Comments on: On David and Goliath http://www.radioopensource.org/on-david-and-goliath/ Christopher Lydon in conversation on arts, ideas and politics Sun, 12 Feb 2012 15:27:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Sherry Chandler » Catching Up at Open Source http://www.radioopensource.org/on-david-and-goliath/#comment-76246 Sherry Chandler » Catching Up at Open Source Mon, 04 Dec 2006 16:11:48 +0000 http://www.radioopensource.org/?p=620#comment-76246 [...] ing and talking about his poetry, along with Fanny Howe and New Yorker editor Alice Quinn. On David and Goliath, which aired July 26, considers the “folklore and mythology&#8221 [...] [...] ing and talking about his poetry, along with Fanny Howe and New Yorker editor Alice Quinn. On David and Goliath, which aired July 26, considers the “folklore and mythology&#8221 [...]

]]> By: chilton1 http://www.radioopensource.org/on-david-and-goliath/#comment-76245 chilton1 Sun, 30 Jul 2006 21:36:48 +0000 http://www.radioopensource.org/?p=620#comment-76245 Peregrinator - you judge him from a time and place where our own violence and murderousness is safely distanced and barely televised- are we any different? David wanted Bathsheba – he killed her husband. We want oil, cheap shoes… Peregrinator – you judge him from a time and place where our own violence and murderousness is safely distanced and barely televised- are we any different?

David wanted Bathsheba – he killed her husband. We want oil, cheap shoes…

]]> By: Peregrinator http://www.radioopensource.org/on-david-and-goliath/#comment-76244 Peregrinator Fri, 28 Jul 2006 04:36:09 +0000 http://www.radioopensource.org/?p=620#comment-76244 David certainly would seem to make for a heroic figure, though horribly conflicted as evidenced by the seemingly unrequited same-sex love relationship he had with Jonathan, who was obviously deeply in love with David in more than a platonic way. But as DAvid was violent and murderous, hecould never be any hero of mine since he did not wage peace. David certainly would seem to make for a heroic figure, though horribly conflicted as evidenced by the seemingly unrequited same-sex love relationship he had with Jonathan, who was obviously deeply in love with David in more than a platonic way. But as DAvid was violent and murderous, hecould never be any hero of mine since he did not wage peace.

]]> By: peggysue http://www.radioopensource.org/on-david-and-goliath/#comment-76243 peggysue Thu, 27 Jul 2006 22:24:14 +0000 http://www.radioopensource.org/?p=620#comment-76243 Thanks nother, I guess this topic awakened my latent Christian upbring. I had a great Sunday school teacher as a kid. She really brought the old stories to life (though I don't recall her mentioning about the 200 foreskins) I enjoyed this show very much. Thanks nother, I guess this topic awakened my latent Christian upbring. I had a great Sunday school teacher as a kid. She really brought the old stories to life (though I don’t recall her mentioning about the 200 foreskins) I enjoyed this show very much.

]]> By: nother http://www.radioopensource.org/on-david-and-goliath/#comment-76242 nother Thu, 27 Jul 2006 05:22:19 +0000 http://www.radioopensource.org/?p=620#comment-76242 I enjoyed reading your posts on this thread Peggysue, esp. your own personal story. You helped me think about the subject in varied terms. I enjoyed reading your posts on this thread Peggysue, esp. your own personal story. You helped me think about the subject in varied terms.

]]> By: andrew wiggin http://www.radioopensource.org/on-david-and-goliath/#comment-76241 andrew wiggin Thu, 27 Jul 2006 04:17:34 +0000 http://www.radioopensource.org/?p=620#comment-76241 Have you ever read the novel ' Giant Killer', written by Elmer Davis who - in addition to being a great journalist - was a classical scholar. He noticed an obscure verse that seemed to indicate David did not in fact kill Goliath but rather came upon his body, took credit for the deed and used the kudos he gained to worm his way to supreme power in the kingdom. I find this a plausible alternative story, one that fits well with his later behavior. (I don't recall Davis mentioning the authorship of the psalms but I wouldn't be surprised if David hired - or conscripted - a staff of ghostwriters.) Politics doesn't change much over the millennia. Have you ever read the novel ‘ Giant Killer’, written by Elmer Davis who – in addition to being a great journalist – was a classical scholar. He noticed an obscure verse that seemed to indicate David did not in fact kill Goliath but rather came upon his body, took credit for the deed and used the kudos he gained to worm his way to supreme power in the kingdom. I find this a plausible alternative story, one that fits well with his later behavior. (I don’t recall Davis mentioning the authorship of the psalms but I wouldn’t be surprised if David hired – or conscripted – a staff of ghostwriters.) Politics doesn’t change much over the millennia.

]]> By: tommy higbee http://www.radioopensource.org/on-david-and-goliath/#comment-76240 tommy higbee Thu, 27 Jul 2006 03:35:16 +0000 http://www.radioopensource.org/?p=620#comment-76240 Goliath was not from Gaza ... but you're close. The 5 cities of the Philistines ("Lords" of the Philistines) are listed in the Bible as Gaza, Gath, Ashdod, Ashkelon, and Ekron. Some things just don't change.... Was David a murderer and an adulterer? He was guilty of both one time, as a result of the Bathsheba incident. But he paid for both, having not just one but two sons rebel against him. Fortunately, he was old the second time, and the son, Adonijah, didn't feel the need to kill him. He figured David was about ready to die anyway. But even though he was guilty of both, that's not who he WAS. He stood for much more. You could argue he was one of the first Renaissance men: artistic, creative, a great leader, a hero in battle, strong in his faith. But in spite of all that, he stumbled -- badly. Which is one reason he's larger than life. Not only is he a hero in conventional ways, but even his fall just made him a better example of Redemption. In a way, it's the fact that he did these horrible things that makes it possible for us not-so-larger-than-life people able to identify with him. Goliath was not from Gaza … but you’re close. The 5 cities of the Philistines (“Lords” of the Philistines) are listed in the Bible as Gaza, Gath, Ashdod, Ashkelon, and Ekron. Some things just don’t change….

Was David a murderer and an adulterer? He was guilty of both one time, as a result of the Bathsheba incident. But he paid for both, having not just one but two sons rebel against him. Fortunately, he was old the second time, and the son, Adonijah, didn’t feel the need to kill him. He figured David was about ready to die anyway.

But even though he was guilty of both, that’s not who he WAS. He stood for much more. You could argue he was one of the first Renaissance men: artistic, creative, a great leader, a hero in battle, strong in his faith. But in spite of all that, he stumbled — badly.

Which is one reason he’s larger than life. Not only is he a hero in conventional ways, but even his fall just made him a better example of Redemption.

In a way, it’s the fact that he did these horrible things that makes it possible for us not-so-larger-than-life people able to identify with him.

]]> By: Ben http://www.radioopensource.org/on-david-and-goliath/#comment-76239 Ben Wed, 26 Jul 2006 23:36:08 +0000 http://www.radioopensource.org/?p=620#comment-76239 At the end of the day, I think we love the image of a smaller person throwing stones at a more powerful foe. The famous images of standing against the tanks from Tiananmen Square echoes the same feelings pretty strong. At the end of the day, I think we love the image of a smaller person throwing stones at a more powerful foe. The famous images of standing against the tanks from Tiananmen Square echoes the same feelings pretty strong.

]]> By: zeke http://www.radioopensource.org/on-david-and-goliath/#comment-76238 zeke Wed, 26 Jul 2006 21:44:20 +0000 http://www.radioopensource.org/?p=620#comment-76238 My sense is that most of the metaphors and allegories will assign the roles of David and Goliath to others--whether individuals or countries. But I am wondering if there isn't also something of both of them inside each of us? Perhaps Dr Pauker will address this aspect directly. My sense is that most of the metaphors and allegories will assign the roles of David and Goliath to others–whether individuals or countries. But I am wondering if there isn’t also something of both of them inside each of us? Perhaps Dr Pauker will address this aspect directly.

]]> By: fiddlesticks http://www.radioopensource.org/on-david-and-goliath/#comment-76237 fiddlesticks Wed, 26 Jul 2006 21:20:24 +0000 http://www.radioopensource.org/?p=620#comment-76237 "Whoah, let me put the brakes on for a second. In the show we’re actually talking about David and Goliath, not using David and Goliath to metaphorically talk about Israel and Hezbollah. Seriously. David. Like the biblical David, he of the Michelangelo statue. What do you guys think about him?" I like the way he danced naked before the lord and pissed his wife off! That's my favorite moment in the story. “Whoah, let me put the brakes on for a second. In the show we’re actually talking about David and Goliath, not using David and Goliath to metaphorically talk about Israel and Hezbollah. Seriously. David. Like the biblical David, he of the Michelangelo statue. What do you guys think about him?”

I like the way he danced naked before the lord and pissed his wife off!

That’s my favorite moment in the story.

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