December 10, 2005
"YES" MEN:
Iraq's Dr No says Yes to peace and democracy (Colin Freeman and Aqeel Hussein, 11/12/2005, Daily Telegraph)
As befits the holder of a doctorate in classical Arabic, Adnan al Duleimi is known as one of the more polished orators among Iraq's aspiring politicians. Yet his popularity in volatile Sunni districts is based on the stubborn repetition of a single word: La, or No.It was No to taking part in Iraq's historic elections last January and No in the constitution referendum. He is a firm No man on the continued presence of American troops. Such is his rejectionist record that the joke among Iraqis is that he would automatically decline a dinner invitation. But now, the man nicknamed Dr No is saying Yes.
Defying expectations, he has ended his boycott of the US-fostered political process and is campaigning in this week's elections for a new Iraqi government. [...]
The decision by the likes of Dr al Duleimi to embrace democracy, however tentatively, is a huge relief to coalition officials, who hope that some of the energy being channelled into Iraq's Sunni-led insurgency will now be diverted into peaceful politics. His Sunni Family party, along with several other Sunni coalitions, could win up to 25 per cent of the seats when the polls open on Thursday.
It is also a tacit admission by some Sunnis that their previous tactic of boycotting the elections in the hope of derailing the process entirely was a mistake, leaving the group that ruled absolutely under Saddam Hussein virtually powerless.
The question is whether they remain engaged if they don't win tha kind of representation. Posted by Orrin Judd at December 10, 2005 8:36 PM
Totally OT, but I tried to email and my system says it isn't a valid address.
I just happened to read an old post of yours concerning a book about the Biblical Jacob by a guy named Buechner.
Let me just say that it is ok to be a moron, but it is rather astonishing to advertise that fact.
Jacob's stories in the Bible are among the most thrilling, the most beautiful and the most intellectually challenging stories ever written. I just finished reading a lecture about why Esau asks for "red pottage" rather than just "pottage." Maybe the author/editor of the Bible wasn't paying attention and just threw in "red" for humor. Or maybe it has real meaning. There is a book called "God was in this place and I, i did not know it" by Rabbi Lawrence Kushner. The whole book is devoted to interpretations of that one phrase. And we haven't got to the ladder or to wrestling with ... well we're not exactly sure, could be God, could be an angel, could be himself. I don't mean to be overly harsh, well maybe I do, bu I simply do not know why more Christians don't spend a little time really learning the Bible, after all it was what Jesus would have studied and known.
Joe
Posted by: joe at December 10, 2005 9:01 PMI had a teacher who asked a pointed question in regard to the pottage story. How could Jacob have sold the meal for the birthright when the two boys were still residing in Isaac's home? It was Isaac's food - therefore, not Jacob's to sell.
If anyone is interested in his reply, I'll elaborate in another post.
Posted by: obc at December 10, 2005 11:09 PMThe teacher said that what Jacob did was to sell his service of pouring the stew - not the stew itself because it was not his to sell - thus denigrating Esau's value of the birthright even more. He sold it, not for the value of the food but for the much lesser value of having someone serve it up to him.
Posted by: obc at December 10, 2005 11:32 PMBack on topic ... we're winning the war. They are about to find out what kind of power or influence they truly have.
Posted by: jd watson![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://brothersjuddblog.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at December 11, 2005 4:55 AM
The Jacob stories are bothersome and always reward reflection. We just read Parashat Tol'dot in Temple. As the basis for a major religion, these are odd stories, as can be seen in the name given to the story in which Jacob receives Isaac's blessing: Jacob Deceitfully Acquires The Blessing. Genesis 27:1-28:9.
Posted by: David Cohen at December 11, 2005 1:17 PMDavid,
Some things to consider, Jacob bought the blessing from Esau, you really don't think Esau was near death, because it was important to him. It was not important to Esau. Rebecca understands how important it is that the blessing go through Jacob. That is because Jacob is the paradigm for Judaism, devout, spiritual, not reliant solely on his own brute strength, but rather one who also relies on God.
Joe
Posted by: joe at December 11, 2005 3:37 PMJoe, Jacob wrestled with the angel (the Lord?) until he got a blessing, if I remember right.
Posted by: jdkelly at December 11, 2005 5:12 PMJoe: There are two different things. Jacob barters for Esau's birthright and then tricks Isaac into giving him Isaac's blessing, which Isaac intended for Esau. The general take on this is that the "Narrator" and certainly the Rabbis blame Esau for so easily giving up his birthright, but blame Jacob for tricking Isaac.
Posted by: David Cohen at December 12, 2005 1:38 AM