'Video' means 'I see'

Interesting story in the morning's LA Times:

ABU GHRAIB PRISON, Iraq -- President Saddam Hussein opened the doors of his nation's prisons Sunday, freeing tens of thousands of murderers and draft dodgers, political prisoners and petty thieves in a dramatic act of national reconciliation.

The sweeping amnesty was extended to offenders who fled the country, including political opposition figures in London and military deserters living in the region of northern Iraq outside Baghdad's control. Spies for the United States and the "Zionist entity," Israel, would remain behind bars, officials said.

"The Zionist entity"! That's very cool. I like that. I think I'll steal it. I think I'll start referring to California as "the Expansionist entity." I never did think that darn Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was fair. Or maybe I'll call it "the Christian entity." I don't know about you, but I'm still pissed off about what Father Junipero Serra and his thugs did to the native population living here.

Now let me here just say something as a subject of the Colonial entity about to visit the Zionist entity: If any of my ramblings so far have given the impression that I have any insight or information about the Mideast Question or the Israeli-Palestinian conflict or anything else, forget it! Nor do I expect to find Answers to any Important Questions when I spend two weeks in Israel. Far from it. I've traveled pretty widely in Mexico in the last 10 years or so, spoke with a bunch of people from Indigenous squatters in Vera Cruz to a couple of state governors. Do I understand Mexico? No! Do I have a good idea how it can solve its serious economic , political and environmental problems? Not really.

For that matter, what can I say I know about my own country, where I have lived for 55 years, where I have traveled widely, where I have known people from the rich to the wretched? Every relationship is fraught with nuances; every person is a mystery. Who knows ../where it will end. Or even get to. War and suffering? A better society? I just heard Scott Ridder say that one projection calls for an Iraqi occupation of 150,000 troops for ten years or more. Is that what this is for? A job program for the troublesome poor? Who knows? I am vexed by so many aspects of my own society.

I AM DRAWN TO ISRAEL at this time because of the conflict. I can't deny that. And I bring a strong emotional and intellectual commitment to nonviolence. Having said that, it might be that those issues never come up, and that may be fine. Maybe in Tel Aviv basketball will be on everyone's mind; maybe the kibbutz will be abuzz about the avocado harvest; and the most controversial topic in Jerusalem will be the Chagall exhibit. That will be just fine.

We'll see what we see.

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