Eco bravo
 | By Orlando Radice
February 25, 2011 | Share |
Most of the attention was appropriately heaped on Ian McEwan at the Jerusalem Book Fair this week – but Umberto Eco grabbed a headline or two with his eloquent trashing of academic and cultural boycotts.
He told an AP reporter: "I consider it absolutely crazy" and "fundamentally racist to identify a scholar, a private citizen, with the politics of his government."
With Berlusconi his country’s inglorious leader, Eco should know a thing or two about this.
Umberto Eco clearly has a special interest in the Jews. His latest novel, The Cemetery of Prague, probes deep into the minds of those who concoct antisemitic conspiracy theories. It’s yet to be published in the UK.
COMMENTS
Fri, 02/25/2011 - 18:20 Rate this: -2 points | Not really, it's his right to say what he thinks. It's my right to disagree with him. Unlike you we're not all totalitarians who only understand one point of view. I thought it amusing that Palestinians have now told him he's unwelcome to visit though! |
Fri, 02/25/2011 - 18:27 Rate this: 0 points | Well I'm glad we can agree about something, Matt, that it was his right to say what he thinks. And I do understand the one staters' point of view, but it's wrong |
Fri, 02/25/2011 - 18:37 Rate this: -2 points | So you don't think it's "extremist" any more then? |
Fri, 02/25/2011 - 18:38 Rate this: 0 points | Of course it's an extremist view because it'll lead to the destruction of Israel. |
Fri, 02/25/2011 - 18:52 Rate this: -1 points | Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, etc want to destroy everything you love, including Israel. And they are working very hard to bring it about. If I were you I'd worry about them, not how many babies Arabs will have. |
Fri, 02/25/2011 - 19:05 Rate this: 0 points | I do worry about them, Matt. But ultimately anyone who believes that problems will be resolved by having just one sovereign state between the med and the Jordan is deluding themselves. |
Fri, 02/25/2011 - 19:12 Rate this: -1 points | And before you ask, there were those in military intelligence research department who questioned boosting an offshoot of the muslim brotherhood and a fully paid up part of the mullahs' madhouse. |
Fri, 02/25/2011 - 19:15 Rate this: -3 points | "I wonder if any of those who heaped praise on Ian McEwan for ignoring the boycotters are a little miffed that he chose the award ceremony to tell the Israelis a few home truths" Or in English, as opposed to Newspeak, spout ignorant propaganda. |
Fri, 02/25/2011 - 19:16 Rate this: -4 points | "And I do understand the one staters' point of view, but it's wrong" In your unhumble opinion, of course. |
Fri, 02/25/2011 - 19:28 Rate this: -1 points | Do you mean to say that those whose positions will lead to the destruction of Israel as the Jewish democratic national homeland of the Jewish people aren't wrong? |
Sat, 02/26/2011 - 14:57 Rate this: -2 points | Those that are wrong Joe, are those sad, misguided, ill-informed, duped,open-toed sandal wearing, ganja-smoking, placard waving,left-wing useful idiots who align with our enemies advocating the creation of yet another Arab State. |
Sat, 02/26/2011 - 15:05 Rate this: -3 points | Millis: Reaping what we sowed? What kind of idiot mentality is that? When a rocket lands on a kindergarten is it the kids' fault? No. Do not justify evil, fight it. |
Sat, 02/26/2011 - 16:18 Rate this: 0 points | Amazing. There are actually Nazi scum visiting this blog who are in favour of rockets landing in Israeli kindergartens, and they are not blocked. |
jose (not verified) Sat, 02/26/2011 - 16:21 Rate this: 0 points | Milligramsam fighting evil? That'll be the day! |
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Joe Millis
Fri, 02/25/2011 - 18:18
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Excellent points by yourself and Umberto Eco. I wonder if any of those who heaped praise on Ian McEwan for ignoring the boycotters are a little miffed that he chose the award ceremony to tell the Israelis a few home truths.