In Gratitude for Howard Zinn

The other night at the Webster University Film Series, I saw the documentary-tribute: Howard Zinn: You Can’t Be Neutral on a Moving Train. It is an inspirational portrait of a working-class Jewish man who served…

Righteous Jews

for Hedy Epstein A reflection on Roane Carey and Jonathan Shanin, ed., The Other Israel: Voices of Refusal and Dissent (New York: The New Press, 2002). 1. When I came back from Palestine after working…

Beatitudes

In April 2004 Marc Ellis invited Hedy Epstein and me to come to speak at Baylor University.  Marc had been my professor at Maryknoll and had supported my work on Elie Wiesel.  During a visit…

On Edward Said

Edward Said died last fall, and his loss has been felt throughout the Arab world.  When I was in Palestine, in both Gaza City and Ramallah, there were posters all over the place commemorating Said’s …

East Timorese Testimony

East Timor’s Unfinished Struggle:  Inside the Timorese Resistance — A Testimony.  By Constâncio Pinto and Matthew Jardine.South End Press, $16.00. After over two decades of  relentless persecution, the people of East Timor received a belated…