Israel

The usual stuff. For anybody interested in Israel/Hamas, there is 'Writing on Israel?' plus some sideways comments below.

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Among sayings that can be thrown at armchair commentators on the Israel/Hamas conflict, the most striking one for me comes from the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein:

'Wherof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent'.

I am slightly above the bottom rung of those entitled to comment. I have personal connections to the Jewish community, and did a Masters dissertation on the intersection of law and history in relation to the Holocaust.

It was just a few bars of a song, but I recognised the song. The occasion was news of the death of Robbie Robertson, guitarist and songwriter of The Band. 

Once upon a time I was promised, or thought I had been promised, a certain position. The promise was not fulfilled, and I was miffed. During supper one evening  with a friend I explained my miffedness. My friend rejoined that I had made the mistake of believing that someone meant what they had said. He pointed out more precisely that in life people do make promises on which they don't deliver.