“We have caused a monstrous mess. We don’t even count killed Iraqis. God knows how many Iraqi women, children and men have been killed by our accidental shootings, which we are such experts at, or by other Iraqis. No, ‘Benito Bush’ (Bloom’s pet name for President George Bush) deserves, if we had a functioning civil law in the world, to be condemned for crimes against humanity. Bush is ultimately responsible for this war,” Bloom says pointing angrily with his index finger in the air as his dark eyes burn below a pair of thick dark eyebrows and a crown of unruly white hair.
“It is bleeding our nation, and I can’t see a solution in the near future. We are obviously so deeply involved concerning blood, money and the situation on the ground that it will be very hard for us to pull out.”
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Harold Bloom on Iraq
Harold Bloom, one of our premiere intellectuals -- and, I would add, a friend to Gnosticism (which has long intrigued yours truly) -- cannot hide his despair over the Iraq war:
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4 comments:
Thomas Jefferson said, or wrote, "When I consider God is just, I tremble for my country."
Amen.
That the country has now turned against this misadventure gives us scant credit, for there is no genuine repentance.
Literally millions have been slaughtered, burned to ashen bones, tortured, mutilated, and genocided at the hands of US imperialist foreign policy, and this is but the most recent chapter. We may not like this current scenario, NOW, but it was supported to the nines as it began, and few this side of a Noam Chomsky or a Ron Paul are aware of, much less condemning, our past depredations.
It is heartbreaking, immoral, and breathtakingly evil. If a modern day Jeremiah were among us, his warnings would make those of his predecessor appear mild. And, of course, he would be condemned as shrill and insane, before he was killed.
BTW, this is the appeal of Dr. Ron Paul. Moral clarity that is extremely hard to find in American life, regardless of his political or other policy mistakes.
...sofla
Is that a pic of Harold Bloom? It looks like Hecky Brown (Zero Mostel) from The Front. When did Ms Sohlman interview him? He says he's 77, so it's at least since summer 2007. I'm surprised (not really) he doesn't mention his student Naomi Wolf's recent lecture series and book. Bloom on Bush and Iraq, now? Sure, now that Edward Said is gone.
The interview with Professor Harold Bloom is very recent. He has been sick so maybe that is why you don't recognize him.
Quote misquote correction:
I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that his justice cannot sleep forever.
...sofla
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