(no subject)

[violachic]

My feelings are alternately that of rage and some kind of numb apathy- although maybe more numb than apathetic- towards the news of Israel's invasion of Lebanon. Since I'm more or less homebound, and don't watch TV its hard for me to keep up with the news. I have BBC news and Al Jazeera on RSS feed, but since I've been feeling so overwhelmed by my illness lately I took them off my default view for a little while. I just couldn't handle me and the rest of the world at the same time. So lets now add in a feeling of guilt for not paying enough attention.

I wish I were back in Palestine, now, more than any other time. Things all over the Middle East seem to be imploding.* And there is nothing I can do about it. But right now, in this condition, even if I were there, there would still be nothing I could do about it.

Its a paradoxical feeling.


Today is Bastille Day. It is also Woody Guthrie's birthday. (Thanks for the link, geezerlee!) I don't know why, but somehow, given the news of which I speak above, they both seem significant. It could just be the drugs, but.... in this case, I doubt it.


*This is just a note, as per usual, that I won't be tolerating trolls, flame wars, or other nasty, accusatory comments, whether they're from people I know, or from folks who might wander in here by other means. My posting these things in my journal are not an invitation for debate.

Comments

[sleepykins.livejournal.com]

come over tonight - watch SciFi with us. you know you want to!

[name-omitted.livejournal.com]

When tyrants tremble sick with fear,
and hear their death knells ringing;
when friends rejoice both far and near,
how can I keep from singing?

In prison cell and dungeon vile,
our thoughts to them are winging.
When friends by shale are undefiled,
how can I keep from singing?

[name-omitted.livejournal.com]

I just re-read this and thought about how this could be taken given the current context. Please know that this is naught but a hope for a day in the not too distant future.

[bethypooh95.livejournal.com]

well at the risk of sounds extremely selfish, i am glad you are here at home, where there are not bombs going off around you. but at the same token,... i do understand that you have an amazing attachment to want to help and be with the people in palestine which what makes you such a great person.

[ironheadjane.livejournal.com]

I'll just come straight out and admit I'm extremely selfish. I want Amy here in the US. Well, I'd prefer her in Seattle these days, but that's just another detail. The desire to make a difference is what makes Amy special, among many other things.

And she has nice boobies. Let's not forget that.

[tanyad.livejournal.com]

I'm selfish, no doubt about it. I want you HERE! As in the continental US of A. As long as laura doesn't hog your boobs, feel free to visit her and come back.

[bethypooh95.livejournal.com]

thank you for making not feeling like i was the only one being selfish.

[violachic.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I needed that :-)

[violachic.livejournal.com]

Actually, where I would be, I would be nowhere near where bombs are going off.

[violachic.livejournal.com]

I understand :-) And actually, I love this song very, very much. There's tons of reasons to sing it, and tons of ways to interpret it.

[violachic.livejournal.com]

-I- would prefer Seattle these days, sometimes. Not that I have the money for plane fare, and not that I could probably survive another five hour flight, but I dream of Seattle :-) Not to mention I am at the point again where I could REALLY use a change of scenery. Last time I was at that point I went to my mom's, which is only partly relaxing, and that's because I've beaten into her.


I miss you.

[orpheus42.livejournal.com]

There was a picture on the front page of the local paper of a confrontation in Gaza as well. I saw that and wondered about the CPT delegation in At-Tuwani. I'm very much anticipating their next update and they are very much in my prayers in this tumultuous time.

Not that things aren't generally tumultuous in that part of the world, but this....

Yes, both do seem significant, I agree. I can't put a finger on why, but that strange combination of struggling for freedom and prophetic consciousness...

[name-omitted.livejournal.com]

You need to be where you need to be. I understand fully the desire to be where you can do MORE. While we were bombing Serbia... scratch that... while MY tax dollars were bombing MY friends in Serbia, I did NOT want to be in college. I did what I could, I launched a canpaign to get web links on all appropriat websites to Radio B92 in exile, but there really was not much more I could do, aside from communicate via. email with people I was bombing. The thing is, if I were there, then, I would not be able to do anything. The best use of my time was to get through college, to prepair for the next fight.

Clintion should have stepped down when he was impeached. Insted, he did what US presidants always seem to do when they are weak domesticly. He showed streanth internationally. Now, Bush can not do anything but support Isrial beacuse we did the same thing, with less justification, in Iraq, so once again, I am watching bombs that WE paid for kill civilians. This time, I am where I can do the most good. In the US, raising Cain against the day this fall when the administrration finds itself, for the first time, facing a hostile Senate.

As for you, you yet have a part to play, Your task now is to be ready for it when it gets handed to you. You may be best suited to the world here, bringing the horrors of war to a passive American audiance.

Whatever it is, I have faith in you. You will do your part. Good luck, and God bless.

[piddyx.livejournal.com]

I share your feelings. Listening to the news is too much for me to handle.

I wish I was there on the ground. Perhapse if an American lost a limb or something there sould be enough public outcry to cause GW Bush to put an end to this. You know he could stop this in a second. Of coarse, Saudi Arabia or any other nation could stop it too if they put pressure on the US. They are all useless. Lebanon was turning out to be such a beautiful country too...

[poetdan.livejournal.com]

"They played at Auschwitz."

[poetdan.livejournal.com]

Sadly the Israii's have become killers with no shame, but I am a pragmatist. Will I still be able to get Lebanon bologna.

[violachic.livejournal.com]

It seems like Lebanon should put a sign up like they have in factories that say "87 Days Accident-Free!" only its like "Wow, X-days Invasion-Free!".

I could go to Lebanon. I speak French and I'm learning Arabic. Hmmm.

[violachic.livejournal.com]

I would have LOVED to, but I got your messages too late! Plus, wasn't feeling well. Ah well, so what's new....

If you and Chris are going moderately regularly to the 11:00 service, perhaps some Sunday I should hitch a ride with y'all, if you're willing. Preferably after I get my stipend check so we can "Zeph" afterwards :)

How are you feeling these days?

[violachic.livejournal.com]

You know what? I think I like you. Consider it an open invitation to come visit our community. We have enough space for you -and- a...er.... friend :-) to come visit. I think we'd get on well, the lot of us. And then I'd have to introduce you to Jeremy and Charity.

[orpheus42.livejournal.com]

raising Cain against the day this fall when the administrration finds itself, for the first time, facing a hostile Senate.

I hope so. Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups. Because they know their backs are against the wall, all the traditionally uber-conservative powers are going to come out with a vengeance this fall.

Indiana doesn't have a Senator up this year, though Sen. Bayh is talking about running for President in 2008.

[orpheus42.livejournal.com]

That would be awesome. I haven't been to the Chicago area since January '02, and that was just to catch a flight. I haven't actually spent time there since fall '99 when my college wind ensemble made a tour stop for a couple of days there.

Plus it looks like there are some cool people there. ;-)

I might be going to the Jesus Radicals conference next month. Not sure yet.

[orpheus42.livejournal.com]

Not only the election-year-stupidity factor though... also it doesn't seem that much like Bush and company really care that much about Congress. If you haven't seen it already, check out the editorial I linked and posted in my journal.

[subdermalglow.livejournal.com]

Yeah! Come stay with us! We have a guest room and 3 kitties and even several members who can Cook. Please note the capital letter. I canNOT Cook, nor even cook, but I am nice too and will be nice to you!

[orpheus42.livejournal.com]

After Iraq I have a hard time believing Bush really gives a rat's ass about any human life (including American lives) that isn't useful for his political purposes....

[orpheus42.livejournal.com]

for now, I'll keep commenting here. But I would love to come up eventually.

Too bad the Jesus Radicals conference is in Champaign instead of Chicago, that would have been perfect.

[subdermalglow.livejournal.com]

yeah, 'cause chicago is wayyyy cooler than champaign, too.

oh well!