Young soldiers
Tonight I’m thinking a lot about the Israeli soldiers who have been carrying out the evictions in Gaza. I’m sure they’re as divided as the rest of Israeli society, some thinking that the withdrawal is a positive step toward peace, some thinking that it’s rewarding terrorism. But I’m sure none of them ever thought that they’d be compared to Nazi soldiers as they dragged Jews from their homes and synagogues. This photo essay gives a good sense of the type of rhetoric and emotional scenes they’re facing.
Back in the US, tonight was also the candlelight vigils in solidarity with Cindy Sheehan.
I’m constantly amazed at how young soldiers are.
May the One who makes peace in the heavens, send peace to us, to all the children of Abraham, and to all the world.
August 18th, 2005 at 11:50 am
omeyn
August 18th, 2005 at 3:37 pm
Thanks for posting those links. It’s hard to imagine that my six-year-old is closer to the age of some of these kids than I am.
August 19th, 2005 at 2:08 pm
Rich and I were discussing this whole thing last night. I don’t care how many explanations I get,I think this is wrong!! Turning over this land is not going to make anything better….for anyone. What a waste!!
August 21st, 2005 at 1:47 am
Actually, everyone here (except for the settlers) is kinda proud of what happened: no violence from the soldiers, very little (physical) violence from the settlers, lots of rhetoric, which the soldiers listened to patiently and respectfully, lots of scenes where soldiers and settlers left houses crying together and hugging….
I think the country is going to come out stronger from the whole mess.
And Robin P. – The Palestinians deserve a country as much as you or I do. It’s a pity and a shame that they chose to pursue their goals with terror…but that’s usually the weapon of the disenfranchised. My grandfather was also a terrorist (in the ETZEL, one of the most violent underground movements active before the establishment of Israel), and one of our own members of parliament, and a former Chief-of-Staff of the IDF said that had he been born Palestinian, he would have probably joined the Hamas.
We have to find a compromise, because frankly – there is no “right” and “wrong” here, just a lot of people in a lot of pain who have to learn to live together. Or else.