JOE DOLCE NEWSLETTER
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Friday January 9th, 2009
A Baby Tooth for a Baby Tooth
"How far you go in life depends on your being
tender with the young, compassionate with the aged,
sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and strong.
Because someday in your life you will have been all of these."
George Washington Carver
Hi folks,
Imagine this scenario. Right next door to you lives a terrorist. One night, he slips over one suburb from you and blows up a K-mart. You are outraged. Horrified. All those innocent people killed. In retaliation, while you are at work, the city council drops a bomb on your neighbour’s house, killing everyone in it, including the terrorist, plus everyone in your house, including your partner, your mother and father, and all of your children. But you are ok with this because the Mayor tells you that justice is being done. At the funeral of your parents, partner and children, speaking from the pulpit, you strongly defend the right of the council to do this and express gratitude to the government for protecting our streets.
Does that sound like something you could see yourself doing? Something you would understand and encourage?
Of course not.
To defend the attacks by Israel in the Gaza strip, where there have been over 600 deaths – one hundred of them children - and 2000 wounded - where almost HALF THE CASUALTIES ARE CIVILIANS - is equally outrageous. If Israeli forces are indeed targeting only Hamas targets, what’s wrong with this picture?
It’s hard to visualize 100 dead children. The death of John Travolta’s son this week was shocking news – did the horror of that sink in? - something no one would wish on their most irritating neighbour. Now imagine the deaths of the children of EVERY major movie star in Hollywood. Front page news. Now visualize the 100 dead children in Palestine. Of course, they’re not movie stars - but they’re still children.
The Tanakh or Old Testament decrees, ‘An Eye for an Eye, and a Tooth for a Tooth,’ but where does it say ‘A Baby Tooth for a Baby Tooth’? Only cowards, brutal gangsters and weak politicians kill an enemy’s families in reprisal for them killing ours.
People of true honour and humanity follow a different code. Honour used to mean something. The old saying, Death Before Dishonour has become Dishonour Before Death.
Where are the hundreds of trained Mossad Special Forces soldiers, paid for by millions of Israeli tax dollars, who are supposed to go in there covertly, gather GOOD intelligence, locate the bad guys and surgically remove them? I thought the Israelis were experts at this kind of thing? The Nazi war criminals in Argentina and Paraguay. The Munich terrorists. Four or five man teams. Counter-terrorism. The so-called surgical strikes. What kind of modern surgical practice is Israel teaching all these doctors that the Jewish mamas want their daughters to marry? Exactly how many years of medical school is required to remove a kidney stone with a Merkeva tank?
It is unacceptable to justify self-defense with wholesale murder against non-combatants. It is dishonourable.
‘Follow the money.’
No matter what these hawkish governments tell us, it usually always has to do with theft and robbery. What’s being stolen and who’s being robbed? (It’s the land, stupid!) Those are the right and insightful questions to ask. The rest is moral smoke and mirrors.
If anyone has the burning need to rationalize why it is necessary for Israel to be doing what they are doing to innocent and ordinary people like me and you to achieve their goals of self-preservation of innocent and ordinary people like me and you, please re-read the first paragraph above and put yourself and YOUR family in the scenario and then honestly tell me that you approve of this. If you want to send me your arguments, for publication, please reassure me straight up that you would be ok with having your own children murdered in the name of your own self-defense. Then we can have a discussion.
Also on this theme, I have included down below an interview, "Crash Course on the Arab Israeli Conflict," with ex-Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, which demonstrates the true territorial foundation of the conflict, and an original work-in-progress titled ‘Israel et Palestine’, in Hebrew and Arabic, around the theme of mater dolorosa, where the true sorrowful mother is the common ground, with lyrics, English translations and a rough demo of a section of the music.
Please Note: The newsletter will be on Holiday Break next week.
SHADDAP YOU FACE vs THE TERMINATOR
I’ve had some of my music acknowledged on the front page of the Melbourne Herald Sun AND preserved for all eternity by the US Library of Congress - on the same day! Not a bad start to 2009 . . .
‘Thug Attacks Legend’
I saw that in the headlines of last Friday’s Herald Sun. Down at the bottom of the front page was my picture under this byline:
‘Aussie Shockers: 15 Worst Songs of All Time.’
I thought at first the headline, ‘Thug Attacks Legend,’ referred to the maligning of my song ‘Shaddap You Face’, by reviewer Cameron Adams, who included it in this end-of-year list but it actually was referring to the bashing of football legend, Ron Barassi, by some street hoodlums. What Adams actually wrote about Shaddap You Face was slightly kinder:
“Debate rages whether this – one of Australia’s most successful songs ever – is pop genius, or insanely annoying. Try listening to it 10 times over.”
“Pop genius, or insanely annoying . . ” – so why not both at the same time? Mate, get with the program: listening to anything ten times in a row is annoying - BUT if you were drunk on grappa, or stoned on acid, it might be far out.
Who makes up these friggin’ end-of-year ‘Best of . . . Worst of . .’ lists anyway? And by what authority vested in them?
Is anyone with the CV of a writer such as Cameron Adams sufficiently educated to determine what constitutes the Top 15 of ANYTHING for ALL TIME? Surely not. Surely there must have been some clunkers in the 20s and 30s that would have taken priority, not to mention in Mozart or Beethoven’s time, or the Viking period. (‘I’d Love to Have a Mead With Olaf,’ or something of that nature.)
Still, it feels good to make the front pages again!
On a different note, the great sci-fi film, ‘The Terminator’, has been included as one of 25 movies listed for preservation, along with The Asphalt Jungle, Deliverance, The Invisible Man and In Cold Blood, for cultural, historic and aesthetic significance, by the US Library of Congress no less! Lin Van Hek and I co-wrote the song, ‘Intimacy’, for ‘The Terminator.’ It appears in an early scene where Arnold ‘Adolf’ Svartzenburger scrunches the headphones of one of the mistaken Sarah Connors he found listed in the phone book. He shoots her while she’s bopping away to our song, in her underwear, in the kitchen. Much better than a fadeout.
FYI, Here’s what Bill Moyers has to say about ‘end of year’ lists.
Making "Duck Soup" Out of 2009
by Bill Moyers and Michael Winship
As 2008 ends and this New Year begins, with all its fledgling promise despite turmoil and crisis, it's also that time when the media offers its lists of ten best or worst this and that of the previous year, an exercise that simultaneously entertains and infuriates.
Forced at knifepoint to make such lists, at least ours would be a little different. One would be favorite headlines of the year from The Onion, the hilarious weekly that doesn't bill itself as "America's finest news source" for nothing...
Some of the ones we liked best:
⁃ $700 billion bailout celebrated with lavish $800 billion executive party.
⁃ GM covered with giant tarp until it has money to work on cars again.
⁃ American Airlines now charging fees to non-passengers.
⁃ China recalls everything.
⁃ Housing crisis vindicates guy who still lives with parents.
⁃ Factual error found on internet.
Of course, the problem The Onion's editors have is that reality too often resembles parody. Take the story of Chip Saltsman, the guy campaigning to be chairman of the Republican National Committee by promoting himself with a CD featuring a song called, "Barack, the Magic Negro." That ditty, you'll recall, was made famous on Rush Limbaugh's minstrel show, as sung by an Al Sharpton impersonator. Even The Onion couldn't come up with that one. (more)
http://www.truthout.org/010309J
Barack, the Magic Negro:
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=8-Bao4VUQmI&feature=related
FAVOURITE LETTERS OF THE WEEK
Dear Mr Dolce,
Our names are Sharlene and Claire, we are both 15 and are huge fans of your music.
We love your new album, The Wind Cry’s Mary, but our favourite song is Shaddap Your Face.
We especially enjoy watching your performance on The Countdown Show with Molly Meldrum.
We would love it if you could reply to our email, we’d love to know how you got the inspiration for Shaddap Your Face.
Thanks for taking the time to read our email, we understand you are very busy.
Yours Sincerely, Your Loyal New Zealand fans, Sharlene and Claire
(Note: Folks, I love it when kids the age of my grandchildren write me! Well, Sharlene and Claire, I’m impressed that you got into The Wind Cries Mary. As for the inspiration for Shaddap, although I talk about my mama in the song a lot, the actual inspiration – other than Chico Marx – was my brother’s mother-in-law, Rose. I saw her again a few months ago and it all came back to me. I hadn’t been home for several years and was having dinner over Rose’s house, in their basement, as Italians do, and everyone was talking in broken english, which I hadn’t heard for years, as I had been a hippy living in Berkeley, California, and I thought . . . hmmmmmm . . . I should write a song with all that in it. So I did. Hey! Here's a pic of me and Rose.)
Merry Christmas Joe,
I just found you on YouTube while listening to your Christmas Album. Great stuff! I go to the local American Legion Post here in Canton, MA, every now and then. There's an old Italian man who loves it when I sing "Shaddap You Face". Hope all is well down under. Gary Titus, USA.
http://www.djgarytitus.com
Joe,
Re: St Matthew’s Passion, by JS Bach.
Mine is the Mass in B-minor, to which I re-turn every New Year's or Christmas, usually - altho I love and revere the St. Matthew, too. Do you know the St. John? Punchier than the Matthew - younger, maybe. . . . . Newt Wayland
Thanks Joe as ever, for a great read.
I enjoyed reading the tour-de-force from Lee Iacocca again (do you recall me mailing it you about 4 months ago?).
Also one other thing: please tell Ann Wright (re her Pinter piece) that the Nobel Prize for Literature is not handed out in Oslo.
Wrong country. Tis Stockholm.
Of the annual Nobel prizes, only the PEACE Prize gets handed out in Norway.
(Mind you, I would submit that Pinter was more deserving of the Peace Prize than the Literature one. To me he was a far greater MAN than he was a writer... and that is saying SOMETHING as he was a writer of real ability.)
While being a trifle pedantic, let me mention your claim that one particular work won Mahfouz his Nobel. Did it? Indeed, CAN it?
As I understood it, the Nobel Prize for Literature is always given for a BODY of work by an author (as opposed to the Chemistry and Physics prizes that can be awarded for a single BREAKTHROUNGH like the discovery of DNA).
But, who cares? I certainly don't. I only mention because I know you to be someone who strives to get things accurate.
As you showed in your recent splendid CD.
Kindest, David "Dai" Woosnam
35 Woodrow Park
Scartho
Grimsby
DN33 2EF
UK
daigress@hotmail.com
Hi Joe,
Happy New Year!
You may already be aware of this link for Kavisha Mazzella’s Women's Anthem [Love and Justice] - which Lois sang in - performed in November 2008 to mark 100 years of women's’ suffrage in Victoria . I think it is a fine work and you may like to include this link in a future newsletter.
Cheers and ciao! David and Lois
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HpCmdLRuF8
Aussie Wool Ban
Australian farmers have been dealt another blow with an Asian clothing giant joining the growing global boycott of Australian wool.South Korea-based Kukdong Corporation, a manufacturer and distributor of the Pierre Cardin, NAFNAF and Jack & Jill brands, announced it is "committed to eliminating Australian wool from our supply chain completely". Kukdong is opposed to Australian wool farmers' use of the controversial technique of mulesing and joins retail giants Nike, Gap, Marks & Spence, Hugo Boss, Abercrombie & Fitch, Timberland, H&M, American Eagle, Columbia Sports Wear and Liz Claiborne in the protest. US-based animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has led the global ban. (article)
http://news.smh.com.au/world/retail-giant-announces-aussie-wool-ban-20090106-7apk.html
(Note: Mulesing is the surgical removal of strips of wool-bearing skin from around the breech (buttocks) of a sheep. Mulesing is common practice in Australia as a way to reduce the incidence of flystrike on Merino sheep in regions where flystrike is common. Mulesing is a controversial topic with many different opinions. The National Farmers Federation says that "Mulesing remains the most effective practical way to eliminate the risk of ‘flystrike’ in sheep" and "that without mulesing up to 3,000,000 sheep a year could die a slow and agonising death from flystrike." The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) recognises the welfare implications of mulesing of sheep. However, the AVA advocates that alternatives for preventing breech strike, should be sought as part of a humane sheep husbandry procedure. The animal welfare organisation Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals opposes the practice. The animal rights organisation PETA strongly opposes mulesing, says the practice is cruel and painful, and that more humane alternatives exist. In early November, 2004, representatives of the Australian wool industry met and voted to phase out the practice of mulesing in Australia by 31 December 2010. Mulesing is already being phased out in New Zealand. from Wikipedia)
What I’m Reading This Week
The Ruins, by Scott Smith. ‘Simply the best suspense novel of this year – hell, of the 1990s.” Stephen King. That was enough for me. I trust King’s recommendations. His comments on the cover of ‘The Red Dragon,’ which I discovered in the airport, led to one of the best books of this type I have ever read. (Years later, of course, three films were made about Hannibal the Cannibal. Still, none of them touches the first book.) King has annual recommendations listed on his website and I always check them out. The Ruins, while not in ‘The Red Dragon’ league, is definitely a thrilling ride. Tourists stumble into an off-the-map vine-covered Aztec temple and discover, too late, that it is kept quarantined by the local tribes people because of something there. Creepy.
What I’m Watching This Week
The Ruins, directed by Carter Smith. Don’t read this if you want to see the film or read the book. OK? Spoilers. I warned you. I liked the film except for the cheap screaming teen beginning. It remains faithful to the book except for one key element. The film allows one of the tourists to escape at the end. The book doesn’t. Ben Stiller produced this and you can just see them saying how they have to leave the audience with some hope. Personally, no one should have been allowed to escape as they were all a danger to the larger population. The natives had the right idea.
Nina Simone, live at Ronnie Scott’s. Tragic dvd of the great singer in a 80s live performance, but just a shell of her former incomparable self from substance abuse, but still possessing enough magic to make you weep.
The Good Night, written and directed by Jake Paltrow. Starring sister Gwyneth Paltrow and Penelope Cruz. An adaptation of a 2006 French Film, The Science of Sleep (La Science des Reve). A once popular pop musician, now a jingle writer, is in an unhappy relationship but develops an meaningful affair with a girl he only finds in his dreams while he’s asleep. Until one day, he actually meets the dream girl in real life. A very funny and insightful look into the difference between real love and fantasy love – sometimes hitting too close to the bone for comfort!
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, directed by David Fincher, with Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett and Tilda Swinton. Based on the short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Acclaimed story of a man born as an old baby of eighty real years who gradually becomes younger each year he is alive. Almost sci-fi. He meets a young girl of 8 who grows older while he grows younger until they catch up with each other. Then they start to go the other way. Interesting twist on the young-old love story scenario. The film could have been an hour shorter and a lot punchier but still worth seeing. Here’s the original short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald for free online. I recommend both it and the film for an interesting screenwriting study on how to turn a 24 page yarn into a three hour movie, with a dozen new subplots and characters that aren’t even in the original story!
http://www.readbookonline.net/read/690/10628/
Stop-Loss, directed by Kimberly Pierce, starring Ryan Phillippe . Decorated Iraq war hero Sgt. Brandon King makes a celebrated return to his small Texas hometown following his tour of duty. He tries to resume the life he left behind. Then, against Brandon's will, the Army orders him back to duty in Iraq, under a sneaky fineprint clause known as Stop-Loss, which upends his world. The conflict tests everything he believes in: the bond of family, the loyalty of friendship, the limits of love and the value of honor. Engrossing and enlightening! But obviously made by the Right as you will see by the unsatisfactory ending.
Army ‘Stop-loss’ Orders Up Dramatically Over Last Year
By Julian E. Barnes
The number of soldiers forced to remain in the Army involuntarily under the military’s controversial “stop-loss” program has risen sharply since the Pentagon extended combat tours last year, officials said Thursday. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates was briefed about the program by Army officials who said that thousands of new stop-loss orders were issued to keep soldiers from leaving the service after Gates ordered combat tours extended from 12 to 15 months last spring. The Army has resorted to involuntary extensions of soldiers’ enlistment terms to prevent them from leaving immediately before a combat tour or in the middle of a deployment.
Army officials have argued that the policy is necessary to ensure that they are not forced to send inadequately trained soldiers and unprepared units into war.
However, many soldiers subjected to the stop-loss policy consider it a backdoor draft. Critics argue that once soldiers have completed the enlistment period they agreed to, they should be allowed to return home. (article)
http://articles.latimes.com/2008/may/09/nation/na-stoploss9
SmartGate & ePassports
SmartGate gives some travellers arriving into Australia's international airports the option to self-process through passport control. It uses the data in the ePassport and face recognition technology to perform the customs and immigration checks that are usually conducted by a Customs officer.
SmartGate can be used by Australian and New Zealand ePassport holders, aged 18 or over. It will be gradually opened to other nationalities that have ePassports.
SmartGate is available at Brisbane, Cairns, Melbourne and Auckland International Airports. It will be progressively introduced into other major Australian international airports by mid 2009.
For more information on the Australian ePassport, go to:
http://www.passports.gov.au/
Why Men Don't Write Advice Columns
Dear Walter,
I hope you can help me here. The other day, I set off for work leaving my husband in the house watching the TV as usual. I hadn't driven more than a mile down the road when the engine conked out and the car shuddered to a halt. I walked back home to get my husband's help. When I got home I couldn't believe my eyes. He was in our bedroom with the neighbor’s daughter. I am 41, my husband is 44, and the neighbor’s daughter is 22.
We have been married for ten years. When I confronted him, he broke down and admitted that they had been having an affair for the past six months. I told him to stop or I would leave him. He was let go from his job six months ago and he says he has been feeling increasingly depressed and worthless. I love him very much, but ever since I gave him the ultimatum he has become increasingly distant. He won't go to counseling and I'm afraid I can't get through to him anymore.
Can you please help?
Sincerely,
Sarah
******************************
Dear Sarah:
A car stalling after being driven a short distance can be caused by a variety of faults with the engine. Start by checking that there is no debris in the fuel line. If it is clear, check the vacuum pipes and hoses on the intake manifold and also check all grounding wires. If none of these approaches solves the problem, it could be that the fuel pump itself is faulty, causing low delivery pressure to the injectors.
I hope this helps,
Walter
(thanks to Frank Dolce)
FAVOURITE HOLIDAY ‘AWAY MESSAGE’ OF THE HOLIDAY
“ Crina has flown the coop.......
You see the day I looked in the mirror at this old girl who looked remarkably like my mother, I realised I was much older than I thought. So I decided to give up my rantings and poutings about how us educationalists have become obsessed with assessment and get lost in the forest of procedures and neglected the wise angel of educational relationships...
So if you want to catch me on my yellow brick road, ring the office for my contact info (I don't want those spammers to get too much information).
I may come back to play with my mates on occasional exciting projects--if such projects intersect with the pursuit of my muse or my dalliance with whimsy. Thanks all for an interesting career. My only parting advice--hang on to your wings. You'll need them some day.” Crina
Bush Sr Touts Younger Son, Jeb, for Presidency
Former president George H W Bush, father of the outgoing US commander-in-chief, on Sunday touted another son Jeb for a future presidential bid.
"I'd like to see him run. I'd like to see him be president some day," the elder Bush, 84, who was the 41st president, told "Fox News Sunday."
"I think he's as qualified and able as anyone I know," he said in an interview, adding however that "now is not the time" to push another White House run by a member of his famous family dynasty.
"There have been enough Bushes in there," said the octogenarian, who served as commander-in-chief from 1989 to 1993. His son, George W Bush, leaves the White House on January 20 after two terms.
He said son Jeb, a former governor of Florida, would also would make an "outstanding" senator representing the state.
"He's a guy who really has a feel for people, the issues in Florida and nationally and his political days ought not to be over," Bush said.
The former president also had words of praise for his older son, who faces relentless criticism and historically low opinion polls as he ends his eight-year White House stint in a little over two weeks.
"The fact that everything that's a problem in this country should be put on his shoulders, that's not fair," Bush said.
"He ran a clean operation, having kept this country strong and free after unprecedented in history attack, 9/11, and he'll have a lot to be proud of," said Bush, adding "he'll come home with his head high."
(Note: Well, it’s George W’s father, for Christ’s sake. What’s he supposed to say: ‘He was shithouse and an embarrassment to the family?’ Dubya, like Nixon, will NEVER be exonerated by history. George W tops my end-of-year list of the ‘15 Worst Presidents in History.’ And as far as Jeb for President goes, as we say here in Australia, ‘he must be dreaming.’ Nurse. . . who took Bush senior off his medication? Just an old dad trying to get his son a job but, as a further example of pissing-in-each-others-pocket, gaze on the following:)
Howard to Receive US Presidential Award
Former prime minister John Howard will receive the US Presidential Medal of Freedom at a White House ceremony next week. The award is said to be the highest civilian honour bestowed by a United States president. Mr Howard is being honoured for his role in fighting terrorism and for standing by the US as an ally during his 11 years as prime minister.
"Yes, I am honoured by it, more because of the compliment it pays to our country Australia," Mr Howard told ABC Radio.
"It's an indication of the very close relationship between our two countries and I'm very pleased that during the time as prime minister I was able to contribute too."
It was testament to the "very obvious" personal warmth between himself and President George W Bush.
Former British prime minister Tony Blair and Columbia's president Alvaro Uribe will also receive medals in the ceremony.
Mr Bush has awarded 78 of the medals during his two terms as US president.
http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/5246217/howard-receive-presidential-award/
(Note: Sort of like Mussolini honouring Stalin with the Golden Spaghetti Fork. It must just be a darn coincidence that none of these exemplary leaders and their governments have been re-elected. The PEOPLE obviously aren’t honouring them with dicksquat.)
R.I.P - WEG
William Ellis Green, OAM (1923 - 2008), the Australian illustrator, who signed his cartoons WEG, passed away last week. I met WEG just last year at the La Mama benefit when he sketched me backstage right before my performance. He was incredibly quick and accurate at capturing the essentials of a personality with a few strokes. (Compare this with paisano Carlo ‘slow hand’ Dolci in the next article!)
On 14 January 2005, the 82 year old Weg saw a burglar running through his back yard in Heathmont, Victoria. After confronting the man, Green called the police then proceeded to take pen to paper and produce a caricature. The likeness was immediately recognisable to the local police. The offender was soon apprehended at a nearby shop.
In 2001 WEG received the Medal of the Order of Australia, "for service to art as a cartoonist and illustrator, and to the community, particularly through the Good Friday Appeal of the Royal Children's Hospital." WEG passed away on 29 December, 2008.
(Note: Picture courtesy of National Library of Australia, nla.pic-an21295591-15 WEG.
"I've had your phone tapped...that's how I know you've had my phone tapped..." (Asio) ca. 1970-1990. 1 of 104 drawings : pen and ink ; sheet 50.5 x 64.2 cm. or smaller.
Part of Cartoons by WEG.)
~ FAMOUS DOLCES OF THE WORLD ~
Carlo Dolci
Carlo (or Carlino) Dolci (1616 – 1686) was an Italian painter of the Baroque period, known for highly finished religious pictures. He was born in Florence, on his mother's side the grandson of a painter. Although he was precocious and apprenticed at a young age to Jacopo Vignali, Dolci was not prolific. "He would take weeks over a single foot", according to his biographer Baldinucci. In 1682, when he saw Giordano, nicknamed "fa presto" (quick worker), paint more in five hours than he could have completed in months, he fell into a depression. He died in Florence.
Crash Course on the Arab Israeli Conflict
Apparently, ex-Prime Minster of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu gave an interview and was asked about Israel's occupation of Arab lands. His response was "It's our land":
1. Nationhood and Jerusalem. Israel became a nation in 1312 BCE, Two thousand years before the rise of Islam.
2. Arab refugees in Israel began identifying themselves as part of a Palestinian people in 1967, two decades after the establishment of the modern State of Israel.
3. Since the Jewish conquest in 1272 BCE, the Jews have had dominion over the land for one thousand years with a continuous presence in the land for the past 3,300 years.
4. The only Arab dominion since the conquest in 635 CE lasted no more than 22 years.
5. For over 3,300 years, Jerusalem has been the Jewish capital Jerusalem has never been the capital of any Arab or Muslim entity. Even when the Jordanians occupied Jerusalem, they never sought to make it their capital, and Arab leaders did not come to visit.
6. Jerusalem is mentioned over 700 times in Tanach, the Jewish Holy Scriptures. Jerusalem is not mentioned once in the Koran.
7. King David founded the city of Jerusalem. Mohammed never came to Jerusalem.
8. Jews pray facing Jerusalem. Muslims pray with their backs toward Jerusalem.
9. Arab and Jewish Refugees: in 1948 the Arab refugees were encouraged to leave Israel by Arab leaders promising to purge the land of Jews. Sixty-eight percent left without ever seeing an Israeli soldier.
10 The Jewish refugees were forced to flee from Arab lands due to Arab brutality, persecution and pogroms.
11. The number of Arab refugees who left Israel in 1948 is estimated to be around 630,000. The number of Jewish refugees from Arab lands is estimated to be the same.
12. Arab refugees were INTENTIONALLY not absorbed or integrated into the Arab la nds to which they fled, despite the vast Arab territory. Out of the 100,000,000 refugees since World War II, theirs is the only refugee group in the world that has never been absorbed or integrated into their own people's lands. Jewish refugees were completely absorbed into Israel, a country no larger than the state of New Jersey .
13. The Arab-Israeli Conflict: the Arabs are represented by eight separate nations, not including the Palestinians. There is only one Jewish nation. The Arab nations initiated all five wars and lost. Israel defended itself each time and won.
14. The PLO's Charter still calls for the destruction of the State of Israel. Israel has given the Palestinians most of the West Bank land, autonomy under the Palestinian Authority, and has supplied them.
15. Under Jordanian rule, Jewish holy sites were desecrated and the Jews were denied access to places of worship. Under Israeli rule, all Muslim and Christian sites have been preserved and made accessible to people of all faiths.
16. The UN Record on Israel and the Arabs: of the 175 Security Council resolutions passed before 1990, 97 were directed against Israel.
17. Of the 690 General Assembly resolutions voted on before 1990, 429 were directed against Israel.
18. The UN was silent while 58 Jerusalem Synagogues were destroyed by the Jordanians.
19. The UN was silent while the Jordanians systematically desecrated the ancient Jewish cemetery on the Mount of Olives.
20. The UN was silent while the Jordanians enforced an apartheid-like a policy of preventing Jews from visiting the Temple Mount and the Western Wall.
(thanks to Stevanne)
‘Israel et Palestine’
The following lyrics and the demo song are from an unfinished work-in-progress, titled, ‘Israel et Palestine’.
YESH OD ZMAN
Halev nishbar
Ach lev amok notar
Ve hoo od lo nishbar
Yesh od zman
Li ve lecha ki
Yesh et lir-oot ve et la ahava
Roman namog
Ach yesh gadol mi-menoo
She ya gi-ah ve yavo
Yesh od zman
Li ve lecha ki
Yesh et lir oot ve et la ahava
Dma-ot zolgot
Ve nis-chafot
Ach hadma-ot hen she tom-chot
Ba nefila.
Hataf nifgah
Ach yesh echad she yit-gaber
Al kol ke ev oofegah ba olam
Yesh od zman
Li ve lecha ki
Yesh et lir-oot ve et la a-hava
Dma-ot zolgot
Ve nis-chafot
Ach hadma-ot hen she tom-chot
Ba nefila.
Lyric: Joe Dolce
Hebrew Translation: Ruth Blum
~
Original English Lyric:
STILL TIME
(Yesh Od Zman)
Hearts are broken
Yet there's a deeper heart
in us that hasn't spoken,
There's still time for you,
a time for me,
a time for friendship,
and a time for love.
Romance can die
Yet there's a greater love
That will come, by and by
There's still time for you,
a time for me,
a time for friendship,
and a time for love.
Children get hurt
Yet there's a stronger child there
Than any pain in this world,
There's still time for you,
a time for me,
a time for friendship,
and a time for love
Tears fall
We get washed away
But the water helps to break the fall.
~~~~~~~
OMM EL HAZINA
Ya om el hazina, Ya Om el hazina
Ya om el dunia, Irhami, Irhami.
Ya om el tarikh, Ya Ommi, Irhami.
Min baa’yal-zikrayat Al-mookad’dassa
Al-moobaa’sara hoona wa hoonak
Hafizzy aala-el-hakika, bee radaaki,
Ya om el dunia, Irhami.
Inhadi min tahta azabaki, inhadi
Irjaii ila kawaneen al-kha’iir maktouba
Wa’rhami.
Min hal-haali el-taabani
la tastaslimi
Wala shai’ya-sa alaiki, wa’rhami
Hatta folostine wa Israel
Iza allah radi
Ya om el dunia, Irhami..
Lyric: Joe Dolce
Arabic Translation: Carol Hasna & family
~
Original English Lyric:
MATER DOLOROSA
(Omm El Hazina)
Sorrowful Mother, sorrowful Mother,
Mother of countries, have mercy, have mercy.
Mother of history, Mother, have mercy.
Out of the scattered remains
Of blessed memory,
Save the truth, with your consent,
Mother of countries, have mercy.
Light of the world, up from the depths of misery,
From the time of the unwritten common law,
Have mercy.
Out of discordant harmony,
Do not despair.
Nothing can stand in the way,
Palestine and Israel God willing,
Mother of history, have mercy.
AUDIO:
first draft .mp3 (4.5 MB) of ‘YESH OD ZMAN’
sung by: Joe Dolce
‘OMM EL HAZINA’ recited by: Rose Hasna
RECIPE
Rosca de Reyes- Three Kings Bread
This Christmas bread is wreath shaped and has a baby Jesus figurine baked right in. While eating the bread, the person who gets the figurine has to provide the tamales for the next party.
Mexican Families Prepare 10,000kg Bread
A huge, 10,000kg bread has been readied for the traditional Magi party that sees thousands of Mexican families coming together to celebrate with food and gifts for children.
"This event is important ... we will not lose our traditions" that unites families, said Laura Vazquez, Mexico's secretary for economic development.
A central part of the celebration of the nativity's three wise men - described in the Bible as bringing presents to the newborn Jesus Christ - revolves around baking and eating La Rosca de Reyes (Three Kings Bread), a sweet, dry delicacy. The bread in question, unveiled in all its glory at the central Zocalo square in Mexico City , is about 1,600m long, and weighs close to 10,000 kg. It will be shared between some 200,000 people gathered to celebrate in the city centre.
Around 2,300 bakers affiliated to the national baker's association (Canainpa) help bake the bread. In all, the sweet bread used 6,600kg of flour, 3,000 kg of butter and 1,500 litres of milk, according to Canaipa head Antonio Arias. Families in Mexico and throughout Latin America celebrate the Epiphany on January 6, remembering the day when the Three Wise Men following the star to Bethlehem, arrived bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh for the Baby Jesus.
http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/world/5244417
Ingredients:
1/3 cup warm water
1 packet of yeast
4 cups flour
1 cup sugar
4 large eggs, beaten
3/4 cup butter, room temperature
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon anise seed
4 teaspoons vanilla extract
A small figurine or toy Jesus
Candied Fruit (about 2 cups of assorted fruit cut into strips such as figs, orange, lemon, mango or cherries)
1 egg beaten (egg wash)
1/3 cup sugar (topping)
Preparation:
Sprinkle the yeast on the surface of the water and let it sit for 10 minutes.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the yeast water, flour, sugar, eggs, butter, salt, cinnamon, anise seed and vanilla extract. Mix until a dough forms. Knead the dough for 5 minutes, then cover and let rise in a warm area until dough is doubled in size, about 2 hours.
Punch dough down and shape into a wreath. You can do this by simply rolling it into a log shape then bending the ends around to form a circle, or you can make three thinner strips and braid them, then put the ends together. The wreath should be about 12-14 inches in diameter. Lift up one area and insert the toy by pushing it up through the bottom. Smooth out any lumps or tears.
Add the dried fruit by laying it across the top and pressing it in slightly. Let it rise until doubled. Brush top with egg wash, sprinkle with sugar and bake for approximatley 45 minutes at 350 degrees.
Newsletter Archive and Recipe Index
http://members.iinet.net.au/~dwomen/files/newsletterarchive.html
FAVOURITE REVIEWS OF THE WEEK
"Shaolin Soccer’s global appeal was such that it was illegally downloaded as many times as The Matrix: Reloaded. And given that 46 of the 47 prints for its UK release are dubbed, Chow’s wonderful manipulation of language, one of his traits, has been diminished. Worst of all, though, Carl Douglas’s song Kung Fu Fighting has been added to the closing scene — it’s the equivalent of ending GoodFellas, with Joe Dolce’s, Shaddap You Face." TIMESONLINE
Theatre: A Stretch of the Imagination, by Jack Hibbard, starring Peter Hosking.
"I was reminded throughout of Thomas Hardy’s wonderfully evocative poem I Look into my Glass. Another stunning one man show, although Peter Hosking has an impressive array of talent behind him, including composer Joe Dolce." Wendy Wrangham, Prague Fringe Festival 2008.
Joe Dolce most recent CD, 'The Wind Cries Mary,' chosen as ALBUM OF THE YEAR by 97.1 FM, 3MDR Radio, Melbourne!
Listen to some excerpts via the link below:
Joe Dolce Electronic Press Kit
http://www.sonicbids.com/JoeDolce
THE FINAL HURRAH
How A Real Man Takes Off His Underwear
http://s118.photobucket.com/albums/o120/kansascitylady/?action=view¤t=HowaRealManTakesoffhisUnderwear.flv
(thanks to Ramon Sender)