Tue 11 Apr 2006
I took this photo from our front balcony of the street below.
Happy birthday, Mohammed. The Prophet’s birthday is not as important a holiday in Islam as Christmas is for Christians. For some reason, yesterday was the observed holiday, though the Daily Star newspaper has taken the day off today.
The big news around here is that supposedly 9 people were arrested for allegedly plotting to assasinate Hassan Nasrallah, the Hezbollah leader. As usual, I don’t know what to believe. Is this just a ploy to garner sympathy for Hezbollah? Israel is also complaining that Hezbollah is about to launch more substantial attacks against them any day now. Is this based on actual evidence, or is the Israeli government saying this to justify Washington’s claims that Iran and Hezbollah are threatening the world and should be taken out?
Speaking of the Iran thing, I am filled with so much dread. It is amazing to me that it looks like airstrikes are a real possibility. In many ways, it is going to be very difficult to be back in the States. Right or wrong, living abroad has given me some distance, even though I’ve been living a region that is particularly affected by the Bush Administration. I am really trying to come to terms with the fact that I am going to be 100% a part of it again.
I’m going for a long walk to cheer myself up.
April 11th, 2006 at 7:59 pm
Which “it” are you going to be 100% a part of again? Your physical distance from any tangible results of the Bush foreign policy will be greatly diminished. If you don’t look outside local media for your news, it’s pretty easy to imagine life in Austin as existing on an entirely separate planet from the Middle East (not that I’m advocating that…)
Not to be overly dramatic, but I’d say you’re about 1000% more a part of “it” right now than any of us back home–just maybe not the same “it.”
April 12th, 2006 at 1:42 am
Oh– I meant as in feeling a part of the Bush Administration. I know you probably don’t feel that you are, either (and, of course you aren’t). I’m having a feeling of going back to the dark side in some way. It’s not rational, I won’t be any more or less American after May 23, and I’m not sad that I am. I guess it just feels easier to not claim Bush if you aren’t there. When I get back, he’ll feel more “mine”, and that’s not pleasant.
I’m probably not explaining it very well.
April 12th, 2006 at 4:26 am
I figured that’s what you meant (I wasn’t exactly crystal clear myself!)
What I was trying to get at was that you may be surprised how easy it is to be here and *not* feel that way (Bush is less and less popular every day, which is an interesting phenomenon to watch from this side). And that it’s important to give yourself permission not to feel responsible for every bad thing that is done in the name of our country. I couldn’t function, otherwise. There are too many dead people in Iraq who never did anything to anybody for me to even fathom.
Either way, we’re really happy you’ll be here…
April 12th, 2006 at 11:41 pm
Senior Diablo de Cheney through out the first pitch in Cincinnati to an unrelenting chorus of boos, then he through it in the dirt. It was beautiful.