"If I look confused it is because I am thinking." -Samuel Goldwyn

Rhyme and Reason:
Sorting it out?

Prologue: "I'm not confused. I'm just well mixed." - Robert Frost

"The mere attempt to examine my own confusion would consume volumes." - James Agee

Act I: I don't know whether or not so see this ridiculous Gibson movie.

I mean, I really don't want to see it. I don't care to spend an evening watching someone get the shit kicked out of him. And I don't particularly enjoy sitting around watching someone spew historical and theological inaccuracies while taking my $10 for the privilege. As Richard wrote on his blog, "...I will not add a penny to Mel Gibson's coffers by seeing it, as I feel that he has made a reprehensible contribution to the cause of interreligious enmity."

But maybe I'm obligated.

1. I consider myself well-informed on issues pertaining to religion in American life. I want to stay that way, and staying informed may require seeing this movie.
2. I teach students who are curious about it, and want/need answers. I have an obligation to them.
3. I want to be a Jewish educator, and I want to be particularly knowledgable on issues of Jewish-Christian relations.
4. I want to have an opinion on the movie, and to have an opinion I need to see it.

So I still don't know. I wish I could just get a copy on DVD, so I don't have to contribute anything to it, but can still watch it.

Intermission: "I would warn you that I do not attribute to nature either beauty or deformity, order or confusion. Only in relation to our imagination can things be called beautiful or ugly, well-ordered or confused." - Baruch Benedict de Spinoza

Act II: Where the hell am I gonna be six months from now?

OK. Here's the background, for those of you unfamiliar with the current status of my life: I'm currently the Assistant Creative Chair and Director of Public Relations at Torah Aura Productions in Los Angeles, Calif. My job -- as was explained to me when I took it in June '02 -- is a two year position. Two years is about to be up, and I gotta find something else to do. I decided a while back that I want to be a Jewish educator (a trained professional who, well, educates... I would work for a synagogue, a school, a Jewish camp, a Federation, or a combination of all those things), and I want to get a Masters degree in Jewish education. I've applied to two schools, and now I gotta figure out what to do.

I still have to go observe classes at one of them, and I have to talk to a lot of people, and I'm still not sure where I should go (assuming I get in at both places, which Esther seems to be convinced will be the case). One presents itself to be academically and intellectually rigorous, and high on theory and discussion. The other is a lot more focused on a "hands-on" approach, and has a faculty with whom I'm less than impressed. And one requires that I spend a year in Israel. Fade to...

Intermission: "Anyone who isn't confused really doesn't understand the situation." - Edward R. Murrow

Act III: What the hell is going on in Israel?

Early Monday morning, the IDF struck and killed Sheikh Ahmad Yassin, the founder and "spiritual" leader of Hamas. Palestinian officials condemned Israel's killing of Yassin, calling it an "assassination." Israel said: "This morning, in a security forces operation in the northern Gaza Strip, the IDF targeted a car carrying the head of the Hamas terror organization, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, and his aides." Hamas says terrorism will increase:

"Murderous Zionists, you have bestowed martyrdom upon our Sheikh, and we will bestow violent death upon you on every city and every street," it said in a written statement. "The Zionists will soon see, not hear, our response, God willing."

Israel says this is ridiculous.

Though terrorist efforts may increase temporarily, in the long run the elimination of Yassin will upset Hamas' leadership and violent capabilities, and serve as an essential deterrent to ongoing Palestinian terror.

My mom says:

Now I'm getting worried about Israel. [Read: I'm getting worried about my son going to Israel.] The Palestinians are angry and even more than before will only be satisfied with blood, and American blood as well. What are your thoughts?

Problem: I don't have any thoughts. I mean, I disagree with Diane at Lawrence of Cyberia: I don't think what Israel did was morally wrong, just like I don't think it would be morally wrong for the U.S. to kill Bin Laden. It may not have been politically smart, and it may lead to renewed attacks, but who knows.

Is it even possible to think clearly about all of this?

Epilogue: "If confusion is the first step to knowledge, I must be a genius." - Larry Leissner

"Confusion heard his voice, and wild uproar
Stood ruled, stood vast infinitude confined;
Till at his second bidding darkness fled,
Light shone, and order from disorder sprung."
- John Milton (appropriate, since I'm reading Angels & Demons right now).

Comments

[JFOR]

There is no answer to the Israeli/PLO tiff as I think neither party knows the question.

[Lawrence of Cyberia]

Josh:

I am Diane at Lawrence of Cyberia, and I am not sure why you are implying that I wrote anything about the morality of killing Sheikh Yassin. I suggested it might not be a politically astute thing to do, but deliberately avoided touching the moral issue. I have no idea why you are mischaracterizing what I wrote, but I really don't appreciate it.

[Josh Barkin]

I apologize. I guess I misunderstood your point of view.

In the interest of setting the record straight: How do you feel about the issue?