Missiles or no missiles

“”

The memories of the unfortunate war with Lebanon or as it was termed the second Lebanese war, have almost been forgotten; neither those clumsy politicians that have conducted it, nor did the public wish to be reminded of it and of its results. Thus the Prime minister’s office “strategic advisors”, who are none but a bunch of copywriters and advertisers, could ommit these days at last, some eleven months later a sigh of relief. While most of us derlict citizens are trodding on disillusioned, and some of the few unlucky ones, who’re stuck in a forsken city in the south, are still praying to god to defend them, against the daily missile attacks – while the government does nothing at all.

Life goes on unhindered particularly in the country’s center, where meanwhile there is no threat of missiles neither from the north nor from the south, and it won’t last… Some miracles keep happening though, such as the stock exchange rise for instance, and the government’s political survival – in spite of everthing.

During these very days of summer a certain friend of mine happened to attend a family meeting.not far from Jerusalem; in a christian Arab village with quite a famous church, where religious international concerts are being conducted every summer.

He met almost all his relatives and many friends, and they have joined two huge tables to be seated together all of them. The conversation was very lively and the issue of course was the last war. Eveyone among his relatives had his say, his tales – but these were tales of reminiscences out of the safety and cosiness of a living room, watching TV newsreels; opinning on what such or such minister had to say, or how some famous commentator of that channel or the other criticised the government, or the IDF generals from the safety of their plush studios.

It must have enraged Rickie his cousin and when she spoke silence fell and all listened attentively. They have three sons, two of them served in this war. The youngest was still doing his compulsory service, in a commando unit and was inside Lebanon even before the war broke out. Their eldest was summoned for reserve service, and crossed the border two days later – while their third son was on vacation in India, after having done his military service in the same commando unit. He phoned his parents and was readey to return right away, but they urged him to stay till this foolish war would end up – and a foolish war it was, in the way in which it was conducted; sending troops inside and pulling them out a few hours later, turning them into easy targets for anti tank missiles.

Thus the possibility to meet their two sons almost every day was created, and they did not miss their chance. Every morning at four am Rickie and her husband drove up north – “missiles or no missiles” as she said with much detemination, as if she was living those early hours and the meeting with their sons once again. The Hizboolah could shoot their two hundred missiles per day on the Northern part of our country, but that did not deter Rickie and her husband to reach their sons. He concluded with much pride. ‘Well they were lucky, their two sons have fought the enemy and returned alive, neither a bullet nor a sharpnel did scratch their skin, while many others died or were wounded in that brutal war, in which anti tank missiles were used against individual warriors.

‘Yeah, just think of it,’ he added, ‘to cross the Northern part of our country while Katiusha missiles kept falling all around them – do you want to know what’s the norm of courage is, well their daily trip is the right norm.’

 

© Haim Kdadm 2007 – All rights reserved

Reviews

[emmajoy]

How true those final words are ... the love of parents for their 'child'.

Tis terrible how parts of the world are in such a tragic, almost illogical shape... and to live under constant battle conditions must be horrific.

Three sons involved in this post, parents knowing what might happen, doing what they can to let their boy know how much they care.. what a sad yet courageous way of being.

This is an interesting post because it displays facts many people like myself don't appreciate... but i do know what love of parents for family is and consequently, am very touched by your words.

Your writing is very fine: spelling and punctuation a little wrong here and there, but, as I can only write in English, who am I to criticise?!

Thank you very much for sharing.