The temporary truce between Hamas and Israel has ended, and the latter has renewed its campaign of rockets launching into Israel from Gaza, about 10 days ago. No casualties were reported on the Israeli side except for minor infrastructure damage and terror in the populace. Nevertheless, the reaction from Israel was swift and intense as usual. So far, 5 days of bombing targeting Hamas administrative buildings, weapon caches and rocket installations. Collateral damages have already amounted to more than 300 deaths, and Israeli troops are poised to cross over into Gaza by land and sea routes. To be sure more truce talks are being entertained in the hall of governments from the US, EU and moderate Arab states. No laughing matter, where do we go from here?
A friend of mine (LUT) sent an urgent appeal for a letter writing campaign to the US government and the UN to intervene and stop the killing. In the middle of the mess, I just happen to be finishing "Einstein in Berlin" by Thomas Levenson, Bantam Books, 2004 paperback edition.
Here's a direct quote from Einstein, when he was conversing with Chaim Weizmann about the early Arab riots of 1929 in reaction to the budding Zionist movement.
"Should we be able unable to find a way to honest cooperation and honest pacts with the Arabs, then we have learned absolutely nothing during our two thousand years of suffering and deserve all that will come to us"
It has been almost 80 years since that statement was made. Obviously, Einstein's brethren have not yet found "a way to honest cooperation and honest packs with the Arabs". Are they condemned to deserve all that will come their way? It's up to history to judge the current Israeli/Arab conflict, but it looks as though evil from both sides will remain with us for a while.
"Should we be able unable to find a way to honest cooperation and honest pacts with the Arabs, then we have learned absolutely nothing during our two thousand years of suffering and deserve all that will come to us"
It has been almost 80 years since that statement was made. Obviously, Einstein's brethren have not yet found "a way to honest cooperation and honest packs with the Arabs". Are they condemned to deserve all that will come their way? It's up to history to judge the current Israeli/Arab conflict, but it looks as though evil from both sides will remain with us for a while.
Another friend (PG) had an interesting take about the whole affair. He was of the opinion that Islam is a relatively young religion compared to Christianity. Islam is going through similar throes of "maturation" Christianity experienced in the 14th century. In time Islam will mellow? We sure hope so.
"Einstein in Berlin" is good. A rating of 4/5 is warranted although Amazon reviewers rated it a bit higher (more like 4.5/5).
If you are interested in the life and thinking of Einstein, it will sure be worth your time. Details (without the math, of course) about all the great discoveries are there to enjoy, including detailed anecdotes of his misgivings about quantum theory, and his dogged pursuit of the unified field theory, which lead to nowhere. Stories of his private life were also quite demystifying. A very mortal human being indeed, professional and political life aside, he did not seem to treat the opposite sex with all due respects and gallantry. It may not be an exaggeration to say that he lived freely by the impulse of his libido. Most shocking was his proposal to Elsa (his cousin and 2nd spouse) that he could either marry her or her daughter, Ilse, and leaving it up to them to decide. Quite an eye opener, for a person most of us would place on a very high pedestal.
The book offered a vast amount of peripheral information in an effort to place Einstein in the context of the time. You get a lot of materials about the culture and history of Berlin, Germany and Europe before, during and after the Great War, up to until Einstein's departure for America in December 1932 following the rise of the Nazis and Hitler. I felt Levenson went overboard, but perhaps justifiably so. How the Nazis and Hitler overcame the Weimar republic to usurp power was very very scary.
It could happen anywhere, certainly in America lest we forget.
"Einstein in Berlin" is good. A rating of 4/5 is warranted although Amazon reviewers rated it a bit higher (more like 4.5/5).
If you are interested in the life and thinking of Einstein, it will sure be worth your time. Details (without the math, of course) about all the great discoveries are there to enjoy, including detailed anecdotes of his misgivings about quantum theory, and his dogged pursuit of the unified field theory, which lead to nowhere. Stories of his private life were also quite demystifying. A very mortal human being indeed, professional and political life aside, he did not seem to treat the opposite sex with all due respects and gallantry. It may not be an exaggeration to say that he lived freely by the impulse of his libido. Most shocking was his proposal to Elsa (his cousin and 2nd spouse) that he could either marry her or her daughter, Ilse, and leaving it up to them to decide. Quite an eye opener, for a person most of us would place on a very high pedestal.
The book offered a vast amount of peripheral information in an effort to place Einstein in the context of the time. You get a lot of materials about the culture and history of Berlin, Germany and Europe before, during and after the Great War, up to until Einstein's departure for America in December 1932 following the rise of the Nazis and Hitler. I felt Levenson went overboard, but perhaps justifiably so. How the Nazis and Hitler overcame the Weimar republic to usurp power was very very scary.
It could happen anywhere, certainly in America lest we forget.
