Belated
I've had mammoth postings in my head but have gotten into the situation where I don't know where to start.
I was unable to post over the Christmas holidays due to a bruised nerve in my shoulder which was sending sharp pains stabbing down my right arm. This also prevented me studying for the mock exams that are taking place this week (honestly! It was so bad it actually hurt more when I was in a sitting position, and the only position which -- occasionally -- relieved it was flat on my back with my knees elevated and my arms around my head). Suffice to say a full account of Christmas will have to wait a bit longer yet! Perhaps I'll do it in stages.
Then there's the situation in Gaza, about which I have been reading everything I can get my hands on, but still hesitated to post. As a layperson, and only an averagely-informed one at that, I am nervous of stating any strong opinions let alone expressing agreement or enthusiasm for any of the suggested solutions. Whatever solution is found, let it be the one that causes the fewest people to be killed. All I feel confident of saying is that I am repulsed by Hamas' creed and recent statements; that I feel Israel should not be bombing UN buildings or schools or anywhere civilians are sheltering even if they believe Hamas fighters or their weapons are inside; that I wish that the Palestinians had water, electricity and food; that I wish that there were no rockets being fired into the Negev; and that I cannot help noting the great disparity between civilian deaths as a result of the Israeli incursion, and those that have resulted from the rockets. It is not relevant to the morality of Hamas' actions -- targeting civilians is heinous. But I think it is relevant to the level of response which is proportionate.
I may start bookmarking articles I find online which, or any portion of which, I find helpful in understanding the situation, or which give me new information or make points which are new to me. Beyond that, I don't think I'll say anything more.
Here is an article by a commentator who seems generally sympathetic to the cause of a Palestinian state (I think I infer correctly that he was at the protest last week) but is now writing to condemn the Hamas leadership's recent statement that the Israeli incursion makes Israeli children a legitimate target for Hamas. I wish more would be like this man and, while perhaps being more sympathetic to one side or the other, nonetheless not fail to condemn the actions of "their" side where it is appropriate to do so.
I was unable to post over the Christmas holidays due to a bruised nerve in my shoulder which was sending sharp pains stabbing down my right arm. This also prevented me studying for the mock exams that are taking place this week (honestly! It was so bad it actually hurt more when I was in a sitting position, and the only position which -- occasionally -- relieved it was flat on my back with my knees elevated and my arms around my head). Suffice to say a full account of Christmas will have to wait a bit longer yet! Perhaps I'll do it in stages.
Then there's the situation in Gaza, about which I have been reading everything I can get my hands on, but still hesitated to post. As a layperson, and only an averagely-informed one at that, I am nervous of stating any strong opinions let alone expressing agreement or enthusiasm for any of the suggested solutions. Whatever solution is found, let it be the one that causes the fewest people to be killed. All I feel confident of saying is that I am repulsed by Hamas' creed and recent statements; that I feel Israel should not be bombing UN buildings or schools or anywhere civilians are sheltering even if they believe Hamas fighters or their weapons are inside; that I wish that the Palestinians had water, electricity and food; that I wish that there were no rockets being fired into the Negev; and that I cannot help noting the great disparity between civilian deaths as a result of the Israeli incursion, and those that have resulted from the rockets. It is not relevant to the morality of Hamas' actions -- targeting civilians is heinous. But I think it is relevant to the level of response which is proportionate.
I may start bookmarking articles I find online which, or any portion of which, I find helpful in understanding the situation, or which give me new information or make points which are new to me. Beyond that, I don't think I'll say anything more.
Here is an article by a commentator who seems generally sympathetic to the cause of a Palestinian state (I think I infer correctly that he was at the protest last week) but is now writing to condemn the Hamas leadership's recent statement that the Israeli incursion makes Israeli children a legitimate target for Hamas. I wish more would be like this man and, while perhaps being more sympathetic to one side or the other, nonetheless not fail to condemn the actions of "their" side where it is appropriate to do so.