January 9, 2009

Jan 9, 2009

Reading the news, watching and listening to the people who live in Israel is interesting and disturbing all at the same time. It's facinating to talk with people who are so passionate about their existence. Maybe Canadians are just as passionate but because we are not challenged to the same degree, we don't have the opportunity to express it in the same way.

To say that I'm interested in what is going on around me is just stating the obvious, but saying that I'm disturbed needs some explaination. On the one hand I have a basic understanding about self defense - I say 'basic' because as I Canadian we don't 'need' to defend ourselves in a physical way. (Sometimes we need to defend ourselves in a pyscological way and so we go on the offensive and proclaim our non- american-ness but really, when was the last time we needed to physically defend 'our home and native land'?)

On the other hand I find all of what I see on the news, around me from people involved to the person on the street, very foriegn. It's surreal to think that just 50km away there is a war being waged. People are loosing their fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters etc... The are loosing their homes. It rained heavily last night, where did everyone sleep?

Large warehouses of equipment being used to make bombs and missles are being discovered and destroyed. Making arms is the largest industry in Gaza. Arms created for the purpose of being sent into Israel. With the destruction of these store houses of arms and factories to make this stuff, the livilihood of these people who make this stuff is also going up in smoke. Yet, Israel's security (the protection of it's citizens) is dependant on this mission.

More than 1000 bombs, missiles and other munitions are sent from Gaza into towns close enough to Gaza every year. These strikes have a 40 km firing range from Gaza. They are purposely aimed at schools, old folks home and other civilian institutes. The last 8 years have petrified children and adults alike that live in cities like Sedrot. Israelis live in fear and terror. Israel has asked and threatened Hamas to stop, but Hamas has laughed at Israel taunting them with accusations that they are cowards and other unpleasentries. The Israelis have said 'enough is enough'. Endora's box has been opened and who knows what will come out and who will be able to close the box up.

Interesting - maybe fascinating is more apporpriate - and disturbing, really disturbing. Can't we all just get along? - Oh, how Canadian of me.