The Grotesque

I stumbled upon this This image moved from the file to on the newswire yesterday (searching “U.S. Congress” and “Israel”) spurred by the spurred and troubled by the anonymous voice-vote in Congress in support of Israel the Israeli campaign in Gaza.

It was taken ten months ago during a meeting between US Congress members and Prime Minister Olmert at the Knesset. In the light of the throughly hideous events taking place in Israel and Gaza, the photo is an effective one in expressing expressed for me that side of man — especially, and specifically, one venal agent of power keyed off one mired in corruption charges — that is thoroughly grotesque.

Even more hideous, Even more hideous to me, given the relation and proximity of the flag, is how that expression is how, in this admittedly incidental expression — at this time, and in its in what I read in as bitterness and side-long contempt — assumes the I also saw it assume to represent the face of a nation.

Peace Groups Lose First Major Gaza Challenge On Capitol Hill (Jewish Daily Forward)

Both parties cheerlead still more loudly for Israel’s war (Greenwald/Salon)

(1/9 – Edited for presumption, and run away subjectivity)

(image: Dan Balilty/AP. Jerusalem. February 18, 2008)