Some Noted Things

by Cliopatria

Jacqueline Trescott,"Fresh Faces at the Smithsonian," Washington Post, 14 February, reviews a new exhibit of African art at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington. It features pieces from Paul Tishman's large collection that have not been seen since they were sold to the Walt Disney Company nearly 25 years ago.

Nikil Saval,"Show a Man What He Eats: On Vegetarianism," N + 1, 14 February, reviews Tristram Stuart's The Bloodless Revolution: A Cultural History of Vegetarianism from 1600 to the Present. Its British subtitle is Radical Vegetarians and the Discovery of India.

Christopher Dickey,"Intimate Strangers," Newsweek, 19 February, reviews Michael Oren's Power, Faith and Fantasy: America in the Middle East, 1776 to the Present.

"Slideshow: World Press Photo Contest Winners," The Guardian, 12 February.

Finally, never get in the way of a good ol' boy's tryin' to get home to see his dyin' momma.

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Nathanael D. Robinson - 2/15/2007

Point taken. Although they understand the concept in Germany, good luck finding something to eat in a traditional restaurant (other than Spätzle). At least milk figures less in an Asian diet.

Jonathan Dresner - 2/15/2007

Vegetarianism, though, doesn't force change, violent or otherwise, merely accommodation.

It could be seen as a form of boycott.

You haven't lived until you've tried to explain Kashrut in Asia....

Nathanael D. Robinson - 2/15/2007

It's interesting that the British edition of "Bloodless Revolution" makes specific reference to India. It makes sense in the context of cultural exchange, and the nod to civil disobedience seems appropriate. Revolution, however, seems inappropriate to describe the behaviour of a small portion of the population. Few avant gardes wage effective revolutions. Indeed, if you've ever tried to explain to someone in a foreign country what you do and do not eat, you'd realize that vegetarianism can cause some antagonism. (I seethed, quietly, in Taroudant when my tagine came with beef broth despite my well rehearsed lecture, which simply annoyed the waiter.)

But, more to the point, "bloodless revolution" reminds me of what many historians said about the "industrial revolution"--that it brough about positive political change without causing upheaval. Sydney Pollard's "Peaceful Conquest" comes to mind. Vegetarianism, though, doesn't force change, violent or otherwise, merely accommodation.