[lbo-talk] Re: Lack of Arabic Speakers Hurts U.S.

[Simon Huxtable]

Sort of along the lines of this topic, I recommend
Theo Angelopoulos's O Thiassos (The Travelling
Players), which recounts Greece's history from
1939-1952 through a troupe of itinerant actors.
What is interesting is the way it depicts the
experience of occupation, both 'bad' occupation (the
Italian and Nazi occupation from 1941-44) and 'good'
occupation - Greece under Allied control - as almost
exactly the same.
What the film makes clear that the experience of
occupation entails a loss of dignity. What is equally
clear is the incomprehension and patronising arrogance
of the occupying powers in the face of the cultural
norms, who attempt to erase Greek history with their
own way of life.

Simon


> In contrast, several members of each British
> military regiment sent to
> Iraq receive 10 weeks of schooling in Arabic
> language and culture.
> 
> Nearly 200 soldiers have attended since January,
> according to Col.
> Anthony Rabbitt, the school's commanding officer.
> 
> In addition, all British soldiers sent to Iraq must
> have attended a
> daylong course on Middle Eastern culture and the
> Arabic language.
> 
> ``We realize from our experience in Northern Ireland
> and also in the
> Balkans that basic-level greetings,
> confidence-building and persuasion
> comes with a smile and a few words. And the more
> people that can say
> those few words, the better,'' Rabbitt said.
> 
>
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-3403301,00.html>
> 
> 
> 
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> 
>  

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