There is no denying it: I am a bad blogger. Last night I did, however, write a long and (of course) extremely articulate post. But just as I was writing the last sentence, my darling laptop was kind enough to crash, and I simply could not be bothered to re-write the whole thing. And besides, writing on impulse is sort of my thing.
Well last night I had a bit of an epiphany. Okay that might be a slight exaggeration, but after spending days contemplating why I have been (and am) suffering from "writer's block" in every sense possible, I believe I have finally realised what is causing it. Lately, I have been unable to post, to answer e-mails, even to leave my co workers notes with instructions (I normally leave letter sized notes to make sure everything goes according to plan).
What makes the matter even stranger is the fact that I have had a lot on my mind lately, and therefore have an awful lot that I could have written or talked about. But instead, I have just been doing a lot of reading and thinking. What I realised was, that the reason why I have been unable to write, is because I simply have too much to say. I have made several attempts to write posts and mails, but everything has turned out sounding too serious, philosophical or personal.
Along with working very hard, I have been paying close attention to everything currently taking place in Israel, which is a lot.. And I daresay that my heart is more in Israel now than probably ever before. I know this is hard to understand for those who have always been in Israel, such as the highly intelligent Orly! But this is probably why I experience a feeling of sadness and helplessness practically every day, when reading new stories of "soldiers beating settlers". There is not much to say, or do. At least not from where I am sitting.
So what do I do then? Yesterday I had a day off work, so I went to the shopping mall and searched for the only thing that I know for a fact Icelandic grocery stores import from Israel: Pomegranates. I bought a bunch of them, despite their ridiculously high price. I noticed how the store had removed the little stickers with the country of origin (Israel) from the pomegranates, and instead they had put a sign saying "pomegranates - from Asia", while all the other fruits were marked with the country of origin. I suppose it was done to get people to still buy them.
Pomegrants from Asia?? :-D It's very funny because some people believe that we are actually in Europe. I guess it depends on the context.
Anyway, I guess many people don't understand your feeings for Israel. I personally have stopped wondering about it.
"Soldiers beating settlers" - Is this the way things are covered in Iceland? I usually saw "soldiers clash with settlers", mainly in the BBC of course. Anyway here the feelings were quite opposite this week. This week belonged to the extreme disengagemnt oponents. In Gush Katif some of them have been filmed lynching a random Palestinians boy - and I believe you condemn that. Others were attacking and cursing soldiers. Throughout Israeli highways teenagers were pouring oil and scattering nails, which was risking people's life.
I know that these actions were performed by the most extremist disengagement opponents, but it's hard not to be affected by them. So now if I see soldiers clash with settlers I mostly feel for the soldiers. Actually this week I began seeing many blue ribbons as oposed to the orange ribbons. Personally I don't wear any ribbon and if I had a car I wouldn't put any ribbon on it.
I still have my fears from the disengagement, and MUCH criticism on the way it was decided and performed. I do understand your fears, but I think it's time you realize that the disengagement WILL happen.
As for conscientious objection: Generally I think it's a disaster if soldiers start to do whatever they want. However, I admit that I have much more respect for soldiers refusing to do a specific operation (against Jews/Palestinians) than for those who refuse to serve in the army altogether (whom I *despise*, and so far I've only heard of leftists in this context).
Posted by: Orly at July 3, 2005 03:52 PM PermalinkPomegrants from Asia?? :-D It's very funny because some people believe that we are actually in Europe. I guess it depends on the context.
Anyway, I guess many people don't understand your feeings for Israel. I personally have stopped wondering about it.
"Soldiers beating settlers" - Is this the way things are covered in Iceland? I usually saw "soldiers clash with settlers", mainly in the BBC of course. Anyway here the feelings were quite opposite this week. This week belonged to the extreme disengagemnt oponents. In Gush Katif some of them have been filmed lynching a random Palestinians boy - and I believe you condemn that. Others were attacking and cursing soldiers. Throughout Israeli highways teenagers were pouring oil and scattering nails, which was risking people's life.
I know that these actions were performed by the most extremist disengagement opponents, but it's hard not to be affected by them. So now if I see soldiers clash with settlers I mostly feel for the soldiers. Actually this week I began seeing many blue ribbons as oposed to the orange ribbons. Personally I don't wear any ribbon and if I had a car I wouldn't put any ribbon on it.
I still have my fears from the disengagement, and MUCH criticism on the way it was decided and performed. I do understand your fears, but I think you should realize that the disengagement WILL happen.
As for conscientious objection: Generally I think it's a disaster if soldiers start to do whatever they want. However, I admit that I have much more respect for soldiers refusing to do a specific operation (against Jews/Palestinians) than for those who refuse to serve in the army altogether (whom I *despise*, and so far I've only heard of leftists in this context).
Posted by: Orly at July 3, 2005 03:58 PM PermalinkPomegrants from Asia?? :-D It's very funny because some people believe that we are actually in Europe. I guess it depends on the context.
Anyway, I guess many people don't understand your feeings for Israel. I personally have stopped wondering about it.
"Soldiers beating settlers" - Is this the way things are covered in Iceland? I usually saw "soldiers clash with settlers", mainly in the BBC of course. Anyway here the feelings were quite opposite this week. This week belonged to the extreme disengagemnt oponents. In Gush Katif some of them have been filmed lynching a random Palestinians boy - and I believe you condemn that. Others were attacking and cursing soldiers. Throughout Israeli highways teenagers were pouring oil and scattering nails, which was risking people's life.
I know that these actions were carried out by the most extremist disengagement opponents, but it's hard not to be affected by them. So now if I see soldiers clash with settlers I mostly feel for the soldiers. Actually this week I began seeing many blue ribbons as oposed to the orange ribbons. Personally I don't wear any ribbon and if I had a car I wouldn't put any ribbon on it.
I still have my fears from the disengagement, and MUCH criticism on the way it was decided and performed. I do understand your fears, but I think you should realize that the disengagement WILL happen.
As for conscientious objection: Generally I think it's a disaster if soldiers start to do whatever they want. However, I admit that I have much more respect for soldiers refusing to do a specific operation (against Jews/Palestinians) than for those who refuse to serve in the army altogether (whom I *despise*, and so far I've only heard of leftists in this context).
Anyway, this is going to be a hard summer for ALL of us. Hugs, Orly
Posted by: Orly at July 3, 2005 04:13 PM PermalinkPomegrants from Asia?? :-D It's very funny because some people believe that we are actually in Europe. I guess it depends on the context.
Anyway, I guess many people don't understand your feeings for Israel. I personally have stopped wondering about it.
"Soldiers beating settlers" - Is this the way things are covered in Iceland? I usually saw "soldiers clash with settlers", mainly in the BBC of course. Anyway here the feelings were quite opposite this week. This week belonged to the extreme disengagemnt oponents. In Gush Katif some of them have been filmed lynching a random Palestinians boy - and I believe you condemn that. Others were attacking and cursing soldiers. Throughout Israeli highways teenagers were pouring oil and scattering nails, which was risking people's life.
I know that these actions were carried out by the most extremist disengagement opponents, but it's hard not to be affected by them. So now if I see soldiers clash with settlers I mostly feel for the soldiers. Actually this week I began seeing many blue ribbons as oposed to the orange ribbons. Personally I don't wear any ribbon and if I had a car I wouldn't put any ribbon on it.
I still have my fears from the disengagement, and MUCH criticism on the way it was decided and performed. I do understand your fears, but I think you should realize that the disengagement WILL happen.
As for conscientious objection: Generally I think it's a disaster if soldiers start to do whatever they want. However, I admit that I have much more respect for soldiers refusing to do a specific operation (against Jews/Palestinians) than for those who refuse to serve in the army altogether (whom I *despise*, and so far I've only heard of leftists in this context).
Anyway, this is going to be a hard summer for ALL of us who care about Israel. Hugs, Orly
Pomegrants from Asia?? :-D It's very funny because some people believe that we are actually in Europe. I guess it depends on the context.
Anyway, I guess many people don't understand your feeings for Israel. I personally have stopped wondering about it.
"Soldiers beating settlers" - Is this the way things are covered in Iceland? I usually saw "soldiers clash with settlers", mainly in the BBC of course. Anyway here the feelings were quite opposite this week. This week belonged to the extreme disengagemnt oponents. In Gush Katif some of them have been filmed lynching a random Palestinians boy - and I believe you condemn that. Others were attacking and cursing soldiers. Throughout Israeli highways teenagers were pouring oil and scattering nails, which was risking people's life.
I know that these actions were carried out by the most extremist disengagement opponents, but it's hard not to be affected by them. So now if I see soldiers clash with settlers I mostly feel for the soldiers. Actually this week I began seeing many blue ribbons as oposed to the orange ribbons. Personally I don't wear any ribbon and if I had a car I wouldn't put any ribbon on it.
I still have my fears from the disengagement, and MUCH criticism on the way it was decided and performed. I do understand your fears, but I think you should realize that the disengagement WILL happen.
This is going to be a difficult summer for all of us who care about Israel.
Posted by: Orly at July 3, 2005 04:26 PM PermalinkPomegrants from Asia?? :-D It's very funny because some people believe that we are actually in Europe. I guess it depends on the context.
Anyway, I guess many people don't understand your feeings for Israel. I personally have stopped wondering about it.
"Soldiers beating settlers" - Is this the way things are covered in Iceland? I usually saw "soldiers clash with settlers", mainly in the BBC of course. Anyway here the feelings were quite opposite this week. This week belonged to the extreme disengagemnt oponents. In Gush Katif some of them have been filmed lynching a random Palestinians boy - and I believe you condemn that. Others were attacking and cursing soldiers. Throughout Israeli highways teenagers were pouring oil and scattering nails, which was risking people's life.
I know that these actions were carried out by the most extremist disengagement opponents, but it's hard not to be affected by them. So now if I see soldiers clash with settlers I mostly feel for the soldiers. Actually this week I began seeing many blue ribbons as oposed to the orange ribbons. Personally I don't wear any ribbon and if I had a car I wouldn't put any ribbon on it.
I still have my fears from the disengagement, and MUCH criticism on the way it was decided and performed. I do understand your fears, but I think you should realize that the disengagement WILL happen.
This is going to be a difficult summer for all of us who care about Israel.
So I was finally able to read your comments, thanks!
Okay to begin with..
"I guess many people don't understand your feeings for Israel. I personally have stopped wondering about it".
Good :-)
A lot of people here think Israel is part of Europe. A few months ago I asked a woman at a phone company about prices for calling to Israel, and we got into a lengthy debate about it. She refused to believe that Israel was in Asia.
""Soldiers beating settlers" - Is this the way things are covered in Iceland?"
Actually I am not following Icelandic media very well, but as far as I know, it is mostly settlers that are being demonized in Icelandic media.
"I do understand your fears, but I think you should realize that the disengagement WILL happen."
I know.
"This is going to be a difficult summer for all of us who care about Israel."
Indeed.
I'm glad we menage to agree on some things. I have to say that on recent days I avoided visiting your site because I didn't want to get too nervous. It may happen to me again in the future for longer periods. Anyway... now I'm hear.
Posted by: Orly at July 7, 2005 08:29 AM PermalinkI'm glad we menage to agree on some things. I have to say that on recent days I avoided visiting your site because I didn't want to get too nervous. It may happen to me again in the future for longer periods. Anyway... now I'm here.
Posted by: Orly at July 7, 2005 08:29 AM PermalinkHiya!
I'm just back from a week in Greece with my family. Now I have a lot of work to do before I head for 'eretz zavat chalav udevash' on July 29th.
I just want to ask...are you perfectly sure the pomegranates are from Israel? Here in Sweden we get them from Israel *or* India. I usually look at the cardboard box to find out the origin, since the stores are too busy/unwilling/lazy to get their signs right regarding origins.
Posted by: Torbjörn Karfunkel at July 10, 2005 11:25 PM Permalink