In the US, the child’s game of Cops and Robbers is self-explanatory. Americans have a very ambiguous attitude toward criminals. In many ways, we idolize them. I think it’s the same in the Middle East. People romanticize jihadists for the same reasons that Americans admire gangsters. The rebel with a gun makes his own rules….
Russia is learning that some people don’t scare easily
February 26, 2016
When Russia decided to intervene on behalf of Bashar al-Assad, those who don’t know anything about military matters thought that they were seeing a level of competence that nobody else had shown in the conflict. They were wrong. My experience with Russians had prepared me for what inevitably happened. One of the best films ever…
Because I’ve experienced great evil
September 26, 2014
Almost every day I get a message asking me why I defend Israel and Jews. Most of the queries are sincere, while others are meant to be an accusation of sorts. Basically, people are accusing me of doing what I myself acknowledge I’m doing. Maybe they except me to snap out of a trance and…
On being a solo flier
May 4, 2014
Today I thought I’d write a post on being a solo flier, Tim’s term for what he and I are. I wasn’t sure if I’d write it or what I’d say. Then I saw this video from Saturday Night Live. Like so many of SNL’s routines, it goes on too long, but the message is…
Hurricane House, the Tin Man, and free e-books.
April 19, 2014
During our time in Venezuela, we spent three summers on Sanibel Island, Florida, in a little resort called Hurricane House. As best as Tim and I can remember, the years were 1969, 1970, and 1971. Tim took these photos in 1970; our brother Paul shot the picture of Tim. It was on one of these…