Iain Banks criticised by author of 'Unspeak'

[Mike_I]

There's some harsh criticism of Iain Banks in a new article by Unspeak author Steven Poole. Poole is responding to a recent letter from Banks published in the Guardian. He claims that Banks' use of the term "outlaw state" is "meaningless" and "pseudorational". He writes that Banks' suggestion of a boycott of Israel is "vicious", and goes on to write (in the comments section) that "all collective punishment is vicious".

Some of the comments disagree with Poole however, and argue that his own assertions are more meaningless than Banks's (eg comments 33 & 38).

Anyhow, it's quite a good read, whichever side you're on, and some of the comments are well-made:

http://unspeak.net/outlaw-state/

[Deep Black]

Hi there Mike & welcome to the board.

Good fine & thanks for the link.

At least Poole wasn't whining about his books

[vermeer]

Interesting bit of news, thanks.
I found that chap's response, Steven Poole, to miss the point of Banks' letter and rant a bit pedantically, but there was a good discussion.

The question Banks makes, "what can you do?" is a tough one for people who want to effect some change yet are blanked by mainstream politics and media. I'm reading "Free to Choose" by the Friedmans right now, and market ostracism, economic or cultural, through voluntary consumer choice is probably the most moral and free form of violence one can exercise in such a case. This is obviously the antithesis of Israeli violence which is utterly non-voluntary for the Palestinians and others directly affected by their nation's actions.

[Consider Phlebitis]

Banks decision not to have his books translated into Hebrew is a sad choice - a kind of senseless exclusion of a group of people who share a language. This does not mean they share any belief, or have the same skin color, or anything else in common. It is unfortunate that Banks stoops to such a generalization. Perhaps Americans should boycott English authors, movies, music, etc. as an objection (certainly justified) to British Petroleum's destruction of a chunk of that country - devastating its people, their natural resources, and their livelihood. Ridiculous???
Long live Elton John!

[Tangendentalism]

Banks decision not to have his books translated into Hebrew is a sad choice - a kind of senseless exclusion of a group of people who share a language. This does not mean they share any belief, or have the same skin color, or anything else in common. It is unfortunate that Banks stoops to such a generalization. Perhaps Americans should boycott English authors, movies, music, etc. as an objection (certainly justified) to British Petroleum's destruction of a chunk of that country - devastating its people, their natural resources, and their livelihood. Ridiculous???
Long live Elton John!

I find almost everything you've said here utterly perplexing. Taking each bit of confusion in order:

Did Iain say he didn't want his books translated into Hebrew? I thought he asked his agent not to do deals with Israeli publishers. Not the same thing, is it?

This slippage (between language and country) is even more confusing in your example of Americans boycotting English authors. If you mean English language authors, then there is at least one rather obvious problem. If you mean authors who are English (a category which does not include Banks), then I'm not sure why. BP, to the extent that it has anything to do with the UK as a country any more, is related to the whole country of Britain, not exclusively to England. This may seem like a minor quibble, but it matters rather a lot to the non-English members of the UK and justifiably so.

BP is not commensurate with the British state. The Israeli armed forces most certainly are commensurate with the Israeli state.

BP is responsible for the most shocking negligence, casual disregard for environmental and humanitarian consequences, and the selfish placement of profiteering above ethics. All of which, incidentally, the US government was happy to support when it meant more and cheaper oil. The Israeli state sent armed soldiers onto ships carrying aid supplies to an area that it has been systematically and intentionally cutting off from the rest of the world causing the deaths of no-one knows how many people and the misery of many more. These two issues are both horrific, but they are horrific in their specificity. To try to compare them in the way you have is naive at best.

Far more importantly than any of my other queries though is this: what has Elton John got to do with any of it!?

[Consider Phlebitis]

From Guardian Interview - June 3 2010 :
"For the little it's worth, I've told my agent to turn down any further book translation deals with Israeli publishers" said Iain

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010...ael-iain-banks

From: eltonjohnnews.blogspot.com :

Earlier the Rocket Man singer had defended his decision to play in Israel, writing: “I have always believed that music inhabits a world set apart from politics, religious differences or prejudice of any kind."
“Throughout my career I have made a point of playing concerts in challenging places, such as the USSR and Northern Ireland in the 1970s, Israel in the 1990s and very recently Morocco.
“Music is, and always will be, a universal language, free from boundaries. It can and does inspire unity and builds bridges between people, and I will continue to play concerts anywhere in the world where I can encourage that unity.”

http://eltonjohnnews.blogspot.com/

[Consider Phlebitis]

And another sad incident today - 5 killed on the border all because of a shrubbery?

UN Exonerates Israel Over Deadly Border Clash‎ -
AOL News

[Conscious Bob]

Will this thread be locked too for not being 'Banks-specific' I wonder...

[Forum Admin]

Possibly...

[Conscious Bob]

Well considering there wasn't any trolling in that last thread, locking it without any warning was pretty heavy handed. Iain has debated a couple of hot issues in two non M's and makes his position clear in public with it would appear, the goal of stimulating debate. You've been actively preventing forumites from discussing these very issues...