So many things I don't understand...
And also, it's snowing...
Today I'm thinking about Israel. Because about a week ago, there was a powerful piece on NPR, an interview with a man who has appointed himself the task of running around in the West Bank, keeping tabs on settlements. That's what he does, runs around the West bank, pretending to be a construction worker/settler, interviewing other construction workers/settlers.
Then he takes his notes to governments, to the world. He brings his notes to us, and he tries to convince us that the construction continues. Brave man. A little loopy, and a liar, but brave and full of conviction.
(And hell, he's right! 61 new illegal settlements have been built under Sharon's watch. 61! Every year, Israel allocates 556 MILLION for incentives, so that people will continue to live in the west Bank!)
Of course, the first thing I thought was, "Wow, my life is lazy and full of sloth. I should do something IMPORTANT. I should feel strongly enough about ANYTHING to live like THAT GUY! I should go run around and take notes too."
And then I thought, "Jeeze, I wish some of my Hillel kids could hear this segment."
And then I thought about something else, though now I can't remember what. Nothing meaningful. Probably I stopped at the grocery store to get some dish soap or something... and Israel slipped quietly from my sieve.
But then today, I got an email from Americans for Peace Now, and Israel popped back into my mind.
I don't know much, and I certainly can't solve the crisis. But I really don't see how anyone can, at this point, after so many deaths, deny that the end result WILL BE 2 states. There will HAVE TO BE two states. And we (Israel and the US) will HAVE TO HELP build Palestine. And the settlers will HAVE TO get the fuck out of settlements like Givat Tamar.
But at the same time, the radical/left community will HAVE TO fucking wake up and realize that Israel is a country, and that, like the US, it is a good country full of good people, no matter how shitty the current administration happens to be. No matter how ignorant religious radicals seem, or how loud they shout. Israel is a beautiful country, and I love it. Suggesting that Israel should cease to exist is just ridiculous! Israel is a country, like ours. Too much like ours in many ways.
But for all its faults, Israel also happens to be a functioning democracy in a part of the world where many countries regularly commit far worse human rights violations. And in Israel, a Palestinian can bring an Israeli to court, and win. It happens sometimes. But not in Syria, or Lebanon. Not in Iran.
I love Israel. I lived there and I wanted to make Aliyah for awhile. Truly. It's an amazing land full of history and soul, for all its blood and guts. For all its faults and follies. And life there is intense and heavy and bright and hot and beautiful. I feel for Israel all the time, and while I don't like the connotations of the word "Zionist," I suppose I am one. I'm a Zionist who hates the occupation. I'm a Zionist who wants to see two states with good health care and education. I'm a Zionist who hopes to someday visit the International City of Jerusalem.
One little story, for the holidays...
The year I lived in haifa, I spent Christmas in Bethlehem, in the West bank.
I went to the Mlk Gotto, and to Manger square. I visited Rachel's grave. I prayed, and ate shwarma.
And everywhere there were colored Christmas lights, and men selling popcorn, and nuns, and lots of beer, and singing in many languages. It was one of the most memorable nights of my life. So bright.
The Mass was heavy and sacred, while all around me the world was swirling, wimples and cigarette smoke and incense and exhust fumes and all. It was beautiful. It was like a giant animal with very colorful fur. it was organic and loud and the people were packed so tightly, and all moving. I wish I had a picture.
And there was this one guy... on the corner near me, blitzed out of his mind, and laughing and shouting and smiling so BIG. So full of joy. I stared at him, and he just kept smiling, and I smiled back...
And it took me a while to look down and realize that he was holding his dick in his hand. And for a minute I was scared of him. Because sex. You know... what men do with their dicks.
But then he started to pee.
There he was, waving his dick around in the air, shooting his sour piss like it was fireworks. Laughing and smiling.
And really, it was pretty incredible. It made me happy.
Not everything makes sense. Which is all I really know about the West bank.
I mean, c'mon people...
Today I'm thinking about Israel. Because about a week ago, there was a powerful piece on NPR, an interview with a man who has appointed himself the task of running around in the West Bank, keeping tabs on settlements. That's what he does, runs around the West bank, pretending to be a construction worker/settler, interviewing other construction workers/settlers.
Then he takes his notes to governments, to the world. He brings his notes to us, and he tries to convince us that the construction continues. Brave man. A little loopy, and a liar, but brave and full of conviction.
(And hell, he's right! 61 new illegal settlements have been built under Sharon's watch. 61! Every year, Israel allocates 556 MILLION for incentives, so that people will continue to live in the west Bank!)
Of course, the first thing I thought was, "Wow, my life is lazy and full of sloth. I should do something IMPORTANT. I should feel strongly enough about ANYTHING to live like THAT GUY! I should go run around and take notes too."
And then I thought, "Jeeze, I wish some of my Hillel kids could hear this segment."
And then I thought about something else, though now I can't remember what. Nothing meaningful. Probably I stopped at the grocery store to get some dish soap or something... and Israel slipped quietly from my sieve.
But then today, I got an email from Americans for Peace Now, and Israel popped back into my mind.
I don't know much, and I certainly can't solve the crisis. But I really don't see how anyone can, at this point, after so many deaths, deny that the end result WILL BE 2 states. There will HAVE TO BE two states. And we (Israel and the US) will HAVE TO HELP build Palestine. And the settlers will HAVE TO get the fuck out of settlements like Givat Tamar.
But at the same time, the radical/left community will HAVE TO fucking wake up and realize that Israel is a country, and that, like the US, it is a good country full of good people, no matter how shitty the current administration happens to be. No matter how ignorant religious radicals seem, or how loud they shout. Israel is a beautiful country, and I love it. Suggesting that Israel should cease to exist is just ridiculous! Israel is a country, like ours. Too much like ours in many ways.
But for all its faults, Israel also happens to be a functioning democracy in a part of the world where many countries regularly commit far worse human rights violations. And in Israel, a Palestinian can bring an Israeli to court, and win. It happens sometimes. But not in Syria, or Lebanon. Not in Iran.
I love Israel. I lived there and I wanted to make Aliyah for awhile. Truly. It's an amazing land full of history and soul, for all its blood and guts. For all its faults and follies. And life there is intense and heavy and bright and hot and beautiful. I feel for Israel all the time, and while I don't like the connotations of the word "Zionist," I suppose I am one. I'm a Zionist who hates the occupation. I'm a Zionist who wants to see two states with good health care and education. I'm a Zionist who hopes to someday visit the International City of Jerusalem.
One little story, for the holidays...
The year I lived in haifa, I spent Christmas in Bethlehem, in the West bank.
I went to the Mlk Gotto, and to Manger square. I visited Rachel's grave. I prayed, and ate shwarma.
And everywhere there were colored Christmas lights, and men selling popcorn, and nuns, and lots of beer, and singing in many languages. It was one of the most memorable nights of my life. So bright.
The Mass was heavy and sacred, while all around me the world was swirling, wimples and cigarette smoke and incense and exhust fumes and all. It was beautiful. It was like a giant animal with very colorful fur. it was organic and loud and the people were packed so tightly, and all moving. I wish I had a picture.
And there was this one guy... on the corner near me, blitzed out of his mind, and laughing and shouting and smiling so BIG. So full of joy. I stared at him, and he just kept smiling, and I smiled back...
And it took me a while to look down and realize that he was holding his dick in his hand. And for a minute I was scared of him. Because sex. You know... what men do with their dicks.
But then he started to pee.
There he was, waving his dick around in the air, shooting his sour piss like it was fireworks. Laughing and smiling.
And really, it was pretty incredible. It made me happy.
Not everything makes sense. Which is all I really know about the West bank.
I mean, c'mon people...
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