The Color Purple is a book about oppression of “an under class” (poor phrasing, but I’m writing quickly — please send suggestions for improvement).

Alice Walker, the author, has publicly refused permission for a Hebrew translation because, and here’s where we immediately enter the thicket, of Israeli Apartheid. The linked article seems to be trying to play a “white man’s burden” tactic of saying Walker has unwittingly given in to self-censorship.

Which, really, seems to be a second-order support of “constructive engagement” as a political strategy of dealing with difficult situations (which, indeed, is Macdonald’s primary thesis).

Personally, I think the sum of lesser evils always betrays the greater good. More: I wanted to talk about this, but not on Facebook for business reasons — which makes me wonder if, potentially, in however small a way, I’m supporting apartheid out of financial expedience. In essence: self censoring. That’s why I’m posting here, pseudonymously.

More later, but I wanted to put this out there. I recently finished The Leaderless Revolution, which has stuff to say about this (and lots on the topic of embargoes and boycotts), but I’m working right now