Recommended Reading
Since my father is not a computer user, I can state without fear of discovery that I bought P.J. O'Rourke's PEACE KILLS for his Christmas present. PJ is one of may favorite writers. Our lives have taken a similar path, from 70's hippie leftist to modern day satirical conservative. The book is a compilation of articles he has previously published in magazines. It is similar to his best book, HOLIDAYS IN HELL, as it recounts his adventures in hot spots such as The Middle East, Kosovo, Egypt, etc. It is a combination of humor, history, contemporary observation, political insight and biting satire. A few experts:
The dedication to his late friend Michael Kelly, who was a journalist who was killed on the job:
"He could have advocated the war in Iraq without going to cover it. He could have covered it without putting himself in harm's way. But liberty is an expensive feast. And Mike was a man who always picked up the check."
On why American's hate foreign policy:
"Being foreigners ourselves, we Americans know what foreigners are up to with their foreign policy-their venomous covenents, lying alliances, greedy agreements, and trick-or-treaties. America is not a wily, sneaky nation. We don't think that way. We don't think much at all, thank God. Start thinking and pretty soo you get ideas, and then you get idealism, and the next thing you know you've got ideology, with millions dead in concentration camps and gulags. A fundamental American question is "What's the big idea?"
On Kosovo:
"We failed to protect Albanians from Serbs, but we were making up for it by protecting Serbs from Albanians, even though it was Serb persecution of Albanians that caused us to come to Kosovo, thereby giving Albanians an opportunity to persecute Serbs."
And on the French:
"French ideas, French beliefs, and French actions form a sort of lodestone for humanity. A moral compass needle needs a butt end. Whatever direction France is pointing--toward collaboration with Nazis, accomodation with communists, existentialism, Jerry Lewis, or a UN resolution veto--we can go the other way with a quiet conscience."
The dedication to his late friend Michael Kelly, who was a journalist who was killed on the job:
"He could have advocated the war in Iraq without going to cover it. He could have covered it without putting himself in harm's way. But liberty is an expensive feast. And Mike was a man who always picked up the check."
On why American's hate foreign policy:
"Being foreigners ourselves, we Americans know what foreigners are up to with their foreign policy-their venomous covenents, lying alliances, greedy agreements, and trick-or-treaties. America is not a wily, sneaky nation. We don't think that way. We don't think much at all, thank God. Start thinking and pretty soo you get ideas, and then you get idealism, and the next thing you know you've got ideology, with millions dead in concentration camps and gulags. A fundamental American question is "What's the big idea?"
On Kosovo:
"We failed to protect Albanians from Serbs, but we were making up for it by protecting Serbs from Albanians, even though it was Serb persecution of Albanians that caused us to come to Kosovo, thereby giving Albanians an opportunity to persecute Serbs."
And on the French:
"French ideas, French beliefs, and French actions form a sort of lodestone for humanity. A moral compass needle needs a butt end. Whatever direction France is pointing--toward collaboration with Nazis, accomodation with communists, existentialism, Jerry Lewis, or a UN resolution veto--we can go the other way with a quiet conscience."
posted by stewdog | 8:45 AM | Permalink
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3 comments
3 Comments:
Bought it for your dad and you're reading eh, Stewdog? Sounds like the kid who bought his mom a catcher's mitt for her birthday.
I don't read PJ enough. Every time I cross paths with him, he's intelligent, informative, humorous and just flat-out entertaining.
Wonderdog. . you and PJ have a similar voice. Insight coupled with biting sarcasm and wit.
A compliment from Stewdog? Too late. I already purchased your Kwanzaa gift.
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