So, found this article via
this morning: Lawrence of Arabia was really a Zionist, historian claims.
” While the discoveries overturn many popular assumptions about Lawrence in Britain and much of the Arab world, they will come as less of a surprise to prominent historians…” Or to me. I’ve been slowly making my way through a book called T.E. Lawrence by his Friends (edited by A.W. Lawrence). It’s a collection of generally short reminiscences about the man by people who knew him. Included are contributions by Chaim Weizmann and L. B. Namier on the very subject of Eastern Politics, which support the notion of Lawrence as a Zionist…sort of. While he was in favor of a Jewish homeland, and could see aspects of it that would be good for the Arab people, he was dubious of the Jewish people to pull it off and maintain it. Sir Martin Gilbert, the historian bring this “new” information to light in his upcoming book, also notes that Lawrence “had a sort of contempt for the Arabs”. And while I’m not all-knowledgeable on the subject, that would seem to be true as times.
But the thing that knocks me over repeatedly about in our current society is the perceived incompatibility of support and criticism.
Lawrence saw the faults of the Arabs and the Jews, even though he supported some of the interests of both and could see common good for both. These are not incompatible things.
One can be patriotic and love one’s country, and still criticize the shortcomings of the current government.
One can love one’s children, but still point out and correct when said children are being utter brats.
(One can still think the in-progress manuscript should be finished, even though some sections suck sulfuric rocks and need work.)
Betterment only comes through the correction of what is at fault. More likely than not, someone needs to be around to point out those faults because we’re not good at doing it ourselves. Maybe this lesson will be learned eventually.
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