Commonly regarded as the greatest sea explorer of all time; James Cook made his three world-changing voyages during the 1770s; at a time when ships were routinely lost around the English coast. He made history by making geography-- sailing through previously unknown southern seas; charting the eastern Australian coast and circumnavigating New Zealand; putting many Pacific islands on the map; and exploring both the Arctic and Antarctic. His men suffered near shipwreck; were ravaged by tropical diseases; and survived frozen oceans; his lieutenants-- including George Vancouver and William Bligh-- became celebrated captains in their own right. Exploits among native peoples combined to make Cook a celebrity and a legend.Cook is not; however; viewed by all as a heroic figure. Some Hawaiians demonize him as a syphilitic rascist who had a catastrophic effect on local health. Indigenous Australians often see him as the violent dispossessor of their lands. Nicholas Thomas explores Cook's contradictory character as never before; by reconstructing the many sides of encounters that were curious and unusual for Europeans and natives alike. The result of twenty years' research; Thomas's magnificently rich portrait overturns the familiar images of Cook and reveals the fascinating and far more ambiguous figure beneath.
#1513471 in Books 2003-10-13Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.98 x 1.02 x 6.08l; 1.27 #File Name: 0802140157320 pages
Review
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. A WELCOME SELF-EXAMINATIONBy MevashirLetter to contributors of this book:Dear Scholars;have been reading your poignant book; Wrestling with Zion: Progressive Jewish-American Responses to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict by Tony Kushner and Alisa Solomon (Oct 13; 2003).As someone who left Israel and converted to Christianity seeking a way out of the endless cycle of hatred and violence that characterizes life there; I also have wrestled with Tziyon.But to my shock I have discovered that much of the impetus for aggressive Zionism came from evangelical Christians in the UK and US; as described in this book: Allies for Armageddon: The Rise of Christian Zionism by Victoria Clark (Nov 28; 2007).I have attached a study that tries to put Zionism into a larger theological and historical perspective.I think it might help you deal with the ugly aspects of Zionism that aggrieve many of us by explaining their roots in Christianity and Western Imperialism.I also was very moved by Judith Butler's essay about President Summers of Harvard attempting to indict all who critique Israel as anti-Semites. Having attended Harvard many years ago; and whose father is a Harvard professor; I can attest that their arrogance and domineering nature is breathtaking. I would suggest that Harvard academics revise Descarte's famous I think because I am to I think because I am at Harvard.Anyway; as a former Israeli Haredi nationalist who converted to Christianity in 2000 and has renounced all association with Zionism; I too have been subjected to withering attacks. This is a letter I sent to Israeli consulates around the world following the Mavey Marmara atrocity. And this is a dialogue I had long ago with Israeli über-Zionists who denounced me as well.So far as the accusation of "self-hating Jew" goes; I deal with it in the following way; symbolic of judo-psychology (using your attacker's own rhetoric against him). I turn it around and say that I am a selfish-hating Jew; meaning I hate Jews who attempt to use Judaism to justify their selfishness and lack of compassion.I also think that there is ample teaching within normative Judaism to counter this charge by elevating it. The practice of fasting certainly is a form of "self-hatred" that all religious Jews honor. So is the teaching in Pirkay Avot that Who is the strong man? One who conquers his desires. This also is a form of hating one's odious side. So are statements about being mosser nefesh for Torah study and charitable deeds. All these are spiritual concepts of hating oneself; or at least part of oneself.(Of course Christianity has this as a major tenet; as when Jesus said: What does it profit a man to gain the whole world but to forfeit his soul? He who forfeits his life for My sake gains it; but he who gains his life will lose it.)Unfortunately these latter examples do not lend themselves readily to sound bites; hence my first retort that I am a selfish-hating Jew. I thing that is wonderfully stinging and pithy making it very effective.My only objection to your essay about Summers is that you were too apologetic.So far as the rest of the book goes; I am very grateful for this collection of thoughtful soul-searching essays. They have helped me clarify my own thinking. I had known about Judah Magnes; but did not realize that Martin Buber also expressed strong reservations about Zionistic nationalism.I thought the essay by Daniel Boyarin was very insightful. I don't know how he can love Christianity so much without wanting to be a follower of Jesus himself. But maybe he is in his own quiet way; like his name-sake Daniel Tzion! Also perhaps only those who once hated Jesus (like me) can eventually give it all up and surrender fully to Him?The essay by Arthur Waskow was very passionate; although a bit weird. I love his article: Jesus; the Rabbis; and the Image on a Coin.The essay by Marc Ellis has a lot of promise; but I felt his writing style was convoluted and struggled to comprehend what he really wants to say.The essay by Ammiel Alcalay was really breathtaking. When I lived in Israel most of my friends in the Breslov Chassidic movement were French Jews of Sefardic (Moroccan) extraction. Unfortunately our rabbi; Israel Odesser; was somewhat prejudiced against Sefardic Jews; which is one reason I eventually left the movement and became a follower of Yeshua MiNatzrat (figuring Him to be the ultimate Sefardic Rabbi!).I wonder if he is familiar with the internet author Eileen Fleming; who has written extensively about Mordechai Vanunu? Back in 2005; when I was living in Jerusalem ; I walked over to the East Jerusalem church where Vanunu was staying and asked him to join me as a street evangelist in West Jerusalem . I suggested to him that Israel's antipathy for evangelism would overwhelm its paranoia about his nuclear knowledge and he probably would find himself expelled from the country (as he wished all along). I also assured him that I would go to jail with him if they arrested him. He demurred; thinking perhaps that I am crazy; which I might well be. That was my humble effort to help free him from his Israeli captors.(Ammiel might be interested in reading about this Israeli Sefardic woman who renounced her citizenship over injustice to Palestinians: Avigail Abarbanel. Also this Jewish American who has taken up Palestinian rights: Anna Baltzer.)I was very disappointed by Susannah Heschel's comment towards the end of the book (p. 295) that Many Palestinians are our enemy; to be sure; and wish our death and destruction - all of us; Diaspora Jews and Israelis. Only a fool would fail to recognize that. Well; Susannah; count me as one of those fools. (And furthermore; I would say if they really harbor such malice towards us then it is only because have earned their enmity and deserve their antipathy. If we have become so woefully corrupted and devoid of essential humanity; then perhaps our collective demise would be a mitzvah?) This really seemed like a reptilian statement; especially from the daughter of a famous humanitarian rabbi. Even if there are such Palestinians; doesn't Susannah remember the scripture; Proverbs 27:19 As in water face reflects face; So a man's heart reveals the man? Or how about In the measure one measures out so it is measured back to him? So perhaps the murderous enmity of some Palestinians towards Jews is merely a reflection of our own antipathy towards them? That seems elementary to me. Or is it only the followers of Jesus who can comprehend such things?Please forward to Jonathan Boyarin this link to Ali Abunimah's book that discusses his family's upbringing in Lifta: One Country: A Bold Proposal to End the Israeli-Palestinian Impasse by Ali Abunimah (Aug 21; 2007).I wonder why you did not include something from Gilad Atzmon in your book? Or from Roy Tov; who converted to Christianity and is radically anti-Zionist. Are they too extreme for your taste?God Bless You all for your sincere and searching hearts.Shalom baShem Yeshua;Menachem MevashirPS This might strike you as really wierd; and if it offends you then I ask your forgiveness in advance; but perhaps part of the problem of what Marc Ellis so perceptively calls "Constantinian Judaism" (although I would propose "Akivian Judaism" to reflect the brutal ultra-nationalism of the man who knowingly anointed a false Messiah and instigated a ruinous war with Rome that cost half-a-million Jewish lives; see page 5 of this link) is semantic. What I mean is that in Hebrew Zionism is Tziyonut. Zayin in Hebrew refers to weapons or to the male sex organ. It actually is a rather vulgar term. So perhaps we are victims of our own misguided semantics and mis-transliterations? Tziyon means marker; monument; or gravestone. This also has Constantinian overtones; but it also can refer to the One who escaped from the tomb and rose from the dead; Who in my opinion is the only real hope for defusing the toxic confrontation between the warring seed of Abraham. I also would propose a fusion of the Divine Name to YaHuWAllaH; to reflect unity between Isaac and Ishmael. This reflects the true pronunciation of YHWH that Rabbi Zalman confirmed to me a number of years ago; and is parallel to the Hebrew Adonay-Elohim; or Lord God.0 of 1 people found the following review helpful. zionBy basha detroitThe two editors; Kushner and Solomon; are also two of our most cherished writers in the United States; working now. I trust that they both wrestled deeply inside themselves to achieve this rare and vital work. I salute them both and am personally grateful for the book; which offers insights to a history that we tend not to see. Simply; Kushner and Solomon have uncovered a rock; and allowed the creepy crawly feelings to come out and be examined.17 of 22 people found the following review helpful. Watch out for bogus reviewsBy The Truth Shall Set You FreeWatch out for reviews from people like Shalom Freedman. It's ironic that this reviewer summons the line "Have you no shame?" while at the same time dismissing all Jews he doesn't agree with as self-hating. Rather than counter their arguments with his own; this type of lazy reviewer seeks to circumvent intellectual discussion altogether with ugly ad hominem attacks. His hateful screeds aren't just directed at books; but at their authors as well. He leaves the same bankrupt reviews for any and every book that dares criticize Israel or Zionism. Mr. Freedman clearly has nothing better to do with his time than bash books and authors whom he has clearly not even bothered to read. Where is YOUR shame; Mr. Freedman?
