Sunday, May 30, 2010

When I Wake Up in the Mourning...


Artwork by Carlos Latuff

It's 11:17 PM (PST). I'm reading the news about Israel attacking and seizing the Turkish aid ship to Gaza. I'm not hearing about this news because apparently CNN, NBC, certainly FOX and all the rest are too busy talking about Memorial Day... and pandas. I shit you not. This is nonsense.

At this time, ten people have been confirmed dead, with over sixty people injured. My conservative, Jewish friends don't understand how I, also a Jew, could ever possibly be critical of Israel. This is why. Israel has a horrible PR problem. And that problem is its own government and military. Israel heard the world's outcry during the siege on Gaza in late 2008/early 2009. They shrugged it off. After all, "all's fair in war", right? Well, this isn't war. This ship was bringing along food and supplies. It had been cleared by authorities upon leaving Turkey, from what I've read. Anyone who can deny that Israel is guilty of malfeasance must check their conscience.

It's worth noting that Turkey became the first Muslim country to recognize the existence of the state of Israel. Now, it's all but certain that Turkish-Jewish relations will suffer from this catastrophe. Early reports are stating that the Israeli ambassador to Turkey is unable to leave his home because there is a protest taking place and the crowd is surrounding the building. Diplomatic relations between Israel and Turkey became strained during the siege on Gaza. If this doesn't become the straw that breaks the camel's back, I don't know what will.

Communication has been cut off from the ship.

I typically don't write at night but I feel like venting so I must. And I'm writing this post knowing full well that I will wake in the morning with new stories of tragedy and heartache. It makes it difficult to go to sleep. Maybe I'll wake up early. We'll all be mourning for the dead tomorrow, right?