Entre Nous / Musings of a former Belgian: And now for something completely different (?)

And now for something completely different (?)

And now for something completely different. Via Instapundit, I hear that the master of "alternate history" SF, Harry Turtledove (a onetime UCLA historian, BTW) has a new novel out entitled In the presence of my enemies. This book depicts a "what if" scenario in which the US had staid of WW II and the Third Reich won it. Set about fifty years later, it focuses on the efforts of a handful of Jewish survivors who live a modern marrano (crypto-Jewish) existence, in perennial fear of being betrayed to the Gestapo.

The title is a reference to the line from Psalm 23: "Thou settest a table before me in the presence of my enemies". Actually, I always read that line more like: "And you bring good things upon us despite --- or perhaps because of --- our enemies looking on."

And speaking of good things, virtuoso prog-metalists Dream Theater have a new album coming up entitled "Train of Thought". The opening track, "As I am", is legally available for download as a low-bitrate MP3. The lyrics are ostensibly about sticking to one's guns musically and not giving in to trendiness or monday morning quarterbacks ("de beste stuurlui die altijd aan wal staan"). But it is very easy to read meaning somewhat closer to this weblog's subject into the lyrics. Judge for yourself:

Don't tell me how to win this fight
It isn't your life
It isn't your right to take the only thing that's mine
[You're p]roving all the time
It's over your head

[...]

I've been trying to justify you
In the end I will just defy you

To those who understand
I extend my hand
To the doubtful I demand
Take me as I am
Not under your command
I know where I stand
I won't change to fit your plan
Take me as I am