Sid's ramblings

Entry for August 05, 2006

Something I read on the internet written by this guy in Israel:

Johnnie Hughes, Evron (by Naharia on the NW border with Lebanon)

there's a jet screaming over my head
as i write
one of ours
for sure

but the baby it'll wake doesn't know or care

and on the other end
the receiving
there are babes that won't wake
from it's roar
ever again

what do i know
what do you care
as long as it's out there

just that the babe in my head
won't stop screaming

I'm writing this in our secure room against the backdrop of air-raid sirens from neighbouring Naharia, together with the thud of out-going shells and incoming rockets. We have been in a state of war for a week and a half now and the centre of much media attention. It's painful to read the reports of what is happening just over the hills to our north, deeply disturbing to see the news footage of the suffering that our forces are inflicting in the name of our defence.
Underlying these immediate re-actions is another disturbing thought. It appears the majority of our countrymen are unable to empathize with the suffering of the Lebanese. Rockets land on the North and our sons die in the fighting but we have no surplus feelings for others: we suffer from an historic persecution complex; a nation with a collective siege mentality: the children of a God who claims vengeance as his own.
In this eternal vicious circle we are unable to reach out to our neighbours. In the Middle East, we've learnt, one has to play hardball, and one always have to win. Like any other playground bully we have to have our fears addressed, before we'll be able to stop the aggression we have learnt to rely on.
The rest of the world can help. Stop taking sides: stop comparing and blaming; start encouraging any and every sign, no matter how small, of Israeli-Arab co-operation. There are Israelis who want to be able to drive over these hills not in tanks but in open friendship. As long as the mindset of our compatriots remains so defensive the idea of peaceful pursuits appears a hollow dream, however, and our neighbours will continue to suffer the tragic consequences.

You can read more or send a comment to him at

http://groups.msn.com/ThePleasureDomeahomeforwriters/humour.msnw?action=get_m...

where his entry is entitled "black".

I really agree with him and his message. May God grant that there really be true peace in the middle east and in other parts of the world one day. Till that day, we should be striving to create that peace by building bridges across communities; learning to truly act "regardless of race and religion" in order to create a society "based on justice and equality". (Singapore's national pledge - one that we often do not appreciate enough.)

Peace,

Sid

2006-08-04 20:51:04 GMT

Site Home



		Just trying to share on topics that interest me...Peace and blessings, friends.

		Entry for August 05, 2006 Something I read on the internet written by this guy in Israel: Johnnie Hughes, Evron (by Naharia on the NW border with Lebanon) there's a jet screaming over my head as i write one of ours for sure but the baby it'll wake doesn't know or care and on the other end the receiving there are babes that won't wake from it's roar ever again what do i know what do you care as long as it's out there just that the babe in my head won't stop screaming I'm writing this in our secure room against the backdrop of air-raid sirens from neighbouring Naharia, together with the thud of out-going shells and incoming rockets. We have been in a state of war for a week and a half now and the centre of much media attention. It's painful to read the reports of what is happening just over the hills to our north, deeply disturbing to see the news footage of the suffering that our forces are inflicting in the name of our defence. Underlying these immediate re-actions is another disturbing thought. It appears the majority of our countrymen are unable to empathize with the suffering of the Lebanese. Rockets land on the North and our sons die in the fighting but we have no surplus feelings for others: we suffer from an historic persecution complex; a nation with a collective siege mentality: the children of a God who claims vengeance as his own. In this eternal vicious circle we are unable to reach out to our neighbours. In the Middle East, we've learnt, one has to play hardball, and one always have to win. Like any other playground bully we have to have our fears addressed, before we'll be able to stop the aggression we have learnt to rely on. The rest of the world can help. Stop taking sides: stop comparing and blaming; start encouraging any and every sign, no matter how small, of Israeli-Arab co-operation. There are Israelis who want to be able to drive over these hills not in tanks but in open friendship. As long as the mindset of our compatriots remains so defensive the idea of peaceful pursuits appears a hollow dream, however, and our neighbours will continue to suffer the tragic consequences. You can read more or send a comment to him at http://groups.msn.com/ThePleasureDomeahomeforwriters/humour.msnw?action=get_m... where his entry is entitled "black". I really agree with him and his message. May God grant that there really be true peace in the middle east and in other parts of the world one day. Till that day, we should be striving to create that peace by building bridges across communities; learning to truly act "regardless of race and religion" in order to create a society "based on justice and equality". (Singapore's national pledge - one that we often do not appreciate enough.) Peace, Sid 2006-08-04 20:51:04 GMT Site Home