(no subject)

[violachic]

Any time I read about something distressing vis-a-vis Palestinian politics, I am upset. But it is especially upsetting when I read about something happening where I've been. Such as December, 2005, when a week after I visited the Deheisha refugee camp, their kindergarten was bombed. The middle child of the family who hosted us, a little girl named Noor (which means "shining" or "light" in Arabic), was a student in the kindergarten at the time. She was uninjured, but trying to imagine the additional trauma this five-year-old girl had to endure is heartbreaking.

Today's Electronic Intifada article about a new settlement in Hebron falls into this category. When you've been there, seen the city, and met the people, it is difficult to not stop and feel sympathy, and even empathy, for them. It makes me wonder what changes the city will undergo now.



I really, really need to go back.

Comments

Re: sorry, had to chip in

[ironheadjane.livejournal.com]

Thank you VERY MUCH for answering some of my question. :) I think my sister-in-law was sitting at the dinner table one night w/ the family (Jewish NY family) and was talking about the problem of "nation" and that identity has caused that area.

The closest thing I can understand that compares to the Israel/Palistine stuff is the history of Ireland, which I've studied more in depth than the Middle East. It all seems to be a fight of ideas and emotions, not anything else. It seems like as if entire nations have PTSD and attachment issues -- like every single person needs serious therapy and meditation.

Re: sorry, had to chip in

[fiddlinfreak.livejournal.com]

It's a bit different from the Irish situation. Actually the Irish situation is an older problem, The West Bank has only been occupied for 40 years, not 400. While both were the products of English colonialism, Israel/Palestine has the whole Christian Zionist Orientalism High Imperialism going for it. Also Ireland had a much better claim to nationhood actually being a contained island than either Israel or Palestine, whose borders aren't really based on anything other than the Jordan River and Mediterranean and even the Jordan was suspect for a while.
But you're right. I've been studying in Jordan this semester and some of the guest lecturers have said: "These people need serious therapy"

Re: sorry, had to chip in

[ironheadjane.livejournal.com]

Wow, I'm so grateful for your 2cents on this! I've realized upon our discussion that you make my brain work in fun ways (I love good historical, sociological discussion!), so because of that, I'm going to add you to my friends list.