More power to the NJ senator who passed the law taking jobs from IT contractors who go offshore. Ethnicity vs assimilation? Retain your ethnicity, but ethnic politics and history interpretations are divisive.
Tax cuts for those who invest in business expansion, and can create jobs? Nah, I don't think it computes. So far there are no results for the needy.
If you detect a yearning for compromise. I’ll gladly accept the opprobrium of the ideologues and fanatics, I'll be glad to be the lukewarm, to be spit out by the fussy, and will always see the half-full vessel, even if only the bottom of the cup is wet. As to Heraclitus and the laws of change, I offer the words of Rabbi Daniel Alder, that the love of God, love of your neighbors, decency and humanity are the immutables that must remain constant in this world of changes that we have been condemned to.
In the immortal words of Robert DeNiro, as he removed the barrel of his gun from Billy Crystal's left nostril, I am deeply conflicted. Note, though, that mine is a common condition these days. Anyone who can retain clear vision and unwavering consistency today is frozen in his tracks. As Heraclitus recognized 2,500 years ago, the law of nature is that everything changes, and so do we, and our opinions.
Having been registered at the polls for three parties at various times, and being an issue-oriented line-crossing voter over the last half-century, I recognize all this in myself and others. More importantly, there is a broad zone between contrary ideas that allows for compromises. Moreover, this homogenized middle-of-the-road “unprincipled” voter, becried equally by the Greens, the religious radicals and deep conservatives, is the salvation of the country, if not the world. Are we unprincipled, in the words of the Old Curmudgeon, a strict constructionist Constitutional lawyer? An anti-death penalty rabbi willing to make the concession in the case of Bundy, Senator Goodman admitting the need for the ultimate penalty for those already under life imprisonment sentences who murder guards and inmates with impunity – are they unprincipled? I think not.
Homeland defense? Even the ACLU lawyers who point out arrests and long imprisonment of suspected terrorists admit need for some defenses that transgress the law, while decrying Ashcroft's Patriot Act extremes. Stereotyping? All police work involves matching current crimes to comparables. Note Justice Jackson's dictum: "Defense of the Bill of Rights is no excuse for national suicide."
Instant democracy for Iraq, and US withdrawal? Yeah, that'll bring on the rule of the Shiite majority, a rule by sharia law, and revolt of the Kurds and Sunnis, a recipe for bloody new wars and unrest throughout the MidEast. Is the peace solution for the MidEast to deport Arafat the terrorist supporter and pacify the Palestinians? Remember the words of Prince Bandar , the Saudi ambassador, who aided Clinton in the 1999 Camp David negotiations, when Barak gave away 92 % of the Green zone and East Jerusalem? Arafat walked around the camp, holding his head and crying: "I cannot, I cannot, they will kill me and my family!" There may still be room for compromise.
Now the big one - can we condone the neocons and the Bush administration attacking Iraq, using spurious WMD and nuclear threat scenarios and references to 9/11 to justify their actions? Not really? But what about the Baathist tortures of their Iraqi opponents, the genocide of their own non-Sunni groups, Saddam's unabashed paymaster role in Palestinian terrorist financing, the continued threat to our ally Israel? What about need to show our muscle to Iran and North Korea, the incipient nuclear weapon powers on the track of blackmailing the world? What about the majority of Iraqis, exemplified by Salaam Pax, the pre-war Baghdad blogger, who wants us out but states than in 10 years Iraq will be a model country, thanks to our incursion?
The defining domestic knife edge issues are ambivalent too. Abortion, women's rights to their own bodies? Feminists do not condone unfettered abortion rights, and some right-to-lifers permit abortions for certain life and death and rape situations, and the rest of us have our own zones of compromise.
Gun control? Under certain conditions guns in the house are acceptable for all parties (hunting); again, the demilitarized zone of compromise is indefinite. Root for the caribou but neglect the spotted owl? Quelle contradiction, but I can defend. The size of the Alaskan oil reserve and the cost of exploration do not make economic sense.
Globalism? The world cannot exist without it, we have become totally interdependent. Yet, should the US firms export manual jobs to Mexico and China and Cambodia, and outsource high technology jobs to India, Russia and Pakistan, losing incomes for both middle class and laboring class Americans? There is a Chicago economist who claims that while we lost 10M jobs, we added 40M in the past 10 years. I don't think so. More power to the NJ senator who passed the law taking jobs from IT contractors who go offshore. Ethnicity vs assimilation? Retain your ethnicity, but ethnic politics and history interpretations are divisive.
Tax cuts for those who invest in business expansion, and can create jobs? Nah, I don't think it computes. So far there are no results for the needy.
If you detect a yearning for compromise. I’ll gladly accept the opprobrium of the ideologues and fanatics, I'll be glad to be the lukewarm, to be spit out by the fussy, and will always see the half-full vessel, even if only the bottom of the cup is wet. As to Heraclitus and the laws of change, I offer the words of Rabbi Daniel Alder, that the love of God, love of your neighbors, decency and humanity are the immutables that must remain constant in this world of changes that we have been condemned to.
Thursday, October 02, 2003
Former Weatherman terrorist offers peace strategy
LOOKING AHEAD by Wally Dobelis
The Weather Underground, a documentary movie by Sam Green and Bill Siegel, was opening in Great Barrington last month, and Mark Rudd, the leader of the anti-Vietnam War group Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), who in April 1968 shut down the Columbia University campus , occupied five buildings and held the Dean captive, was the spokesman. He was interviewed on WAMC, the Northeast Public Radio. Although surface repentant, his attitude, as well as those of other self-righteous American ex-terrorists, needs to be put in context.
Rudd in 1968 was 20, a revolutionary, who a year later took away the 300-plus SDS campus units from the moderate “praxis axis” Michiganite leaders and turned the organization into the “action faction” Weathermen (named after Bob Dylan’s song about not needing a weatherman to know which way the wind blows). Their politics was to turn it into a Communist National Liberation revolutionary group, on the model of Cuba, China and Vietnam, and overthrow the US government. Seriously! Rudd, who today is a pacifist remedial math teacher in a New Mexico community college, with family and kids, terms it a temporary madness, and expresses his sorrow and apologies. Although he still persists in calling the US an imperialist country, his solution for the protesters is to take the high ground, and not harm people nor property while protesting. . The Weathermen set bombs in a US Capitol mailroom and NYC police headquarters. Three of them died in a bomb-making accident in a West 11th Street townhouse, and the two survivors - Kathy Boudin (daughter of the late leftist defense lawyer Leonard Boudin) and Cathy Wilkerson - and two dozen others, including Bernardine Dohrn and Bill Ayers (both now distinguished professor in Chicago; Ayers, son of a ConEd chairman, is still proud of stealing wallets for id and setting two dozen explosions), Brian Flanagan (now NY bar owner) and Rudd spent seven years underground, living in communes, working as laborers, landscapers and dock hands (Rudd’s choices) before surrendering. The latter bunch escaped jail terms, through sheer luck, because of illegal acts committed by Conintelpro, their FBI captor, but Boudin and Wilkerson have been continuing to serve stiff prison sentences for the murders of two policemen and a guard [Boudin, an AIDS volunteer working with women, was released mid-September, after 22 years in jail, despite continuing police protests; she will continue hospital work]. The bombs they built had been to kill US army officers and their dates at a Fort Dix dance..
To put the times in perspective, 1968-9 were years of crises. The Cold War and Soviet/Chinese Communist successes had moved the US into direct counter-actions, to block the “domino effect.” We had been in Vietnam since 1955, fighting and bleeding in limited engagements, and drafting our young into a war with a no-win strategy. The Tet offensive started in January 1968, and hundreds of Americans began to die weekly in bloody battles, with 500,000 of our troops eventually committed to the war. In April came the Rudd uprising and the murder of Dr. Martin Luther King in Memphis, followed by violent demonstrations in over a hundred black neighborhoods. In June Andy Warhol was shot, and Robert F Kennedy, a presidential candidate who promised to end the war, was killed in LA. In August the democratic Presidential convention in Chicago, a Herbert Humphrey- Eugene McCarthy- McGovern face-off, brought forth demonstrations and street battles between the police and the anti-war protesters, led by SDS and Youth International Party (Yippie) spokesmen. These actions culminated with the September 1969 trials of the Chicago 7 before Judge Hoffman, reported in daily sound bites, and Dave Dellinger, Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin and Bobby Seale (head of the Black Panthers, another revolutionary group) went to jail. Protesting Weathermen staged their Days of Rage, blowing up a statue and smashing stores and cars.
The1969 Prague Spring, Soviet tanks subduing Czech democracy seekers, heightened the US resolve to counter the Communists. The Woodstock and Altamont concerts provided focal points for the protesters, as did the shootout death of Fred Hammond, leader of the Black Panthers. The senseless Manson Family murders heightened the aura of violence and anger. Of the various protest groups, Lyndon LaRouche’s left-then-right (Fascist) National Caucus of Labor Committees has survived, and the leader who is spending his post-jail years in Germany, claims to be a viable candidate (Democrat!) for US Presidency in 2004. The purposeless Vietnam war was eventually ended, by our withdrawal.
The revival of the interest in the 1968 anti-war thinking should be balanced with reminders of the 9/11 events that evolved the US into the attacker role in Iraq. Once more it is noted that the thinkers of the Rudd persuasion, who use the premiere of the documentary to attribute the Iraq war to US imperialism, deliberately omit the 9/11 terrorist attack from the equation. They remind me of the so-called Socialists who called a meeting on Union Square shortly after the WTC destruction to protest US imperialism. These unregenerate relics of the 1968 terror really have to seriously look for a weatherman to find out which way the wind is blowing now, 35 years later.
The author thanks Andrew O’Hehir and Salon for research material.
The Weather Underground, a documentary movie by Sam Green and Bill Siegel, was opening in Great Barrington last month, and Mark Rudd, the leader of the anti-Vietnam War group Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), who in April 1968 shut down the Columbia University campus , occupied five buildings and held the Dean captive, was the spokesman. He was interviewed on WAMC, the Northeast Public Radio. Although surface repentant, his attitude, as well as those of other self-righteous American ex-terrorists, needs to be put in context.
Rudd in 1968 was 20, a revolutionary, who a year later took away the 300-plus SDS campus units from the moderate “praxis axis” Michiganite leaders and turned the organization into the “action faction” Weathermen (named after Bob Dylan’s song about not needing a weatherman to know which way the wind blows). Their politics was to turn it into a Communist National Liberation revolutionary group, on the model of Cuba, China and Vietnam, and overthrow the US government. Seriously! Rudd, who today is a pacifist remedial math teacher in a New Mexico community college, with family and kids, terms it a temporary madness, and expresses his sorrow and apologies. Although he still persists in calling the US an imperialist country, his solution for the protesters is to take the high ground, and not harm people nor property while protesting. . The Weathermen set bombs in a US Capitol mailroom and NYC police headquarters. Three of them died in a bomb-making accident in a West 11th Street townhouse, and the two survivors - Kathy Boudin (daughter of the late leftist defense lawyer Leonard Boudin) and Cathy Wilkerson - and two dozen others, including Bernardine Dohrn and Bill Ayers (both now distinguished professor in Chicago; Ayers, son of a ConEd chairman, is still proud of stealing wallets for id and setting two dozen explosions), Brian Flanagan (now NY bar owner) and Rudd spent seven years underground, living in communes, working as laborers, landscapers and dock hands (Rudd’s choices) before surrendering. The latter bunch escaped jail terms, through sheer luck, because of illegal acts committed by Conintelpro, their FBI captor, but Boudin and Wilkerson have been continuing to serve stiff prison sentences for the murders of two policemen and a guard [Boudin, an AIDS volunteer working with women, was released mid-September, after 22 years in jail, despite continuing police protests; she will continue hospital work]. The bombs they built had been to kill US army officers and their dates at a Fort Dix dance..
To put the times in perspective, 1968-9 were years of crises. The Cold War and Soviet/Chinese Communist successes had moved the US into direct counter-actions, to block the “domino effect.” We had been in Vietnam since 1955, fighting and bleeding in limited engagements, and drafting our young into a war with a no-win strategy. The Tet offensive started in January 1968, and hundreds of Americans began to die weekly in bloody battles, with 500,000 of our troops eventually committed to the war. In April came the Rudd uprising and the murder of Dr. Martin Luther King in Memphis, followed by violent demonstrations in over a hundred black neighborhoods. In June Andy Warhol was shot, and Robert F Kennedy, a presidential candidate who promised to end the war, was killed in LA. In August the democratic Presidential convention in Chicago, a Herbert Humphrey- Eugene McCarthy- McGovern face-off, brought forth demonstrations and street battles between the police and the anti-war protesters, led by SDS and Youth International Party (Yippie) spokesmen. These actions culminated with the September 1969 trials of the Chicago 7 before Judge Hoffman, reported in daily sound bites, and Dave Dellinger, Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin and Bobby Seale (head of the Black Panthers, another revolutionary group) went to jail. Protesting Weathermen staged their Days of Rage, blowing up a statue and smashing stores and cars.
The1969 Prague Spring, Soviet tanks subduing Czech democracy seekers, heightened the US resolve to counter the Communists. The Woodstock and Altamont concerts provided focal points for the protesters, as did the shootout death of Fred Hammond, leader of the Black Panthers. The senseless Manson Family murders heightened the aura of violence and anger. Of the various protest groups, Lyndon LaRouche’s left-then-right (Fascist) National Caucus of Labor Committees has survived, and the leader who is spending his post-jail years in Germany, claims to be a viable candidate (Democrat!) for US Presidency in 2004. The purposeless Vietnam war was eventually ended, by our withdrawal.
The revival of the interest in the 1968 anti-war thinking should be balanced with reminders of the 9/11 events that evolved the US into the attacker role in Iraq. Once more it is noted that the thinkers of the Rudd persuasion, who use the premiere of the documentary to attribute the Iraq war to US imperialism, deliberately omit the 9/11 terrorist attack from the equation. They remind me of the so-called Socialists who called a meeting on Union Square shortly after the WTC destruction to protest US imperialism. These unregenerate relics of the 1968 terror really have to seriously look for a weatherman to find out which way the wind is blowing now, 35 years later.
The author thanks Andrew O’Hehir and Salon for research material.
