Note: This is an archived site. All articles and sections were written for specific audiences, for particular purposes. Without the proper context, a given piece can be puzzling or off-putting. Please only read what is directly recommended to you. What’s below is UNEDITED. Update: I pray that my dear loved ones, Lois and Robert (with whom I am sharing this blaring blah blah in prep for a possible 50th High School Reunion), won’t find it so off-putting that I scare them away. I would like a day… it would take a full day… to trace the source of all this for them. For it comes from very deep wells, intentionally hidden from the public. One of those wells is Edna St. Vincent Millay… to whom I made a promise in 1950; she wrote the poem at the very end below, To the Not Impossible Him.

Ox Eyes Tunisia’s Carthaginian Rose
Figuring that this mundane focus will blossom into monumental support on the most serious issues for Muslims… whilst placing me within leisurely distance of both France and Italy… for fun… and a future for Marcello.
by Richard Martin Oxman

“‘American’ citizens — even the experienced, well-meaning activists among them — are digging their own mass grave. Most are blind, hopelessly insistent upon what Beckett called the great deadener (habit), and hellbent on inflicting immiseration and much more upon the vast majority of the world, whilst patting themselves on the back as do-gooders. I know this because I have spent my heartbeats — 24×8 over the last 18 months — trying to see otherwise. The call is clearly for me to travel abroad, and make sweet, peaceful contacts with others… trusting that God will help me to help myself and others to embrace the blessings of life, respect what begs to be honored. Great powers overseas can help us wash our bloody, contagious hands.” — the author to his home schooled ten-year-old son (who is — daily — considering topics which are verboten in the public schools)

Driving the car today, I told Sylvie my latest idea for generating tourism in Tunisia, and she said, “We represent a billion dollars worth of value for their tourist industry.” Maybe not a billion, but — for sure — we’d be a multi-million dollar asset to the country. [Pause.] I say that in all humility, believe me, but it’s just too too clear what we could do for their present efforts in that realm. And not for financial compensation. A trade of sorts, perhaps. Life’s heartbeats for some kemia or couscous… and a roof for the rain.

Once I get a better handle on what’s listed below, I intend to share what I’m thinking with the wonderful Tunisian (Ali) who George and Jacqueline intend to introduce me to…. Maybe even before that.

La volonté de vivre

« Lorsque je tends vers un but
Je me fais porter par l’espoir
Oublie toute prudence
Je n’évite pas les chemins escarpés
Et n’appréhende pas la chute
Dans les flammes brûlantes.
Qui n’aime pas la montagne
Vivra éternellement au fond des vallées » …

a. The Aeneid’s treatment of Carthage’s foundation myth.
b. President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali’s profile.
c. Abu el-Kacem el-Chabbi’s Will to Live (Chebbi).
d. The Dougga Festival.
e. Les Aigles de Carthage (The Eagles of Carthage football team).
f. Falconry Festival in El Haouaria.
g. Guetiffa.
h. Hammams.
i. Hassan ibn Nooman, founder of Zaytouna Mosque, who held lessons under an olive tree….
j. Jasmine.
k. Kairouan.
l. Labib.
m. Medinas.
n. National Park at Lake Ichkeul
o. October’s Carthage International Film Festival (2012)
p. Punic history.
q. Quran.
r. September’s Rai Music Festival (2011)
s. Souqs.
t. Tozeur’s palmeraie
u. Unesco World Heritage Sites.
v. Vineyards.
w. Water conservation.
y. Yasmine Hammamet
z. Zarzis.

HOW shall I know, unless I go
To Cairo and Cathay,
Whether or not this blessed spot
Is blest in every way?

The fabric of my faithful love
No power shall dim or ravel
Whilst I stay here,–but oh, my dear
If I should ever travel!

Contact the author at 831-688-8038 in Aptos, California. Or email him at aptosnews@gmail.com. The very serious issue concerning the environmental damage done by air travel can be addressed whilst dealing with other matters which demand equal time. First things first. Aside provided to keep all of this grand intention… as human as possible: Tunisia has wonderful, sun-ripened fruit. I hear that the intense, subtle flavors are an extraordinary surprise to those who know no better. Selfishly, I could do no better for my children than to open a window for them… which will expose them to such… sunshine, taste.

Special reading for those interested: http://www.counterpunch.org/harms08262010.html.