Dove's Eye View

Adventures of Citizen Diplomats in Syria

Three years of grass roots diplomacy: travels, encounters, research. Photos, diaries and more.

AMLN Virtual Scrapbook - Adventures of Citizen Diplomats in Syria.

Thanks to Josh Landis of Syria Comment for this link.

Lizzy Ratner seeks her history in Poland

Lizzy Ratner returned to Poland to visit the land of her ancestors. Three out of four American Jews have at least one ancestor from pre-Nazi Poland. My own children have one such ancestor, through my husband, whose mother is descended from Russian and Polish Jews.

Ratner writes of a moment in her trip:

Again and again, as I stared at the remnants of ghetto walls, I wondered, baffled, how a people that was forced to live – and die – behind walls could force another people to live – and die – behind walls?

Thank you, Lizzy Ratner. This is the heart of the matter.

And thank you to Phil Weiss and the blog Mondoweiss for hosting great writing and reporting on this painful topic.

Hillary Clinton erupts in laughter

Entirely appropriate, derisive laughter at the mention of a right wing demagogue:

Think Progress » Hillary Clinton erupts in laughter at the mention of ‘John Bolton.’.

(Secretary of State Clinton says) "It is a recognition that certain countries that I think are kind of beyond the pale the rule of law hold people and subject them to long prison terms that are absolutely unfair and unwarranted."

I agree that North Korea is beyond the rule of law. But when I point a finger I have to notice that the other four fingers point back at me. Who else holds people for long prison terms without trial? Who else acts beyond the rule of law , bombing civilians without mercy and detaining people for prison terms that are absolutely unfair and unwarranted?

Yes it's true I've been posting pretty pictures and summer updates of late. You may suspect that advanced cancer has made me retreat into a cocoon where I hum positive affirmations and prattle about The Light. Sometimes I fear that my blog stance has become that of the Good Arab: docile, conciliatory, anxious to avoid commenting on atrocity, and eager to share recipes. Never mind the murder, have some hummus!

The love light of God heals all errors and mistakes. I do affirm that. And when I see hypocrisy I still call it out.

I erupt in laughter at the mention of John Bolton too, and unfortunately I also erupt in laughter at the idea that Hilary Clinton applies the rule of law fairly to Arabs. May God heal this situation because I cannot.