George's - Writings

  I saw these three amazing films over two consecutive days (the first two at the Chicago International Film Festival!    They were for me a rich, most disturbing films that exposed the realities of the Genocide in Gaza in very different ways! Between Worlds surprisingly brought by far the most tears! Edward Wadie Said [a] (1 November 1935 – 24 September 2003) was a Palestinian and American academic, literary critic, and political activist. [1] As a professor of literature at Columbia University , he was among the founders of post-colonial studies . [2] As a cultural critic , Said is best known for his book Orientalism (1978), a foundational text which critiques the cultural representations that are the bases of Orientalism —how the Western world perceives the Orient . [3] [4] [5] [6]   … Halleran: "Professor Said, do the Zionists have any historical claim to the lands of Israel?" Said: "Of course! But I would not say that the Jewish claim, or the Z...

I, GEORGE, AN AMERICAN JEW APPROACHING OCTOBER 7 (2026) I never imagined that October 7, 2023 would have turned into a defining moment for many fellow American Jews, including myself.    I knew there would be killing, including mass killing.   I didn’t imagine that it would become THE GENOCIDE (or “The Kristallnacht”) for fellow Jews. Many American Jews, from our twenties to eighties feel deeply victimized, in ways that a generation earlier suffered, related to The Holocaust. Being Jewish means slightly different (at best) things to each of us.   I met K my first week at The University of Wisconsin in September, 1969.    We share an Anti-Zionist perspective, along with other things such as a love of men’s college basketball, and jazz music. He recently told me that it was only since October 7 th , that he really deeply rejected the notion that being one of “the chosen people” meant that he was “better” than non-Jews.    For me, the wor...

  There are a growing number of excellent films about October 7 th and its aftermath.    The Voice of Hind Rajab recreates the dramatic story of a five year old girl desperately trying to save herself, as others do their best to prevent the horrible death she faced.    All That’s Left of You is a great fictional film portraying three generations of men dealing with the horrors they faced as Israel evolved into and as an independent state.    Holding Liat is a moving documentary film focused upon the family members of Liat Beinin Atzilli, who was a hostage, and their varying views of what happened on and after October 7 th , 2023. For me, having first heard of American Doctor last night, and watched it in a theater this afternoon, I was simply stunned by the horror(s) and deep insights of this incredible film!!   The film is direct, brutally honest and clearly showing the realities that I see related to the targeting of hospitals, children a...