Special Edition #2 : Claire Berlinski and Judith Levy
Blue Yeti ·
February 2, 2011 at 2:10am
Claire Berlinski in Istanbul and Judith Levy in Israel reunite to discuss unfolding events in the Middle East with National Review writer/Ricochet Guest Contributor Matthew Shaffer and take questions from Ricochet members.
You can use this direct link to listen to the podcast, or grab it from iTunes.
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Comments:
Sep '10
Re: Special Edition #2 : Claire Berlinski and Judith Levy
I really enjoyed it. Please tell us its a regular feature.
Jun '10
Re: Special Edition #2 : Claire Berlinski and Judith Levy
Thank you Claire, Judith, and Matt for your commentary. Allow me to pile on with what I know even as I admit I'm probably 90% ignorant of the current situation.
I know that a middle class exists in Egypt. I've been invited into their homes. I have dined with them, I've talked with them, and I've even provided sanctuary here in the US for their sons who wish to migrate. I don't know how big they are as a socio-economic group, but they understand classical liberalism and democracy. My hope and prayer is that they will rise to meet this challenge.
I know something of Israel, too. Israeli pluralism granted citizenship to loyal Arabs. The Druze were made welcome. The Israelis went out of their way to rescue the Ethiopian Falasha. And the Russian Jews were given sanctuary during a mass exodus. I think the Copts will make good Israeli citizens.
Israel is not the problem in this region. Israel is the solution. Godspeed.
May '10
Re: Special Edition #2 : Claire Berlinski and Judith Levy
Does it matter, democratically, that 20% of Egyptians can't read? Well, considering that only 50% of eligible voters in America actually vote, I have to wonder who votes in Egypt. I strongly doubt that the demographics of active voters (in any country) closely resemble those of the voters who stay at home. Illiterate people probably are easier to control, though. One must also consider how prevalent voter fraud is.
Dec '10
Re: Special Edition #2 : Claire Berlinski and Judith Levy
In Michigan, when voting, one need not select one's candidates individually. There is a place on the ballot to vote the straight Republican or Democratic ticket.
A few years back there was an effort to change this. Predictably, the Democrats resisted. They did not put it this way, but what their arguments against the change came down to was it was unfair because people who vote the straight Democratic ticket were more stupid, more easily confused, less well-informed and lazier than those who vote Republican.
I had to admit they had a point.
In Michigan, literacy is not required to vote. You just need to be able to distinguish an R from a D. They will give you enough money after you vote to get good and drunk.
Sep '10
Re: Special Edition #2 : Claire Berlinski and Judith Levy
Very informative podcast. Thanks. And yes, regarding my question, I did mean in the world. In history. Not well phrased. Thanks for trying to offer comment.
Jul '10
Re: Special Edition #2 : Claire Berlinski and Judith Levy
The great thing about the podcasts is that they do not have to assume a third grade comprehension level, the way the mass dissemination product does. Bravo!
Jan '11
Re: Special Edition #2 : Claire Berlinski and Judith Levy
Thank you very much for another excellent podcast. I can't remember if it was Claire or Judith who mentioned a study about the correlation between food prices and social unrest. Is this study available online, and if so could either of you please link it here?
Again, thank you very much and I hope you'll do more of these podcasts as the events in Egypt progress.
(This is my first post/comment here - Hello to everyone from Iceland).
May '10
Re: Special Edition #2 : Claire Berlinski and Judith Levy
Welcome aboard, Bjarni, and other newcomers.
I agree. I hope Claire and Judith do this as often as is convenient for them. Hopefully, it's cathartic.
Jun '10
Re: Special Edition #2 : Claire Berlinski and Judith Levy
Question for next podcast: What about Syria? A new acquaintance of mine from Syria was saying last week that what is happening in Egypt would not happen in Syria. Then, yesterday, the WSJ wrote about a Facebook page calling for a day of rage, Feb. 4, in Syria. What do you know about this? What might we make of it? Thank you.
May '10
Re: Special Edition #2 : Claire Berlinski and Judith Levy
Another wonderful podcast. I agree with others who suggest making this a regular feature. And thank you so much for addressing my questions. Very helpful.
Re: Special Edition #2 : Claire Berlinski and Judith Levy
Bjarni Olafsson: ...a study about the correlation between food prices and social unrest. Is this study available online, and if so could either of you please link it here?
(This is my first post/comment here - Hello to everyone from Iceland).
Bjarni, welcome! Here's the UN Food and Agriculture Organization's Food Price Index, an NPR report that interprets the index data to show how rising food prices can topple governments, and a piece on Good Food that references the NPR report. Good Food also links to this piece in Foreign Policy on tensions over food prices in Egypt. FP points out that "Four people have reportedly been killed thus far in social unrest related to the bread crisis" -- and this was back in 2008.
Re: Special Edition #2 : Claire Berlinski and Judith Levy
It's a privilege and a pleasure. Thank you for listening.
Jan '11
Re: Special Edition #2 : Claire Berlinski and Judith Levy
Thank you Judith for the links. Recently we have been writing a bit about food prices and commodities generally in my paper and this is a big help.
May '10
Re: Special Edition #2 : Claire Berlinski and Judith Levy
Hi Bjarni, I'm always thrilled to see people from other parts of the world participating in Ricochet. I spent four days in Reykjavik back in the late '80s. I hope you don't mind, but I have a question for you. My experience then was that very few people spoke English, not even enough to steer me to the right bus stop. In other parts of Europe I could at least seek out the young people and be assured they spoke enough English to communicate. So, Iceland seemed to be quite different in that regard.
So, if I'm correct about this, I assume all international news must be filtered by multi-linguists and then translated into Icelandic. Am I correct? How well does it translate and what do the Icelandic people think about the instability and unrest in the Middle East? Thank you. By the way, you have a beautiful country with a fascinating geography and excellent hospitality.
Jan '11
Re: Special Edition #2 : Claire Berlinski and Judith Levy
Hi Andrea. I'm too young to remember anything about how many Icelanders spoke good English in the 80's, as I was too busy riding bikes and building snow-houses - this being before anyone knew about Global Warming of course :)
Now, however, most people speak passable English and many people speak it quite well. We are well served in that there is no law requiring the dubbing of foreign films and television and films and TV shows from the US and UK are very popular. This, even more than formal education, has helped very much. In recent decades more and more people travel abroad for their graduate education and that has also led to a general increase in knowledge of languages.
That said, since all domestic-produced news media is in Icelandic, all foreign news is translated into Icelandic. The days of Morgunblaðið (my paper, think of it as the NYT of Iceland minus the left-wing agenda) deciding what the news is are thankfully over and informed readers are quick to correct any mistakes.
Thank you for the warm welcome, I knew I made the correct choice when I decided to join up :)
May '10
Re: Special Edition #2 : Claire Berlinski and Judith Levy
Bjarni Olafsson: Hi Andrea. I'm too young to remember anything about how many Icelanders spoke good English in the 80's, as I was too busy riding bikes and building snow-houses - this being before anyone knew about Global Warming of course :)
...
That said, since all domestic-produced news media is in Icelandic, all foreign news is translated into Icelandic. The days of Morgunblaðið (my paper, think of it as the NYT of Iceland minus the left-wing agenda) deciding what the news is are thankfully over and informed readers are quick to correct any mistakes.
Thank you for the warm welcome, I knew I made the correct choice when I decided to join up :)
Bjarni, thank you for taking the time to write back. That's interesting and makes sense. I'm sure you will really enjoy participating in Ricochet and you'll discover that the others are just as nice as me. :-) But, now I feel old. Just kidding...kind of. :-)
May '10
Re: Special Edition #2 : Claire Berlinski and Judith Levy
Bjarni Olafsson: Thank you very much for another excellent podcast. I can't remember if it was Claire or Judith who mentioned a study about the correlation between food prices and social unrest. Is this study available online, and if so could either of you please link it here?
Again, thank you very much and I hope you'll do more of these podcasts as the events in Egypt progress.
(This is my first post/comment here - Hello to everyone from Iceland). · Feb 2 at 1:40pm
1) There is a very good capsulized commentary on this, with graphs and with links, by Spengler in Asia Times; clearly he (real name David Goldman) is far more knowledgable and prescient than the entire US foreign policy establishment
2) Claire mentioned Egyptian illiteracy, and also the vulnerability to calls for change. I would remind Dr. Berlinski that the US has a pretty high literacy rate, and yet two years ago 53% of the population voted for the slogan "Hopen Change" with virtually no idea what that meant. Mass hypnosis and willful ignorance obtains everywhere.