City Journal has a great article this quarter about the psychological burden carried by those who experienced the bombing of Dresden during the Second World War. The 60th anniversary of the bombing is next month, and the article's analysis of the various historical interpretations and cultural byproducts (ie. Slaughterhouse 5) from the past six decades provides a succinct and profound corrective against our often willfull historical amnesia.
In other news, Jim Wallis is everywhere these days, and here's hoping that his ubiquitous presence in the media portends the start of a progressive Christian movement in this country. A notable appearance on the Daily Show last week was followed by interest in his new book "God's Politics" in various journals. Beliefnet has a nice interview with him here. The Boston Globe also has a terrific profile and interview. The following excerpt details Wallis' beautiful reaction to some sanctimonious nincompoop who had the temerity to hurl one of those bargain-bin cliche critiques of Christianity at him:
Wallis, a Washington insider who has consulted both the Clinton and Bush administrations on antipoverty policy and who led a peace delegation of American religious leaders to meet with Tony Blair on the eve of the Iraq war, thought he'd given a pretty good talk on the topic of religion and public life – until he got his first question.
"But Jim, what about the Inquisition?"
"I said, 'Well, I was against it at the time. And I'm still opposed to it!' " Wallis writes with characteristic vigor. "Then I challenged him, 'Unless you want me to raise the specter of the Communist butcher Pol Pot and his brutal Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia every time you talk about the need for a comprehensive national health plan, why don't we move on to a better discussion?"'
If you want more, you can always head on over to Sojourner's Magazine.
Also, Phil Christman tackles Martin Amis' Yellow Dog, a book written in a voice that is "skronkingly demotic." ((Phil, if that doesn't get you into an MFA program, I don't know what will.))
In other news, Jim Wallis is everywhere these days, and here's hoping that his ubiquitous presence in the media portends the start of a progressive Christian movement in this country. A notable appearance on the Daily Show last week was followed by interest in his new book "God's Politics" in various journals. Beliefnet has a nice interview with him here. The Boston Globe also has a terrific profile and interview. The following excerpt details Wallis' beautiful reaction to some sanctimonious nincompoop who had the temerity to hurl one of those bargain-bin cliche critiques of Christianity at him:
Wallis, a Washington insider who has consulted both the Clinton and Bush administrations on antipoverty policy and who led a peace delegation of American religious leaders to meet with Tony Blair on the eve of the Iraq war, thought he'd given a pretty good talk on the topic of religion and public life – until he got his first question.
"But Jim, what about the Inquisition?"
"I said, 'Well, I was against it at the time. And I'm still opposed to it!' " Wallis writes with characteristic vigor. "Then I challenged him, 'Unless you want me to raise the specter of the Communist butcher Pol Pot and his brutal Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia every time you talk about the need for a comprehensive national health plan, why don't we move on to a better discussion?"'
If you want more, you can always head on over to Sojourner's Magazine.
Also, Phil Christman tackles Martin Amis' Yellow Dog, a book written in a voice that is "skronkingly demotic." ((Phil, if that doesn't get you into an MFA program, I don't know what will.))
Almost overlooked (in the referenced article) is the work of W.G. Sebald, called "A Natural History of Destruction". He died shortly after its publication.
Posted by
bnjmn |
6:41 PM
Having read further...
I'm sorry but 'bargain-bin critique' is just stellar! I'm going to steal it first chance I get.
Posted by
bnjmn |
8:14 PM