Last week, David Lynch passed away. Aged 78.
I don’t know much about this chap other than he directed one of my all-time favourite films: The Elephant Man.
What is unfathomable was his sweet, gentle and kind soul in the face of such nastiness, cruelty and such backwardness.
A raw and moving film with a stellar cast, it’s a special film which I have reviewed on this blog.
It’s incredible to think that the liberation was only 80 years ago.
I hope we never forget.
I’m v. glad that King Charles attended the commemoration.
Unfortunately, there will be detractors and deniers who will argue that the Holocaust remembrance is being overplayed or seek to minimise the uniqueness of Jewish suffering.
Or, especially nowadays, people will attempt a Nazi comparison vis-a-vis Israel and Palestine. This is to weaponise the Jewish trauma against the Jews to further attack them.
Trump’s inaugural address was dispiriting.
It sounded like one of his rally speeches. He is now the president of a nation of Republicans and Democrats. He has to work with the narrow majorities in the House and Senate. Rubbing their defeat in their faces is not presidential.
He should have been more statesman-like, such as thanking his predecessor, in preserving the dignity of the office and traditions.
The notion that we should send a mission to Mars is moronic. His insisting on “taking back” the Panama Canal wasn’t appropriate at all. And, the low point came when he seems to have accused his “enemies” of being complicit in the assassination attempt against him.
At any rate, his critique against the status quo was stinging but also a bit disconcerting.
It is staggering to recall that things like securing the border, deporting criminals, government policy that there are only two genders, and judging people on their merits rather than their race and gender would have been uncontentious, if not trite, in earlier times.
Some good policies were mentioned (such as free speech) and there’s something infectious in his sure-footed optimism about the future he intends to bring about.
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A sad spectacle by the outgoing President Biden.
A last-minute wave of “preemptive” pardons issued by Biden to protect his family and some of Mr. Trump’s adversaries. These pardons are all part of partisan gamesmanship now.
Both parties scrounging for “oligarch” money (which the Democrats got more of than Trump). And yet, strangely, Biden - having pardoned his son for crimes yet to be uncovered - plays a pallid parody of Eisenhower’s warning about the MIC.
History will likely be the best judge of these people.
The Fauci pardon, however, is especially bizarre. The evidence is overwhelming about Fauci’s role in funding the virus creation, lying about its origins, orchestrating a cover-up, lying to Congress (infamous Ron Paul exchanges), then pushing the lies about the efficacy of the vaccines to the public. What reason do Democrats have to “protect” him? He was working on behalf of the Republicans. So, why do Democrats need to protect Fauci from investigation by Republicans?
Some joyous news today!!
So, today Hamas released hostages Romi Gonen, Emily Damari, and Doron Steinbrecher.
However, I also feel that Israelis and Jews everywhere need some respite from the psychological toll that the hostages situation has had.
I am especially delighted as Emily Damari is a fellow Brit.
My heart goes out to all those who have lost their homes and loved ones.
And all the people trying to get their lives back together.
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I saw this breathtaking photo a few days ago on the NYT.
My God. It makes your heart stop.
