On the situation
that seems irresolvable, and my wish for it nonetheless.
Earlier this
month, I signed my name to a
letter opposing the American
Studies Association’s proposed boycott of Israeli universities and academic
institutions. By the time this piece posts, the ASA general membership’s vote
on the boycott will have been completed (INSIDE BASEBALL SEE HOW THE SAUSAGE
GETS MADE BLOG SPOILER ALERT: I’m writing this on December 11th, the
vote closes on December 15th, and I’ll add the result as a PPS to
this post so it can at least be part of any continuing conversation), and so my
stance on it will be a relatively moot point; for that reason, and because it’s
not the principal thrust of this post (nor exactly in the holiday spirit), I’m
not going to get into why I oppose the boycott here (although of course I’d be
happy to discuss it further, whether in comments, by email, or in any other way).
Whatever the
results of the ASA vote, it doesn’t seem likely to me that this action—nor, to
be honest, any action or inaction an organization like this could take—would have
any effect on the situation between Israel and the Palestinians. One of the
more striking moments from a childhood watching classic films with my Mom was
when we watched the film
based on Leon
Uris’ novel Exodus (1958); I’m
sure it wasn’t the only nor even a particularly intended effect, but what stood
out to me was the stark realization that conflict
and violence have been integral to Israel’s existence since even before the
nation was founded, and I’ll admit that it’s very difficult for even this
optimist to imagine a future for the nation and region that isn’t similarly war-torn.
To quote the best song I know about that conflict, Steve Earle’s “Jerusalem”:
“I woke up this mornin' and
none of the news was good/Death machines were rumblin' 'cross the ground where
Jesus stood/And the man on my TV told me that it had always been that way/And
there was nothin' anyone could do or say.”
Yet Earle’s next
lines push back on that version of history, and the speaker instead “look[s]
into my heart to find/That I believe that one fine day all the children of
Abraham/Will lay down their swords forever in Jerusalem.” So AmericanStudies
Elves, on this holiday that has for so long been associated with peace on Earth
and goodwill toward men, I wish that Earle’s belief will come to be, and that
even the most deeply rooted of human conflicts can move toward a different and
better future. Merry Christmas if you celebrate, happy holidays if you don’t,
and peace be with you in any case.
Next wish
tomorrow,
Ben
PS. Thoughts on
this wish? Wishes you’d share?
PPS. Per a December 16th update, the boycott resolution passed, with about 2/3rds of the 1250 voters voting in favor of it.
PPS. Per a December 16th update, the boycott resolution passed, with about 2/3rds of the 1250 voters voting in favor of it.
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