AN AMERICAN STUDENT IN JERUSALEM FEELS TENSION.Byline: Shawna Brynjegard SOME of you have asked us what is really going on here; I will try to express how we feel, as well as the situation. Last Sunday morning Sunday Morning may refer to:
It was a very tough week, and just when we were starting to feel better, it happened again. Yesterday I recognized the sound that woke me up. When I heard the bomb I knew what it was, but I stayed in bed in a state of disbelief Disbelief See also Skepticism. Capys Trojan who mistrusted Trojan Horse; cautioned against bringing it into the city. [Gk. Myth.: Zimmerman, 50] Cassandra no one gave credence to her accurate prophecies of doom. [Gk. Myth. until I began to hear the sirens Sirens with song, bird-women lure sailors to death. [Gk. Myth.: Odyssey] See : Enchantment sirens their singing so sweet, it lured sailors to their death. [Gk. Myth.: Hamilton, 48] See : Singer . Israeli television was not even broadcasting yet; I heard about it on Israeli radio. Unfortunately, in recent weeks I've learned the Hebrew words for bomb, terrorist, explosion and suicide. We didn't have classes yesterday. Instead, we had discussions and tried to figure out what to do and how to respond. After today's bombing we are even more unsettled; this one was not on a bus, so our previous plan of avoiding buses might not be enough anymore. We've been watching the news, and there are a few things we would like to clear up. First of all, CNN CNN or Cable News Network Subsidiary company of Turner Broadcasting Systems. It was created by Ted Turner in 1980 to present 24-hour live news broadcasts, using satellites to transmit reports from news bureaus around the world. is constantly reporting that the men who clean up the bodies are rabbis List of rabbis. This is a list of prominent rabbis. Rabbis are Judaism's spiritual and religious leaders. See also: List of Jews. Rabbis: Pre-Mishnaic (Tannaim)
adj. Of, relating to, or characteristic of rabbis. [From obsolete rabbin, rabbi, from French, from Old French rabain, probably from Aramaic group; they are haredi (religious) volunteers who have joined this special group called Hesed Shel Emet, "true mercy." The second thing that we have learned is the varying perspectives of the Americans, the British and the Israelis. The British seem a bit more sympathetic than the Americans; after all, they have their own terrorist organizations to deal with. The Americans begin their broadcasts with statements about the peace process; the Israelis begin with the numbers of dead and wounded. I think that is the big difference: Israelis are concerned about casualties and security right now, more than they are about the abstract concepts of peace and brotherhood. It seems that the Israeli opinion, even that of Labor and the left wing, is that we need to be separated right now, that peace might not yet mean living together. CNN and Bill Clinton talk about the peace process, but bombings are not symptoms of peace. There is so much anger and tension between the two sides that it is beginning to look like separation will be the only way we can have peace for a while. We have not been able to get along living together; perhaps living apart will allow us to get along. The peace process is not over, and I do not believe it is ending - the American ideal of living side by side might not be possible at this time, but right now peace means that no more innocent people will be killed. The news shows want ratings and they only show the most outrageous groups of Israelis. These groups on the news, who often actively seek airtime air·time n. 1. The time during which a radio or television station is broadcasting. Also called airspace. 2. The time at which a radio or television program is broadcast. for their fringe Fringe (optics) One of the light or dark bands produced by interference or diffraction of light. Distances between fringes are usually very small, because of the short wavelength of light. views, do not represent the majority of Israelis. Most Israelis are not talking about politics, but instead are occupied with the task of returning to some kind of normal life. There were people who had survived last week's bombing on Egged Bus line 18, now dead as a result of yesterday's attack on the same route. One Israeli family lost one member on last week's bus and another on yesterday's. One woman survived last week's bombing and yesterday, when she began to feel uncomfortable on the bus, asked the bus driver to let her off early; again she survived. As I write this everything is changing. Along with the rest of Israel, we are still trying to figure out how to react to this newest bombing. I have been very upset, and Isaac won't let me out of his sight. Today we walked along Yaffo Road, stepping over broken glass and looking at the discolored dis·col·or v. dis·col·ored, dis·col·or·ing, dis·col·ors v.tr. To alter or spoil the color of; stain. v.intr. To become altered or spoiled in color. street. There are so many soldiers and police everywhere, but how can you defend yourself against a person who believes that God wants him to kill Israelis so much that he should even kill himself to do so? Purim has basically been canceled here. There will be Megillah readings, but that will be the extent of the holiday; no one feels like celebrating. Children in Purim costumes were killed in Tel Aviv Tel Aviv (tĕl əvēv`), city (1994 pop. 355,200), W central Israel, on the Mediterranean Sea. Oficially named Tel Aviv–Jaffa, it is Israel's commercial, financial, communications, and cultural center and the core of its largest today. We are just not sure how to react or what to do. It is a very difficult year to be here, but it is shaping the rest of our lives, and our perception of Israel. We are starting to understand how Israelis feel, and are even beginning to feel like Israelis ourselves. I wish I could tell you what it feels like to be here now, but there are just so many emotions. Sometimes it really feels like Jerusalem is the center of the world. Shawna CAPTION(S): PHOTO Photo (Color) Passing glance An Israeli soldier stands next to a Hamas propaganda propaganda, systematic manipulation of public opinion, generally by the use of symbols such as flags, monuments, oratory, and publications. Modern propaganda is distinguished from other forms of communication in that it is consciously and deliberately used to poster. Associated Press Associated Press: see news agency. Associated Press (AP) Cooperative news agency, the oldest and largest in the U.S. and long the largest in the world. |
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