Lou's Journal

An Open Letter to A Citizen of Gaza

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:21:14 GMT

An Open Letter to A citizen Of Gaza:
I Am the Soldier Who Slept In Your Home:
By: Yishai G (reserve soldier)
ygoldflam@gmail.com
[Originally published in Hebrew in Maariv]

Hello,

While the world watches the ruins in Gaza, you return to your home which remains standing. However, I am sure that it is clear to you that someone was in your home while you were away.

I am that someone.

I spent long hours imagining how you would react when you walked into your home. How you would feel when you understood that IDF soldiers had slept on your mattresses and used your blankets to keep warm.

I knew that it would make you angry and sad and that you would feel this violation of the most intimate areas of your life by those defined as your enemies, with stinging humiliation. I am convinced that you hate me with unbridled hatred, and you do not have even the tiniest desire to hear what I have to say. At the same time, it is important for me to say the following in the hope that there is even the minutest chance that you will hear me.

I spent many days in your home. You and your family’s presence was felt in every corner. I saw your family portraits on the wall, and I thought of my family. I saw your wife’s perfume bottles on the bureau, and I thought of my wife. I saw your children’s toys and their English language schoolbooks. I saw your personal computer and how you set up the modem and wireless phone next to the screen, just as I do.

I wanted you to know that despite the immense disorder you found in your house that was created during a search for explosives and tunnels (which were indeed found in other homes), we did our best to treat your possessions with respect. When I moved the computer table, I disconnected the cables and lay them down neatly on the floor, as I would do with my own computer. I even covered the computer from dust with a piece of cloth. I tried to put
back the clothes that fell when we moved the closet although not the same as you would have done, but at least in such a way that nothing would get lost.

I know that the devastation, the bullet holes in your walls and the destruction of those homes near you place my descriptions in a ridiculous light. Still, I need you to understand me, us, and hope that you will channel your anger and criticism to the right places.

I decided to write you this letter specifically because I stayed in your home.

I can surmise that you are intelligent and educated and there are those in your household that are university students. Your children learn English, and you are connected to the Internet. You are not ignorant; you know what
is going on around you.

Therefore, I am sure you know that Qassam rockets were launched from your neighborhood into Israeli towns and cities.

How could you see these weekly launches and not think that one day we would say „enough“?! Did you ever consider that it is perhaps wrong to launch rockets at innocent civilians trying to lead a normal life, much like you? How long did you think we would sit back without reacting?

I can hear you saying „it’s not me, it’s Hamas“. My intuition tells me you are not their most avid supporter. If you look closely at the sad reality in which your people live, and you do not try to deceive yourself or make
excuses about „occupation“, you must certainly reach the conclusion that the Hamas is your real enemy.

The reality is so simple, even a seven year old can understand: Israel withdrew from the Gaza strip, removing military bases and its citizens from Gush Katif. Nonetheless, we continued to provide you with electricity, water, and goods (and this I know very well as during my reserve duty I guarded the border crossings more than once, and witnessed hundreds of trucks full of goods entering a blockade-free Gaza every day).

Despite all this, for reasons that cannot be understood and with a lack of any rational logic, Hamas launched missiles on Israeli towns. For three years we clenched our teeth and restrained ourselves. In the end, we could not take it anymore and entered the Gaza strip, into your neighborhood, in order to remove those who want to kill us. A reality that is painful but very easy to explain.

As soon as you agree with me that Hamas is your enemy and because of them, your people are miserable, you will also understand that the change must come from within. I am acutely aware of the fact that what I say is easier
to write than to do, but I do not see any other way. You, who are connected to the world and concerned about your children’s education, must lead, together with your friends, a civil uprising against Hamas.

I swear to you, that if the citizens of Gaza were busy paving roads, building schools, opening factories and cultural institutions instead of dwelling in self pity, arms smuggling and nurturing a hatred to your Israeli

neighbors, your homes would not be in ruins right now. If your leaders were not corrupt and motivated by hatred, your home would not have been harmed. If someone would have stood up and shouted that there is no point in
launching missiles on innocent civilians, I would not have to stand in your kitchen as a soldier.

You don’t have money, you tell me? You have more than you can imagine.

Even before Hamas took control of Gaza, during the time of Yasser Arafat, millions if not billions of dollars donated by the world community to the Palestinians was used for purchasing arms or taken directly to your leaders
bank accounts. Gulf States, the emirates – your brothers, your flesh and blood, are some of the richest nations in the world. If there was even a small feeling of solidarity between Arab nations, if these nations had but the smallest interest in reconstructing the Palestinian people – your situation would be very different.

You must be familiar with Singapore. The land mass there is not much larger than the Gaza strip and it is considered to be the second most populated country in the world. Yet, Singapore is a successful, prospering, and well managed country. Why not the same for you?

My friend, I would like to call you by name, but I will not do so publicly. I want you to know that I am 100% at peace with what my country did, what my army did, and what I did. However, I feel your pain. I am sorry for the destruction you are finding in your neighborhood at this moment. On a personal level, I did what I could to minimize the damage to your home as much as possible.

In my opinion, we have a lot more in common than you might imagine. I am a civilian, not a soldier, and in my private life I have nothing to do with the military. However, I have an obligation to leave my home, put on a uniform, and protect my family every time we are attacked. I have no desire to be in your home wearing a uniform again and I would be more than happy to sit with you as a guest on your beautiful balcony, drinking sweet tea seasoned with the sage growing in your garden.

The only person who could make that dream a reality is you. Take responsibility for yourself, your family, your people, and start to take control of your destiny. How? I do not know. Maybe there is something to be learned from the Jewish people who rose up from the most destructive human tragedy of the 20th century, and instead of sinking into self-pity, built a flourishing and prospering country. It is possible, and it is in your hands.

I am ready to be there to provide a shoulder of support and help to you.

But only you can move the wheels of history.“

Regards,
Yishai, (Reserve Soldier

Urbandictionary Meme

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 17:14:30 GMT

Type these into urbandictionary.com and post the results.

1. Your Name? Louise

The most evil dog bitch spawn of Satan ever to live. She is also said to steal the souls of young children in order to feed her albino daughter.

also wears lovely sweaters

2. Your Age? 22

The age after 21 where you realize you still have another 3 years to get your shit together

"

3. One of your Friends? Suzy


	Beautiful with a great personality, this person will make your heart melt.

4. What you should be doing? Packing

Adj. (gerundive form, by ellipsis from "to pack heat") Carrying a concealed firearm.

5. Favourite Colour? Purple

Extremely potent marijuana, specifically marijuana buds that have a purple hue to them. Also accompanied by a fragant, usually fruity smell and mad perma-grin.

6. Your Birthplace? Withington

Area in southern manchester. full of students and wino

7. Month of your Birth? March

Month in which creative, layed-back, dreamy, cool people were born.

8. A Nickname? Gremlin

Small, fuzzy, dangerous as your girlfriend. If you see a gremlin, run like hell. If a gremlin sees you, you're dead meat (see fucked).

Sun, 08 Mar 2009 11:44:48 GMT

How bizarre, my icon only seems to have changed when i update from the computer, but its still showing when i update from my phone.

Heading to Leeds today, but will update later about my adventures in the David Lewis Centre later.

Fri, 06 Mar 2009 13:18:52 GMT

Seems my user pic has been replaced by this cute little thing without my permission or knowledge.

I do however like it, so it may stay.

Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:41:13 GMT

Sat, 21 Feb 2009 23:05:52 GMT

1 minute, 3 seconds

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 22:57:27 GMT

Home from holiday, back at work on Thursday. Didn't die. Exhausted. More news later, sleep now.

dies of embarassment

Sat, 24 Jan 2009 19:30:19 GMT

So, I found my old website.

*cringe*

http://www.kitti.iwarp.com/index.html

I was such an emo!

Britains got talent?

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 07:37:57 GMT

Yesterday was ridiculous. We arrived at britains got talent and started queuing at 2.15. They were supposed to start letting people in at 4.30, and filming should have finished at 8pm.

We were actually stood in the freezing cold for over 4 hours and filming ran over so we didnt get out till past 10. Grrr!

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 12:49:20 GMT

Yesterday I was supposed to be attending a counter demonstration in the city center -the Anti Israel brigade were out in force (approx 2000) in protest at the new Gaza incursion and we were supposed to be going, all flagged up to 'be the other side'.

I didn't make it and feel like a total chicken. I'm not really certain why I didn't go - I guess i'm still not convinced about what is happening. It's a bit weird really - this time around the UN has spoken in support of Israel, saying its right to self defend is non negotiable. Although not as many people have been killed in Israel as Gaza, it's still 75% civilian casualties in Israel vs 20 - 25% in Gaza. Any loss of civiian life is sad, but if your rocket base in next to a school or hospital - what do you expect will happen?

At the end of the day, Hamas are a terrorist organisation, who's only aim is to destroy the Jews. This is a copy direct from their founding charter:

Hamas founding charter: * Article 7 of the Hamas Covenant states the following: "The Day of Judgement will not come about until Muslems fight the Jews (killing the Jews), when the Jew will hide behind stones and trees. The stones and trees will say O Muslems, O Abdulla, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him. Only the Gharkad tree, (the Cedar tree) would not do that because it is one of the trees of the Jews."

It's hard for me to relate to something specific in the UK, because we don't have any terrorist political parties. We have the BNP, who are vile, but not terrorists and that's the closest I can get. I believe Hamas is illegal in the UK,as is Hizbollah and other islamic extremist groups.

So i'm not sure what to think. I can't think of anything else Israel can do to stop the attacks and it has to stop them as 300,000 Israeli citizens are in danger, but there's still a niggling doubt.

Maybe they should do the same as Hamas and just point their rockets randomly, in the hope that it gets the right people. That'd be proportionate, right?

Sun, 28 Dec 2008 20:25:50 GMT

Now Adams Kids stores are close to administration.

Wonder who's next?

Wed, 24 Dec 2008 22:07:45 GMT

Motherfucker. Now Zavvi's gone.

Plus point - I was right.

Unplus point - Zavvi's gone.

Bets for the next ones to fail please? I reckon B&Q's in trouble - just a hunch. William thinks Paperchase. Maybe Argos? It's not good though people.

I think we should play a new game. A major analyst has said that 15 companies are likely to go bust in the new year. List1 - 15 who you think - in March we'll go back and whoever got the most wins a chocolate bar!

Sat, 13 Dec 2008 08:13:45 GMT

My TV has died and that makes me sad :-(

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:50:39 GMT

In 2008, gremlinlou resolves to...

Pay for my goths on time.
Learn to play the goth.
Take evening classes in rock.
Go reading three times a week.
Become a better krav-maga.
Put fifty swords a month into my savings account.

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 03:57:56 GMT

Dear sleep,

Why do you avoid me recently? Is it something i said or did recently? I'm sorry if ive offended you in any way, but id love for us to catch up sometime - i really miss your presence in my life.

Kind regards
Lou

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 15:18:31 GMT

Damn, I failed my exam. And feeling pretty rubbish about it.

I'm trying to think of the reasons why i failed. Mostly it comes down to arrogance. Most people don't attempt 3 exams in a year, and i should have taken this into account. The thought did pass my head when i booked it that i wouldnt have enough time, but foolishly i ignored that voice.

I think i'll rebook it for early december, that gives me a month and the sylabus won't have changed by then. I should have the dining room back in a cnupleof weeks as well, so il have somewheqe to study.

Things that have happened this week....

Sat, 25 Oct 2008 23:10:49 GMT

1. When I left for Manchester this morning, our dining room had a ceiling. When I returned, it did not.

2. Behind the ceiling, there were a few sheets of old news paper. Namely, the MEN from October 1936 (with some interesting articles, still readable and it used to be on orange paper).

3. Got up at 3.15am Friday as was due in Exeter at 10am, then got back into Manchester at 9pm, having been stood up for some of the journey back from said Exeter (this is why Ara and shul didn't happen).

4. Saw Ghost Town this evening and had steak. It was good.

5. Have been trying to study for my exam, but its not working as I have loads to do and am struggling to ind somewhere to study.

Nerf. My week seemed far busier that that?

Anywho, sleep now - I'm looking forward to my extra hour.

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 21:29:24 GMT

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 20:38:53 GMT

So busy at the moment, apologies to all those affected by my lack of social work.

Luckily tomorrow I have a study period (exam next week) so that will be nice. Friday i'm due in Exeter at 10am, so the taxi is picking me up from my house at 4.25am. I didn't know that time existed before this week. Again apologies, Ara probably won't happen for me - i'm coming back from Exeter same day, but won't get into Manchester until 9.30 at the earliest and will have been up since 3.30am.

Not sure on weekend plans as yet, probably more studying......

Sef - if you want to discuss your paperwork, give me a call. I can meet you Thursday lunch if you're available.

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:16:24 GMT

So Pizza Hut is changing its name to Pasta Hut.

Seems ridiculous to me.

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 22:03:58 GMT

Sorry Sef, too ill to go out tonight.

Had to go home from work at 4.45pm, now need sleep.

Ick.

An Apology...

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 11:07:23 GMT

....to all those people who received a text message or phone call from me panicking saying they their wedding venue had been canceled and everything was going to shit at 3am this morning.

I was not drunk, merely feverish and delirious as I am not well.

Pretty much anything else I may have said probably still stands, but message or phone me to check,

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 07:01:18 GMT

Who fancies Salford Macbeth next week and what night?

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 19:55:19 GMT

Justice is Vengeance and Vengeance is Justice.

Discuss.

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 06:05:52 GMT

Who's up for Ara on Friday? I'll have done the work thing, so no goth clothes for me but up for it anyway. Maybe I can convince work that every Ara week they should have dress down?