The Wisdom of Auden

One of the most depressing aspects of the current war between Hezbullah and Israel is the way in which it has caused the promising dialogue between Israeli and Arab bloggers to all but collapse. Moderate Arab bloggers who once despised the machinations of Hezbullah now reserve their hatred for Israel.

I was compelled to re-read Auden's melancholy masterpiece, "September 1st, 1939" written at the beginning of the Second World War. My eyes fell upon the following passage, which seems to speak to Arab and Israeli bloggers across the decades...

Defenceless under the night
Our world in stupor lies;
Yet, dotted everywhere,
Ironic points of light
Flash out wherever the Just
Exchange their messages:

Keep talking to one another. To survive, keep talking...