Tel Aviv Diary -
October 23-28, 2012 - Karen Alkalay-Gut October 23, 2012
Are we racist? Ha'aretz reported today some wild statistics that seem to indicate we are. Of course the ultra-orthodox are much more so than the Russian immigrants and all that, but apparently a majority of our society supports some kind of discrimination. The only problem with these statistics is that there is a security issue that can't be ignore. In supporting separate roads, for example, people are exhibiting their desire not to be shot at or blown up. This extends to an unwillingness to live next to Arabs (There are several Arabs in my neighborhood, by the way, and nobody seems to care. But then, it is not new and it isn't Jerusalem...)
October 24,2012 So here we go again - another round with Gaza. It seemed ridiculous to be going to the knee doctor, not only sitting in the waiting room with my little limp while the others seemed truly in agony, but also wasting doctors' valuable time while people are being injured and in shock down south. I felt like the image of the Tel Avivian, chatting in a sidewalk pizzeria while others are shivering in shelters. Still, what else is there to do? So when we ran into friends we were happy to have pizza and talk about anything but politics and kassams. October 25, 2012 I don't believe it - the pairing of Lieberman and Bibi has got to be a ruse. It will never last. And I'm usually a good guesser at weddings. But I still have to lie down and fan myself October 26, 2012
Do you mean I haven't told you about Panic Ensemble's new website? It's here with lots of free downloads and stuff about the group.
I don't know why my link isn't working. I wrote it right "http://www.panicensemble.com" but it isn't following my orders. I'll fix it today. October 27, 2012 After almost a month in and out of the repair shop, Yaniv and Ezi have apparently fixed the mouse on my computer and it doesn't jump around or change its place any more. I'm overwhelmed. I've pretty much stopped writing altogether out of mechanical frustration. So many things going on with this country and I could barely get a sentence out. For example: Tonight is the demonstration in memory of Yitzchak Rabin. There is one tomorrow at the university and I wasn't going to go because I get too tired on the days I teach, but then a few students asked me if it could be skipped and I suddenly realized that I have to go. There just isn't a way I can allow what he stood for to be forgotten. Especially with elections are around the corner. Every night the political picture changes. This means there are a lot of changes and there actually may be a change. All I want is a change in attitude. We rejoiced in the thunder and lightning yesterday. We hung outside the windows and wet our faces. How welcome is rain in a dry land. But by morning the sun was out again - Still, the air was clean at last, and breathing is easier.
Yes, there are constant challenges in my daily life as well - more childcare, more time at Ichilov, less time for friends and fun, and shorter days. It's only temporary however, and soon we'll be back to 'normal.'