Author: Mark J. Chmiel

In Demand

A friend told me She went to her branch library Disappointed to find out Dead Poets Society‘s 10 copies Have 135 holds on them

Primacy

“[Shoshani] didn’t teach piety; he taught the texts. The texts are more fundamental—and vaster—than piety. “ –Emmanuel Levinas

Yesterday/Today

Yesterday I was reading a history of Truman’s decision to use the atomic bomb against Japan In one of the chapters The author noted  that during the war The US thought of the Japanese As…

Simple Words

Give back my father, give back my mother; Give grandpa back, grandma back; Give my sons and daughters back. Give me back myself. Give back the human race. As long as this life lasts, this…

Yours Truly

I am your older, calm, sutra-reading uncle I am your younger, mischievous Tequlia-drinking uncle I am your biggest fan I am your sounding board for the unutterable I am your archivist I am your remembrancer

With the Gazans

Palestinians in short do not deserve anything like a narrative or collective actuality, and so they must be transmuted and dissolved into essentially negative images. —Edward Said, From Oslo to Iraq and the Road Map:…

On Ryōkan

The following was written about Japanese Zen Master Ryōkan by a friend… When Ryōkan visits it is as if spring had come on a dark winter’s day. His character is pure and he is free of…