tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88759862385027089.post3836714150456945141..comments2024-03-09T22:39:06.554+00:00Comments on ~ W a y m a r k s ~: What Is It Good For?Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641833714036731203noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88759862385027089.post-53147991988555305812016-02-27T13:35:26.552+00:002016-02-27T13:35:26.552+00:00"Dispatches by Michael Herr which I must read..."Dispatches by Michael Herr which I must read one day since it inspired Apocalypse Now." I should say part-inspired since Conrad might claim the primary inspiration! I have enjoyed articles on Open Democracy in the past so must follow them more. The London Review of Books is good with their essays providing deeper context. So much reading, so little time!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88759862385027089.post-39942538074649484142016-02-07T10:25:02.325+00:002016-02-07T10:25:02.325+00:00Thanks, Alex. I wish more of the media chose to em...Thanks, Alex. I wish more of the media chose to emphasize the kind of angle taken in the article you've linked. There certainly is a lot of good & positive things happening in the world today. I really dislike the tabloid-type of puppet-string-pulling media.<br /><br />And you are right, it's fascinating to look around the main issues to see/think about what & why some politicians think & act the way they do. Every now and then I find a surprising/unexpected glimmer of hope, e.g. - when General Pinochet was arrested in London; when Parliament voted against bombing Syria the first time around. But over all, I don't know how positive I can be, after all Tony Blair managed to ignore the UK's largest ever anti-war demonstration. I know it's always swings & roundabouts, or a pendulum repeatedly swinging back and forth, and in the end that's probably the best it can ever hope to be. But the key thing is to question and keep thinking, I feel. I worry a bit that critical thought is closing down or being significantly curbed right now.<br /><br />Thanks for the book recommendations, I'd not heard of these. I'll be sure to look them up. As for journalists & war correspondents, I don't mean to be down on all of them. Many do good work, that's one of the main reasons I follow other outlets such as the BBC's "From Our Own Correspondent"; Open Democracy; Isabel Hilton, & Timothy Garton Ash.Timhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11641833714036731203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88759862385027089.post-49158350876010447132016-02-06T13:39:16.909+00:002016-02-06T13:39:16.909+00:00Interesting and thoughtful post. I wonder whether ...Interesting and thoughtful post. I wonder whether there is actually a whiggish sense of progression but we think the world is worse is because of 24 hour media. Maybe things are slowly getting better or maybe that’s my naïve hope. 2015 seemed to be a terrible year yet a more optimistic outlook can be found on this article: <br />https://medium.com/future-crunch/11-reasons-why-2015-was-a-great-year-for-humanity-70db584db748#.ue4bdvvhl<br /><br />The problem is too many people like war and make money out of it. I remember the first time Cameron wanted to bomb Syria and Parliament stopped him. Whatever the rights and wrongs of the argument for bombing what was distasteful and illuminating was the excitement, self-importance and self-interest amongst politicians, the military and reporters that there could be military action. Everyone was watching them, they were running on adrenaline, ego and excitement. There was palpable disappointment when Parliament said no, not because of the rights and wrongs but because they wanted their war for their needs more than for a moral purpose<br /><br />For the reason why people, including war correspondents and aid workers, try and find their war read My War Gone By, I Miss It So by Anthony Lloyd. Grim but fascinating and similar territory to Dispatches by Michael Herr which I must read one day since it inspired Apocalypse Now. You may have read them already!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com