The Rabbi

My beloved daughter blessed her father with a gift of Dante's Virgil-guided tour though the depths of hell for Christmas. This illustrated and modern, Message-like, translation of the Inferno trilled my soul. As a matter of fact Birk and Sanders's ability to turn a phrase had me laughing at the most inopportune times. Hell's highways suffer from interminable traffic jams but then the fast food restaurants abound offering an attractive array of artery clogging goodies. Dante's genius avails only when the christian reader understands that the hell therein described refers not to the lost but the hypocrite-Jesus would certainly agree.

I can hardly wait to purchase and read the succeeding Purgatorio and Paradesio.

A random pick up at the public library check out desk, Pollack's work intrigued throughout the necessary hours to digest its 430 pgs. By definition an expert in the middle east, from a US perspective, Pollack proposes a long-term commitment by the US to assist where encouraged the people of the Arab countries and the Iranians to obtain western style education, business development incentives, and social needs assistance. I would paraphrase that Pollack would have the US export the good of America but not the baggage that comes along with it--individual freedom but not pornography. Give the underprivileged people of the middle east self worth, something to live for.

How this may be accomplished will take the wisdom of Solomon and the patience of Job, but then consider the alternative. Hamas will not longer be attractive, if a peaceful, community/individual building alternative exists.

An excellent read that comprehensively addresses a complicated problem that will not go away as long as the world lives on oil.