Late Fame is a Reminder The Past is Sometimes Best Left Behind

 

This evening, I went to the Brattle Theatre to take in a screening of the film Late Fame starring Willem Dafoe. 

Before I discuss the movie, an update about the Brattle. Tonight was the first time I had been to the Brattle in over a month. I was last there five weekends ago for a retrospective tribute on what would have been Harry Dean Stanton's 100th birthday.

The Brattle would then be closed for 10 days for the purpose of installing a new floor and new seats. The floor looks cleaner and feel more comfortable to walk on. Even the men's washroom looks cleaner. Now if it only it was bigger. 

Late Fame is adapted from a 19th century novella written by Austrian author and playwright Arthur Schnitzler. Dafoe portrays Ed Saxberger, a poet whose 1979 book Way Past Go earns the attention of a new generation of mostly college aged artists and actors. Until the rediscovery, Saxberger had been working for USPS for nearly 40 years. 

Indeed, poetry is but a distant memory for Saxberger. But this doesn't stop his newfound "friends" from trying to land him a publishing deal to write his memoirs and perform new poetry. Of course, if his "friends" had truly understood the creative process one cannot force a poem to the surface any more than one can force a song or a sculpture to form. Saxberger's poetry is so far in the rearview mirror that none of his longtime friends know about his life previous life as a poet. The last thing Saxberger wants is for these two worlds to collide. Complicating matters is Gloria (Greta Lee), an actress at least 30 years younger than Saxberger with whom he becomes infatuated.

This movie hit home for me in an uncomfortable way. During my early years in Boston, I was part of the local poetry scene. I would regularly attend open mics and self-published a couple of chap books. Many of my poems had a conservative political bent which would occasionally draw the ire of certain audiences. On one occasion, I had a Coke can tossed at my head at the Cantab Lounge here in Cambridge. Eventually, I would be given a lifetime ban at the Cantab and I've not set foot in there in more than 15 years. I cannot remember the last time I wrote a poem.

It was just as well because by this time I was regularly contributing articles to The American Spectator which I would do for another 5 years before I was told that Donald Trump was beyond criticism. That was a decade ago. There would be a few articles for National Review Online. Aside from writing in this space, the last time I had an article published was in The Forward. That was more than 5 years ago.

I have pitched articles to several publications in the years which followed without success. As time has gone on, I have accepted that my life's work is in legal records. All things considered, I am a happier person for it.

Nevertheless, I do feel the need to write. I don't know if I'll ever write another poem again. But I do feel the need to speak my peace. I write my articles here and post the links on Facebook, Threads and Blue Sky. If people get something out of it then great. But I have no expectations or illusions of fame or prosperity. Indeed, when I do get feedback, it is far more likely to be negative than positive. But I am a big boy and can take care of myself. For the most part, however, there is just indifference. Frankly, it is probably just as well.

If I were in Ed Saxberger's place and a stranger on the street were to compliment me on a poem I wrote 20 years ago or an article I wrote 10 years ago, I would most likely politely thank them and move on with my day. Admittedly, that might be more of a challenge if the person in question happens to be an attractive woman. Nevertheless, such encounters are probably more trouble than they are worth. In Ed Saxberger's case, the best he could have done was to run away from his past as fast as possible. Sometimes it is best to leave the past behind.

Mike Rogers Distancing Himself From AIPAC Plays Right Into El-Sayed's Hands

This story from Axios concerning Michigan Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers asking AIPAC not to run ads on his behalf is most disconcerting:

The move by Rogers' team angered AIPAC officials, who had spent more than $30 million to try to defeat El-Sayed in the Democratic primary and prepared to spend millions more to help elect Rogers, according to people familiar with the conversations.

The article also notes that Rogers' allies urged AIPAC to get involved without putting the group's name front and center.

In other words, the Rogers' campaign wants AIPAC resources without giving them credit. 

This is a foolish strategy which plays right into the hands of Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed. Should the pair debate, El-Sayed can say, 'Even Republican Mike Rogers doesn't want AIPAC's money,'

Rogers is also legitimizing the demonization of not only AIPAC but Jewish organizations in general and their ability to participate in the political process and in civil society at large.

After all, AIPAC stands for American Israel Public Affairs Committee. Americans who advocate for Israel are no different than Americans who advocate for China, India, Ukraine or the United Arab Emirates. Rogers should welcome AIPAC's support without apology or reservation.

But El-Sayed and his allies single out American Jews who support Israel and now Rogers is afraid to associate with AIPAC. What Rogers should be doing is putting El-Sayed on the defensive for his support of CAIR, an organization which has long had ties to Hamas.

After El-Sayed won the Democratic Party nomination, I stated that if I were a Michigan resident that I would vote for Rogers with reservations. In light of Rogers all but publicly disavowing AIPAC those reservations have grown considerably.

Carney Reveals Trump Admin Wanted to Prevent Canada from Negotiating Its Own Trade Deals

 

I watched Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's press conference this morning. During the press conference, Carney discussed the breakdown of trade negotiations with the Trump Administration.

What I found most revealing during the Q&A were the specific issues which led to Carney suspending talks. Carney cited three reasons - shifting auto tariffs, objections to protection concerning Canadian culture with regard to the French language and the ability of Canada to negotiate other trade deals.

Needless to say, this last reason really jumps out. 

The United States has no business telling Canada with whom it can enter and negotiate trade deals. For the Trump Administration to make such a demand sends a clear message that they view Canada not as a partner but as one of its territories. In other words, the 51st state. 

Underscoring of all this is the bad faith of the Trump Administration. As Carney noted, “We’ve recognized from the start that America has changed. We recognize that sometimes, its signature is written in pencil.”

With that, barring a dramatic shift from the Trump Administration, Canada plans to implement its dollar-for-dollar tariffs against the United States on September 8th, the day after Labor Day.

Carney Walks Away From Trade Talks with Trump; Will Match U.S. Tariffs Dollar for Dollar

(Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters)

When President Trump announced a month ago that he would impose a 50% tariff on Canadian alcohol, auto parts and dairy products because of the forest fires that were occurring in Northern Ontario, I made this observation:

Carney's smartest move would be to walk away and ignore Trump and not return his calls. Yes, that will make Trump angry. But Trump would get angry if his Diet Coke was flat. Canada is getting nowhere with the United States. The United States is wasting Canada's time. Canada's time is better spent engaging in negotiations with countries which actually want to negotiate with it in good faith and for mutual benefit not with a country which begrudges Canadians for forest fires.

Just before midnight, Prime Minister Carney did exactly that. Canada will match U.S. tariffs dollar for dollar. Carney issued a statement which reads in part:

We have recognised from the beginning that America has changed, and that we will not return to our old relationship. Our government understood, before many, that America is altering all its trade relationships. Putting tariffs on its closest allies and charging for access to its vast market.

We have worked in that context. To strike a fair deal that would provide the best access to the U.S. market and greater certainty to Canadian businesses and workers. Throughout, our goal has been to secure the best deal for Canadians, never a deal at any price or on any deadline.

In recent weeks, we made important progress toward improving Canada’s position as having the best deal in the world with the U.S.

However, that progress has not been enough to meet our objectives for Canadians. As a result, this evening, I have decided to suspend trade negotiations with the U.S. and have directed Canada’s negotiators to return to Ottawa. They have worked hard, in good faith, to defend the interests of Canadians throughout these negotiations up until the very last minute. However, last-minute changes in the U.S. proposed terms were unfair, uneconomic, and called into question the reliability of any deal.

Carney went to say that in the coming days that the Canadian government "will introduce additional measures to support Canadian workers and businesses." This tells me that Carney believes Canada will be in a trade war with the Trump Administration for the long haul. I suspect that Canadians will be granted either a stimulus or a rebate or perhaps of combination of both in an effort to compensate for financial strain as a result of the implementation of U.S. tariffs.

Recent federal polls have given Carney's Liberal Party a lead over Pierre Poilievre's Conservative Party ranging from 7 to 20 points. I suspect that the Liberals will consistently lead the Tories by double digits in the coming weeks and months. 

These reciprocal tariffs could also have an effect on U.S. midterms especially in Senate races in states bordering Canada namely Maine and Michigan and could help Democrats Troy Jackson and Abdul El-Sayed in their respective races. Jackson has been particularly vocal about Trump's tariffs although nearly 30 years he was part of an effort to blockade the Canada-U.S. border to prevent Quebec loggers from working in Maine. For her part, Republican incumbent Susan Collins has opposed Trump's tariffs with equal vigor. 

In Michigan, unlike Collins, Republican candidate Mike Rogers has defended Trump's tariffs with dubious claims they are bringing back American jobs. In view of these reciprocal tariffs, this gives El-Sayed an opening. Mind you, El-Sayed might be too busy denigrating Jews and Israel to give a damn about tariffs.

At this point, however, Carney has called Trump's bluff and is now in the driver's seat having put his foot on the gas pedal ready to sell Canadian auto parts, alcohol and dairy to other parts of the world on more favorable terms. 

North Korea Fires Missiles at South Korea After Trump Scales Back Military Partnership with Seoul

Yesterday, North Korea fired 10 short range missiles at South Korea only days after President Trump announced the U.S. would scale back its military partnership with Seoul:

That Trump would diss South Korea is nothing new under the sun. Early in his first term, Trump threatened to cancel the U.S.-South Korea Free Trade Agreement. A new trade agreement would be negotiated the following year. Also, during his first term, Trump willfully lied about sending an armada to South Korea when in fact it was headed to Australia for joint military exercises.

It also isn't the first time Trump has cozied up to North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un. In 2018, he infamously proclaimed that he and Kim had fallen in love during a rally in Wheeling, West Virginia. (Yes, that Wheeling, West Virginia). 

That love was a one-way street. In 2019, Trump dropped a U.S. demand that North Korea give a full accounting of its nuclear program while also absolving Kim of any responsibility for the death of Otto Warmbier, an American student who was detained by North Korean authorities and was essentially released brain dead.

And what did Trump get in return from Kim? Absolutely nothing.

Coming back to the present, if Trump doesn't berate our military alliance with South Korea, then I submit that North Korea doesn't launch those missiles. President Trump has emboldened Kim Jong Un while shitting on a reliable ally. Of course, this is very on brand for Trump. Just ask the Ukrainians. 

Because of Trump's belligerence, stupidity and his admiration for dictators, China sees an opening with South Korea and has grabbed it with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to South Korean President Lee Jae-myung just yesterday. 

Of course, China is a cruel dictatorship. Just ask the Uyghur Muslims. But Beijing knows how to speak softly. Something Trump is utterly incapable of doing. Given Trump's public rebuke of South Korea, why wouldn't Seoul accept overtures from Beijing? If the United States is unwilling to protect South Korea from North Korea, then China will happily fill the breach and, in so doing, expand its power while running circles around President Trump.

Are The Padres & MLB Letting Oswaldo Pirela Twist in the Wind?

On Sunday, ICE detained San Diego Padres minor league catching coordinator Oswaldo Pirela at El Paso International Airport where he was planning to fly back home to Peoria, Arizona. The team's Triple-AAA affiliate is based in El Paso.

At the time of his detainment, Pirela was carrying a work permit which expires in 2029. The Venezuelan born Pirela had a brief minor league career as a teenager in the Texas Rangers organization before seeking asylum along with his family due to his opposition to the regime of Hugo Chavez and Nicolas Maduro.

For its part, DHS acted with its usual grace:

FACT CHECK: This Venezuelan illegal alien, Oswaldo Jose Pirela Dominguez, was granted permission by the Obama Administration to remain in our nation until February 10, 2018. In violation of our nation’s laws, he overstayed his welcome by more than 8 YEARS. NOBODY is above the law, and he will remain in ICE custody pending removal. Being in detention is a choice.

Given the callousness of the Trump Administration, I am rather concerned about the reaction of the Padres and MLB to Pirela's detainment.

The Padres issued the following statement: 

We recently became aware of the detainment of minor league catching coordinator Oswaldo Pirela in El Paso, Texas. We are working to gather additional information and will not have any further comment at this time.

The Padres aren't exactly going out on a limb here. Meanwhile, MLB has said nothing.

Frankly, the Padres and MLB are afraid of the Trump Administration. Should they speak up then perhaps DHS will go after players at both the minor league and major league level. The Padres' roster features several players from Venezuela (Bradgley Rodriguez, Freddy Fermin & Luis Rengifo), the Dominican Republic (Fernando Tatis, Jr; Wandy Peralta & Randy Vasquez), Cuba (Adrian Morejon) and Aruba (Xander Bogaerts).

When MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred lifted the lifetime bans against Pete Rose and the 1919 Black Sox after meeting with President Trump last year, he acknowledged the "ingress and egress" of "foreign born players". As I wrote at the time:

I think I know exactly what Manfred was worried about. I'm sure that Trump basically told him, 'Either you reinstate Pete Rose, or all foreign-born players will be asked to leave the country.' Or perhaps he limited the edict to players from Latin American countries which comprise about 25% of all active MLB players.

If MLB isn't going to stick up for their star players, then they are certainly not going to go to bat for a minor league catching instructor who was just doing the job the Padres asked of him.

As it stands, I believe the Padres and MLB are letting Pirela twist in the wind. If push comes to shove, then the Padres will wash their hands of Pirela.  

Aside from being fundamentally unAmerican, it will serve to alienate a good portion of this country's Latino community which supports baseball more than any other population in America.

If the Padres and MLB let Pirela twist in the wind then it might be left to a former player, perhaps a Hall of Famer, to speak out on Pirela's behalf. But I'm not counting on it.

In which case, we can expect ICE to detain more foreign born (particularly from Latin American countries) personnel within MLB. As with most things concerning the Trump Administration nothing good can come from it especially if ICE is involved.

Thoughts on a Near Hit-and-Run Incident Outside a Boston Synagogue

 

(Congregation Kadimah-Toras Moshe in Brighton, MA)

A most disturbing incident here in the Boston neighborhood of Brighton via Boston.com.

A driver sped up and yelled an antisemitic slur at a couple crossing the street to attend Shabbat services Friday evening at an Orthodox synagogue in Brighton, the rabbi there said. 

The newly married couple was walking across the closest crosswalk to Congregation Kadimah-Toras Moshe on Washington Street when a driver sped up and they had to jump out of the way to avoid being hit, said KTM Rabbi Daniel Aldrich, who spoke directly with the couple.

“He yelled antisemitic epithets as he drove by and then the very shaken couple came into our synagogue, and we immediately called the police,” Aldrich said. 

A spokesperson for the Boston Police Department said they received a report of an incident that occurred in the Brighton community at 101 Washington St. around 7:30 p.m Friday. The Civil Rights Unit is investigating whether there are any bias indicators involved in the incident, and no arrest has been made at this time, the spokesperson said. 

I would suggest that bias indicators are self-evident when someone attempts to use their vehicle as a weapon while yelling anti-Semitic slurs at Jewish people.

What worries me is that no arrest has been made at this time. This could mean a couple of things. It could mean that authorities have no idea who committed this act. It could also mean that authorities do have a possible suspect but have seen fit not to pursue the matter. 

I cannot help but think that this driver may have done something like this before and his victims were too afraid to reach out for help perhaps because they have come to believe that authorities do not care about Jews.

In which case, I also cannot help but think that as long as this driver remains at large that he will try something like this again and when he does there will be bloodshed.

Perhaps he won't use his car. It is quite possible that he might walk into a synagogue and disrupt services just like what happened at Central Synagogue in NYC right around the same time at this attempted hit-and-run incident.

Or perhaps he will use his car to storm a synagogue and bring other weaponry just as the perpetrator did at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan last March. Should this come to pass then Abdul El-Sayed will have another opportunity to claim that "hurt people hurt people" and once make excuses for those who commit violence against Jews. 

Even if the man responsible for this act does not commit any further acts there will be someone else who will be more than happy to commit violence against Jews for being Jews. And the more this happens then the more violence against Jews is tolerated and eventually accepted as appropriate behavior in polite society.