tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4638619958588096610.post8986478312810565718..comments2023-11-22T09:11:01.567+00:00Comments on George Szirtes: On milieu and refuge: a sketch, 8George Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889600788146987089noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4638619958588096610.post-62081708696491110422012-08-02T10:35:33.058+01:002012-08-02T10:35:33.058+01:00George, so much of what you write strikes a chord....George, so much of what you write strikes a chord. I too was raised in an unobservant, atheist even, Jewish refugee family, although my parents never hid their background. When the 1967 six-day war broke out I was living in Paris and sat in a cafe for hours with an Italian Communist friend discussing volunteering to fight for Israel. By the time we had gathered up our courage and decided to present ourselves at the Israeli embassy the next morning, it was all over, somewhat to my relief I must admit. I have always felt slightly guilty about letting Isrealis take care of the Jewish homeland for me. Roots is roots, such as they are, but it has become a lot less comfortable In England lately. How extraordinary that it is now a right-on, progressive cause to be anti-Israel. Thank you for putting your head in the lion's mouth, as the plump so nicely puts it. It is an extremely ignorant lion and that is an excellent dose of reality you have given it.NicoleSnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4638619958588096610.post-1404864720321691802012-08-01T18:56:38.182+01:002012-08-01T18:56:38.182+01:00Thank you, both. I think these simple things are s...Thank you, both. I think these simple things are so often forgotten. And yes, it did feel like putting my head in the lion's mouth, Peter. All the more difficult because a good many of my literary acquaintance are fiercely of the liion's persuasion. Glad you think the head is still there. Although I wouldn't be surprised if a few acquaintances kept their distance for a while. <br /><br />You don't want to smell of the cage or circus, do you? This head might for a while. And that's the problem at large.George Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08889600788146987089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4638619958588096610.post-72259933072959215202012-08-01T15:23:32.108+01:002012-08-01T15:23:32.108+01:00And so the head was placed with both firmness and ...And so the head was placed with both firmness and consideration into the lion's mouth. The lion did not know what to do with something that confronted its certainties, but appeared to be difficult to digest. Its jaws stayed open. Well done. <br /><br />This is an outstanding series; I am gripped.The Plumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09244528534476387323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4638619958588096610.post-26312636819880746372012-08-01T00:00:49.789+01:002012-08-01T00:00:49.789+01:00This was very balanced. There are too many people ...This was very balanced. There are too many people who say that if you feel for the suffering of the Palestinians, you are a supporter of terrorism; and others who say that if you feel the Jews have undergone shocking things over thousands of years, you hate Palestinians and want them to suffer. It makes any discussion on the whole issue incredibly frustrating, so thank you for articulating a personal but balanced view.Clarissa Aykroydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08571136118573329263noreply@blogger.com