Here is a really good discussion between Ezra Klein and Philippe Sands about Gaza and genocide: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/13/opinion/ezra-klein-podcast-philippe-sands.html
Sands pretty much has the same position I have: it is pretty clear that it is genocide but endlessly debating the matter is a distraction from the daily horror and might even be counterproductive. Obviously, nobody cares what I think and why should they, but Sands, as both a prominent human rights lawyer and author of several books on the matter, including one about the "inventors " of the words "genocide" and "crimes against humanity", has a bit more weight to throw around.
A propos de rien: Hannah Arendt seems to be all the rage in certain circles of the US intelligentsia, which is great since we need eclectic but sharp and principled thinkers now more than ever, but please learn how to pronounce her name correctly: the stress is on the the first syllable, not the second.
Why learn, if there is an instant translator?
I don't see that happening in complex, real-life contexts. It's hard enough to make sense of people in one's native language sometimes, lol.
I don't think subjugated peoples or immigrants are relevant examples. You are talking about e.g. the French not speaking French anymore - that's never going to happen because language is so closely tied to indentity and culture, but also practically speaking you would have to change all the laws etc.
More generally, you would have to imagine (non-immigrant) parents speaking to their babies in a language other than their mother tongue. Unless we are a talking about an actual genocide, I don't think that's going to happen either.
Finally, people routinely overestimate the quantity and quality of proficiency in English in other countries. This is understandable because usually those making such assumptions tend to interact only with a highly educated subset of the population of those countries, thus skewing the picture.
I have the suspicion that English will eventually end up as the world language. There will no doubt be long and bitter fights to preserve the national language. But they will, in eventual history, be seen as futile fighting tetreats.
Sorry if I misunderstand you, but are you saying that the use of national languages in the native countries will disappear or be reduced? I don't think that would be realistic.
I know that the mainstream Dem attitude is that all this conspiracy crap is bad and should not be encouraged
I just don't get the Dems sometimes. Just because there are people who turn this into a wild conspiracy story that can be used for partisan purposes doesn't mean that there is no there there.
It was the same with the sexual assault allegations against Clinton. A more principled attitude would be beneficial.
Ok,here's the thing with my reluctance to have a bipartisan kumbayah here: I am unwilling to discuss the merits of bombing people to bits and that's what many to the right of me seem to have a rather high tolerance for.
Apart from this I'm actually quite a middle of the road social democrat, it's just that the Overton window seems to have shifted massively during the past 25 years.
I have to admit that I only remember Paul McCartney secretly rerecording Ringo's drum track in the studio at night - is that true? And stills from the film were Ringo plays a caveman or something. But he seems to be a nice guy.
Hilzoy, Katherine (who did pro bono work for detainees) and Publius who probably wouldn't be put in a Iraq war hawk box
These three were definitely not hawks.
I think the general consensus was that Afghanistan was the necessary war. And people were quite positive about Libya, at least initially - because of Obama/Clinton.
I am talking about having conversations with people who would excuse every atrocity and defend the use of torture. It's quite similar to the positions taken regarding the Gaza war now.
Besides the actual torture apologists there were those who grandly conceded that torture is wrong, but strongly justfied blowing scores of people to bits in the name of freedom a la "you have to destroy the village to save it". I'm glad those people left.
What CaseyL said. To me, it's just not worth the bother anymore.
But let's also remember that the good old days were those of the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya.
I'm perfectly happy to haggle with wj on occasion, though :)
*Comment archive for non-registered commenters assembled by email address as provided.
On “Giving Away the Store”
nous, lol
"
Here is a really good discussion between Ezra Klein and Philippe Sands about Gaza and genocide:
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/13/opinion/ezra-klein-podcast-philippe-sands.html
Sands pretty much has the same position I have: it is pretty clear that it is genocide but endlessly debating the matter is a distraction from the daily horror and might even be counterproductive. Obviously, nobody cares what I think and why should they, but Sands, as both a prominent human rights lawyer and author of several books on the matter, including one about the "inventors " of the words "genocide" and "crimes against humanity", has a bit more weight to throw around.
A propos de rien: Hannah Arendt seems to be all the rage in certain circles of the US intelligentsia, which is great since we need eclectic but sharp and principled thinkers now more than ever, but please learn how to pronounce her name correctly: the stress is on the the first syllable, not the second.
On “The law of the letter”
Why learn, if there is an instant translator?
I don't see that happening in complex, real-life contexts. It's hard enough to make sense of people in one's native language sometimes, lol.
"
I don't think subjugated peoples or immigrants are relevant examples. You are talking about e.g. the French not speaking French anymore - that's never going to happen because language is so closely tied to indentity and culture, but also practically speaking you would have to change all the laws etc.
More generally, you would have to imagine (non-immigrant) parents speaking to their babies in a language other than their mother tongue. Unless we are a talking about an actual genocide, I don't think that's going to happen either.
Finally, people routinely overestimate the quantity and quality of proficiency in English in other countries. This is understandable because usually those making such assumptions tend to interact only with a highly educated subset of the population of those countries, thus skewing the picture.
"
I have the suspicion that English will eventually end up as the world language. There will no doubt be long and bitter fights to preserve the national language. But they will, in eventual history, be seen as futile fighting tetreats.
Sorry if I misunderstand you, but are you saying that the use of national languages in the native countries will disappear or be reduced? I don't think that would be realistic.
On “Your Schadenfreude monitoring open thread”
I know that the mainstream Dem attitude is that all this conspiracy crap is bad and should not be encouraged
I just don't get the Dems sometimes. Just because there are people who turn this into a wild conspiracy story that can be used for partisan purposes doesn't mean that there is no there there.
It was the same with the sexual assault allegations against Clinton. A more principled attitude would be beneficial.
On “An open thread on July 4th”
Ok,here's the thing with my reluctance to have a bipartisan kumbayah here: I am unwilling to discuss the merits of bombing people to bits and that's what many to the right of me seem to have a rather high tolerance for.
Apart from this I'm actually quite a middle of the road social democrat, it's just that the Overton window seems to have shifted massively during the past 25 years.
"
I have to admit that I only remember Paul McCartney secretly rerecording Ringo's drum track in the studio at night - is that true? And stills from the film were Ringo plays a caveman or something. But he seems to be a nice guy.
"
Hilzoy, Katherine (who did pro bono work for detainees) and Publius who probably wouldn't be put in a Iraq war hawk box
These three were definitely not hawks.
I think the general consensus was that Afghanistan was the necessary war. And people were quite positive about Libya, at least initially - because of Obama/Clinton.
I am talking about having conversations with people who would excuse every atrocity and defend the use of torture. It's quite similar to the positions taken regarding the Gaza war now.
Besides the actual torture apologists there were those who grandly conceded that torture is wrong, but strongly justfied blowing scores of people to bits in the name of freedom a la "you have to destroy the village to save it". I'm glad those people left.
"
How did you figure that out again, Charles? Thanks.
"
What CaseyL said. To me, it's just not worth the bother anymore.
But let's also remember that the good old days were those of the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya.
I'm perfectly happy to haggle with wj on occasion, though :)
*Comment archive for non-registered commenters assembled by email address as provided.