Celebrating the Persians in Philadelphia

The Free Library of Philadelphia is celebrating "Persepolis," a graphic novel written by Iranian exile Marjane Satrapi, for its "One Book, One Philadelphia" series. One of the events last night was a "Persian Potluck" supper, honoring Persian cuisine. I have come to be an avid devotee of Persian cuisine, thanks to the chance discovery of the Caspian Grille on 539 Germantown Pike just outside of Chestnut Hill (in Lafayette Hill, PA). I manage to get down there on the bus two or three times a month and sample from Ali's wonderful menu: vegetarian orzo salad, grilled vegetables, palik-panic, humus, pasta salads, babaganush, falafel, roasted eggplant salad, and Ali Alou's great "How Are You?" shredded potato with light cream - plus many other items. The Grille is a wonderful place for lunch too, and somebody sells magic carpets too!

So, it looks like this blog will be picking up steam once again. And once again may I say that the continuous mutterings and threats made against Iran by our politicians and media whores are primary evidence for the deranged and criminal condition to which our nation has now sunk. The rule of law has disappeared in the West, and likewise the ability to engage in sensible, or even self-interested, reflection. We don't produce human beings in Western society any more -- only baboons. True manhood, the ideal of Western, Christian civilization, which existed even in an attenuated form until the first half of the 20th century - that ideal being the man of independence, who was neither a coward nor a bully -- has been gutted. Baboon-land is ruled by hate.

For this is the secret of totalitarian societies: it is possible to rule and to unify men through hate. America at this stage in its history seems to have nothing going for it except its hate. This is why we have seen our morals, and now our economy, collapsing. Giving way to hate is the easiest thing in the world, as easy as going to hell, for it is a sure generator of energy - although the energy generated is illusory and ultimately insubstantial. It cannot really be put to use productively, although it can produce a convincing imitation, at least for a while. But men resort to con games when they have destroyed the human principle, that is to say the conscience, within themselves.