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December 25 Photo classMelissa and Bob (my parents) are taking a photo class.
This is my mama's portrait of my father. December 22 impending christmasI started a Flickr site for my photos. So, that's that.
Christmas preparations are in full swing in the Wadi (the Arab district near my house). Little kids dressed as Santas and ordered shortest to tallest parade around with their bells, singin' carols in Arabic, while vendors sell cheap jewelry, strong coffee, and other food stuffs from little stands nestled 'neath clear plastic sheathing to prevent the precious goods from getting wet in the winter rains. The narrow cobbled streets are slam packed, umbrellas crashing into each other as people vie for the best position to haggle over pashminas and fruits. I love Christmas here--where at least i don't feel like its as processed and packaged as the States.
At night, the random blinking lights from Christmas trees light up windows next to Menorahs--Hanukah having stopped traffic yesterday...and in the morning life rolls on, no matter what holiday you are or aren't celebrating. December 14 Hamseen HangoverFor the past two weeks we have been inundated with hamseen (dust storm) after hamseen. The summary version is that everything is dusty, my throat and head hurt (hence the hangover thing), and the temperature has been unseasonably warm--which, of course, is not a bad thing. On clear days, i can see across the crescent shaped bay to the white cliffs that mark the border of Lebanon. On hamseen days, i struggle to clearly see the large ships patiently awaiting unloading in the port. However, the other morning i think i saw what might be the most lovely sight the hamseen has to offer. About a third of the way around the crescent from here (going towards Lebanon) is an industrial area. At night, the lights there don't look too bad, the cooling towers have been an intriguing (Death Eater) shade of green lately. Exactly what the cooling towers are for is up for debate, but the two of them are large and surrounded by a dozen or so other smoke-stack type edifices. During the day its an eyesore--smoke pouring into the air (makes my asthma start on command). But, the other morning, deep in the middle of the hamseen, everything was hazy looking...and all i could see were the towers coming out of mist (using the term lightly)--sort of like an industrial pin cushion. Its was spooky, as though emerging out of nothing, not belonging. I wished i had a camera. Point is that i have been trying lately to see random things like that---appreciate the poetic beauty of the moment seperately from whatever caused it. In the end, it's proving to be simpler to do than i thought it might be. December 06 NetanyaI know i haven't talked seriously about anything lately...but its getting to be that time. I also know about half of you don't need to hear what i am going to say--but for the half who haven't lived or visited here i think its important. In the wake of yesterday's suicide bombing in Netanya (i am posting MSNBC's map b/c i really like it), i think i should say something about Israeli security and the concept of ideological terrorism.
Firstly, Netanya is an area about 40 miles from here.
Secondly, its an area i dont' go to.
So for those who have some serious concerns about my (or my family's) well-being, please don't worry. There appear to be places in Israel more prone to such displays of violence...these areas are places where it is easy to target a specific population. Luckily, Haifa is a very mixed city, it is nearly impossible to isolate any one group--thereby creating a much less appealing target.
Security here is very good. I honestly have never felt safer anywhere in the world. I can walk home along at night past darkened parks in the middle of the night without the least sneaking suspicion that something bad might happen to me. I certainly cannot say the same of Atlanta, DC, Carolina, or Santiago.
Hatred, fear, prejudice, and the struggle for recognition are rampant throughout the world. Certainly, we all know that terrorism takes many forms--from military exercises, guerrilla movements, bombings of malls, abortion clinics, power stations, etc. the goal, regardless, is the same...to create terror or fear in a population to gain control. The only difference between random and ideological violence is that it is clear cut in its reasoning. People believe in what they are doing, rather than a spur of the moment decision. As one friend pointed out, that makes it scarier for him. For me, it makes it easier...i know why they do what they do--and while i don't know how to solve the problem, i see the starting point. This kind of terrorism has always been much easier for me to cope with than the kind that causes children to bring guns to school and go on shooting sprees. My point is that, at least here, i know what the rules of the game are. And while i admantly condemn such horrific actions, i think there is a lot to be learned from why people reach such a level of abasement and hopelessness that they are willing to sacrifice their humanity. There is no religious scripture in the world that permits its followers such violence. To at least a great degree, i think that it is the great failure of religious leaders that such levels have been stooped to in order to regain or maintain control of such transient material things-possessions have become more important than humanity and life. Unfortunately, it is this struggle, this loss of spiritual nobility, that i am reminded of all too often here.
Along these lines, I am reading a book by Jessica Stern, "in the Name of God: Why Religious Militants Kill" which i find particularly fascinating...check it out of you get a chance. She interviews terrrorists from around the world--right wing Christian anti-abortionists included. December 04 The story of Ben and the Roos Once upon a Saturday, in a land far far away from most all of you, a man named Ben arrived in a port
city on the Western edge of the Middle East. The city, unseasonably warm (75 F or so) for the first week of Christmas month (NOTE: please forgive northern-hemispheric ideas of what temperature should be during december), greeted him with all it had to offer the stranger from South Florida. I would love to say he was overhwlemed by visions of camel carts in the streets or flying carpets, or at least Orthodox men in their large, round, furry, supposed to be winter hats to set the tone...but, alas, only the mangy cats and I greeted him. While Ben's arrival starts the two week countdown of having a good friend from home here to chill with, it also signalizes the arrival of many boxes of popcorn, unobtainable-in-Israel cereal, and most importantly, my early birthday present....a brand new pair of KangaRoos--yes, my preciouses, before any of you get doubts--- they do in fact have the side-pocket zippers, too. In a side story, once upon a time, over a year ago, i remember showing a good friend who is a bit of a shoe connoisseur these shoes...claiming adamantely that one day they would be mine!!! However, infrequent US bound trips and lack of desire to pay customs taxes prevented me from obtaining them till now! Ahhhh! My beautiful shoes!!!! Who needs flying carpets when you have fabulous 'Roos?? |
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