re: #2 Bob Levin

I think the whole issue of celebrity comments having any weight at all is a little bit off. But that’s our culture. Voight is an actor, has done some good work, and that’s that. However, you don’t need an special insight to see who’s in a hospital.

I can agree that treating injured people is one of the least morally questionable things people can do, so I have no problem with saying nice things about hospitals, doctors, etc.

Hospital photo-ops fall into a more morally ambiguous area. Maybe it’s good to publicize things like this. On the other hand, Voight wouldn’t be the first person to selfishly use a bedside photo op to burnish his own rep. Not sure what his motivation is so I won’t pass judgement on it.

He’s right when he says,

The American public thinks Israel is strong, tough, and smart, but needs to remember that it is also humane, vulnerable, and surrounded by enemies.

But I think Isreal and its supporters need to be wary of its friends as well as its enemies. This will sound cheesy, but it reminds me of a line from Goodfellas (1990):

If you’re part of a crew nobody tells you they’re going to kill you. There aren’t any arguments or curses like in the movies. Your murderers come with smiles. They come as your friends. People who cared for you all your life. They always seem to come when you’re weakest and most in need of their help.