The Cherry Orchard

Eighteen notable writers, including Harold Pinter, Toni Morrison and Russell Banks, have issued a short statement about the current war. It culminates in one pointed paragraph:

Each provocation and counter-provocation is contested and preached over. But the subsequent arguments, accusations and vows, all serve as a distraction in order to divert world attention from a long-term military, economic and geographic practice whose political aim is nothing less than the liquidation of the Palestinian nation.

There’s plenty of room for argument here — why does this article hint at two-sided-ness but then fail to mention that there are also significant long-term military, economic and geographic practices aiming for the liquidation of the Israeli nation? Regardless, these eighteen writers are to be commended for speaking clearly and simply, for stating premises that lead to a conclusion, and for keeping their message short and sharp.

High quality discourse is absolutely essential to the peace process. Whether one agrees with these eighteen writers or not, one can at least appreciate that the clarity of their statement might bring the discussion to the next level by allowing responses of similar clarity.

Then there’s Jostein Gaarder of Norway, the very successful author of Sophie’s World, a book that presents the history of philosophy in a meta-fictional framework. This book was an impressive achievement, and it’s shocking and disheartening to read an Aftenposten article by this author that culminates in a vivid fantasy of Israel defeated and its people sent into exile (at which point Gaarder urges, with facetious sympathy, that the nationless wanderers should not be hurt):

They are vulnerable now like snails without shells, vulnerable like slow caravans of Palestinian and Lebanese refugees, defenseless like women and children and the old in Qana, Gaza, Sabra, and Chatilla. Give the Israeli refugees shelter, give them milk and honey!

This is a revenge fantasy, and I am seriously disturbed to find a reputable author of a popular book on philosophy indulging himself in this type of emotional excess at a time when actual war rages, a time when words matter. This is not a vision of peace but of humiliation. A snail without a shell, Mr. Gaarder? In fact, revenge fantasies are a dime a dozen in our violent times. There are certainly also Israelis who dream of seeing their Palestinian enemies finally defeated and hopeless. Revenge fantasies are common, but what they are not is helpful.
I’m looking forward to using this site to critique public statements on difficult global issues, especially statements made by writers. I hope this will turn out to be a helpful way to shed light on difficult problems. Today’s quick check turns up one group that’s angry but trying to help … and one writer who’s angry but has nothing helpful to offer.