My first instinct was something lighthearted. When the news is grim with unspeakable atrocities, one can react to that, shut up or go against the tide. The first was unbearable. Shutting up makes for light reading. Here, I had some pretty photos from Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, a few things to say about our visit, and started to pull something together.
No, that doesn't seem right. I'm not a believer in the call-in-the-grief-counselor, it's-been-five-days-time-to-announce-oneself-healed-and-move-on mentality. It's okay to react to horror by being horrified, and to dwell there for a while. Grief is by definition long-term.
How long? For how long does the pall last? Shortly after the barbaric Hamas attack, I found myself, for some strange reason, thinking of families going to vacation to Israel right now, tickets bought, hotel reserved, arriving Monday, with a full schedule of visits to the Western Wall and the Dead Sea and a winery or two. And they can't even feel bad for themselves because whole families were slaughtered, or dragged back into Gaza in captivity. Maybe that's my problem — it's horror, but it's not my horror. Only at a ... I almost said "comfortable" ... at an uncomfortable distance. It's complaining about a rainstorm when you're snug indoors on the other side of the world.
Maybe I thought of that because the blown vacation is such tiny suffering, as opposed to, oh, having your baby beheaded. Truly beyond comprehension. The mind draws away, covering its eyes.
Inhuman, and a bad strategy, for Hamas. I would suggest that the future of Palestinians is not made more bright by the course of action their elected government has taken. That's one of the many reasons those celebrations are so ill-considered. They aren't just rejoicing at barbarism, but at one that undercuts the position of what they supposedly care about. Those out celebrating the attacks, when challenged, make ruffled efforts to put some daylight between being pro-Palestinian and pro-murdering-families-in-their-homes. They just happen to be out celebrating today. It seems a distinction without a difference, like those Trumpies who insist they like him for his successful businessman schtick, and not all the treason parts.
So what I'd like to do is share these two photos I took with my pal Michael at the Recoleta Cemetery in Buenos Aires. I reversed the order — I tend to take an establishing shot and then go in for a close-up — because it seems to tell a little story. I called today's post "Seraph," at first, which is singular for a type of winged angel. Then I realized no, that isn't right. Even though there is only one in the photo, there are many in awful, unimaginable reality. So the plural is in order. As for the whole concept of angels, even though one third of Americans believe in their physical reality, me, I never believed in them, or an afterlife, not for a second. So I'm taking comfort for something all too real by offering something that isn't really there. That sounds about right.
So what I'd like to do is share these two photos I took with my pal Michael at the Recoleta Cemetery in Buenos Aires. I reversed the order — I tend to take an establishing shot and then go in for a close-up — because it seems to tell a little story. I called today's post "Seraph," at first, which is singular for a type of winged angel. Then I realized no, that isn't right. Even though there is only one in the photo, there are many in awful, unimaginable reality. So the plural is in order. As for the whole concept of angels, even though one third of Americans believe in their physical reality, me, I never believed in them, or an afterlife, not for a second. So I'm taking comfort for something all too real by offering something that isn't really there. That sounds about right.
I believe. It defies logic, yes. I understand that. At the same time, it offers comfort. It might seem really selfish for me to desire comfort at a time when a literal pogrom has occurred. But a question remains unanswered. At some point, we must ask what is the goal? More death? I certainly don’t have the answers. I wish I did. Half of me wishes that Gaza would be leveled. There’s a reason why revenge is a dish best served cold.
ReplyDeleteThe goal is stated repeatedly by the Palestinians and Hamas. They want to rid the world of my brethren. It’s horrifying that my fellow Americans are marching to push the narative.
DeleteThere are no rational answers. There is no good here. Only evil. There will be no winners. Only losers as is the case in all wars.
DeleteRemember, Hamas is not representative of all the Palestinians who are, as Neil put it, trapped in a huge open air prison. They are a group who are tired of being bullied. Rather than sit there and take it, they decided to kick Israel in the shin (i.e. commit unthinkable atrocities) knowing fully it will not end well for them.
This is what humans do. It doesn’t make it right. It is just who we are whether we choose to close our eyes to it or not. This won’t go away. It will only reinforce the resolve of both sides.
This .... this current horror .... is what happens when fanatic, religious zealots, men mostly, rule the world. Any religion, any sect, any denomination. I US d to say about street gangs, put them in an enclosed arena to fight until they're all dead. Maybe that would work in this instance. Just leave the women and babies alone.
ReplyDeleteWhen animal companions die, I console their humans with words like "crossing the Rainbow Bridge'...and all the rest of it. When someone loses a loved one, I never speak about a heaven. I've never believed in an afterlife. I think of people as being like light bulbs. The light within, whatever it may be burns out. And then you have to quickly dispose of the bulb. There Is neither a light bulb heaven nor a light bulb hell.
ReplyDeleteAs for angels, well, when some of my old bleacher pals from Wrigley have died, I've been known to say that now they have their season tickets to watch the Angels play. Some folks smile at that...and others don't.
The long-stated goal of Israel's enemies is to drive every Jew into the sea. I find it hard to believe that they really still think they can accomplish that. Not sure if they are outnumbered, but they are definitely outgunned. Strictly from a geographical standpoint, it's as if Pennsylvania, in its long-held desire for access to the Atlantic coast, sent hordes of Pennsylvanian terrorists into New Jersey, to level it and to kill every resident in the process, from the Delaware to the Shore.
Israel, as so many people are quick to tell you is roughly the same size. Small, but not all that small. My parents criss-crossed it on buses for three weeks in 1987, and saw just about every inch of it, and then they stayed with relatives for even longer. If any of them were still alive to witness this pogrom. They would be beside themselves with horror and grief. Soon after they left came the very first Arab uprising...known as the Intifada. So their timing was fortuitous. As for those whose vacations have been curtailed or eliminated...hey...just be glad you didn't go LAST week. Old Jewish saying: "At least you've still got your health."
I believe Israel's enemies have known for a long time that they cannot win. Not now, not ever. No push to the sea, no Palestinian state. That pipe dream is probably gone for good. Just more oppression, subjugation, cruelty, abuse, torture, blood, death, and sorrow. For generations to come. So the old "Let's go out in a blaze of glory" mentality prevails once again (beheading babies is glory?). Let's just kill as many Jews as possible, for as long as we can. Point and shoot...and keep on shooting until you either run out of ammo or until they finally clock you...whichever comes first. At this point, it doesn't really matter anymore.
I wonder which is more self destructive: hands on murder or dealing death remotely.
ReplyDeleteJohn
Well said, Grizz.
ReplyDeleteYou take good photos Neil. If I only read you in thr paper I would not have known.
ReplyDelete