John Searle’s commentary on the community survey (AJN 15) is a study in how to say as little as possible in 800 words. One brief section, however, demands attention.
Along with the expected motherhood statements that pepper his piece, Searle also indulges in frantic dissimulation.
To give the appearance of responsive governance, Searle concedes that certain areas [...]
Sep
9
2009
9
2009
Sep
8
2009
8
2009
AJN 3 – John Searle: A Very Bizarre Suggestion
Sep
6
2009
6
2009
AJN 2 – Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals, Transgenders… Oh My!
In some places, homosexuality is a crime. In some places, it is punishable by death.
In the Melbourne Jewish community, it’s a veritable paradise for, “such people.” They can do what they like in the privacy of their own homes, just as long as they don’t try to join the communal roof body, the JCCV. Jewish [...]
Sep
6
2009
6
2009
AJN 1 – Transforming Trauma: Congratulations Nomi Blum
Nomi Blum has won the B’nai B’rith Bernard Lustig scholarship (AJN, page 12), which enabled her to take part in a Monash intensive course in South Africa and Rwanda to study apartheid and genocide.
In itself, winning this scholarship was a commendable achievement. What struck me as particularly interesting, was Blum’s personal path to this academic [...]
Sep
3
2009
3
2009
Sep
2
2009
2
2009
The Community Survey: Civil Discussion, the “Volunteer” Canard, and Intimidation
Yesterday, Mum and I attended the afternoon session of Andrew Marcus’s discussion of the community survey, at Monash University.
I urge everyone who can, to get hold of a copy of the survey results. At the presentation, we were also offered “Key Findings from the 2006 Census” on Victoria’s Jews, collated by Markus and Tanya Aronov.
Markus’s [...]
Sep
2
2009
2
2009
SJ on The Shtick
I just had a look at The Shtick on Youtube.
Some wonderful interviewers asked me some really great questions. If you didn’t catch The Shtick on Channel 31, go to Youtube and watch it there.
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Sep
2
2009
2
2009
Notice: New Moderation Setting
Hi everyone.
As many of you know, this blog has been plagued by trolls, flamers, and other nutty types since its inception.
I will be writing at greater length today about discourse, debate and intimidation in the community (using yesterday’s presentation of the community survey as a very positive example of how Jews can discuss important matters [...]
Sandilands, The Holocaust, and our Leaders’ Response:The Smart, The Stupid, and The Very, Very Ugly
Kyle Sandilands is the product of a commercial media environment that has abandoned even the pretence of caring about public decency. Only the threat of advertising dollar withdrawal seems to have any power to influence his management.
The appalling treatment on air of a teenage rape victim should have been indication enough that this was a [...]