Date Posted:20:14:23 12/10/02 Tue Author: JLW Subject: Re: Amiri Baraka and the great Jewish debate In reply to:
jp
's message, "Re: Amiri Baraka and the great Jewish debate" on 18:29:12 12/10/02 Tue
I also believe that it's obvious that he implicates Jews in the WTC attack, but I also think that he does not distinguish between Jews and white people and blames that whole group for all the evil in the world, which is so obviously rediculous that I'm surprised someone so closed minded and racist could achieve the position of New Jersey's poet laureate and even more surprised that everyone didn't just laugh him and his poem off as the ignorant simplistic dribble that it is.
I agree with Colin that we are all responsible for the evil in the world, not just white people, however, I don't think this was the message of the poem. I didn't see any mention of any of the crimes perpetrated by black people or asians or latinos or muslims. There's no WHO forces women to hide their bodies against their will and denies the education.
White people are certainly guilty of crimes against humanity, but they are not the answer to the question of WHO is evil. Evil has nothing to do with race, unless you consider the evil perpetuated by ongoing racism, which this poem is a perfect example of.
>Hi Colin,
>
>>You are entitled to your opinion,
>
>I would hope that would go without saying.
>
>> but do you really
>>think that he was saying that there was one evil in
>>the world. I take his poem as a wake-up call to the
>>way we as humans are treating ourselves, not as a
>>pointing of the finger. He points the finger at
>>everyone. I do not think that the poem is un america
>>either, which some people believe. I think that he is
>>honestly looking at history and saying who.
>>
>>and i think that the answer is us. everyone.
>
>Not to speak for JLW, but yes, I really think he was
>saying that there is one great evil in the world. I
>don't think he actually believes that. I think he was
>saying it in order to gain notoriety. But whether I'm
>wrong or right on that point, the poem accuses the
>great "WHO" of warning Sharon to stay away from New
>York, saving Israelis from the World Trade Center
>attack, and, most blatantly, looking like Jesus.
>
>"Everyone" doesn't fit the description. Only an
>international Zionist conspiracy could pull off the
>things Baraka accuses "WHO" of doing. Whether or not
>Baraka believes in such a conspiracy, he surely wants
>us to.
