Jessica Gottlieb

I am not (often) a narcissist

Ground Troops Invade Gaza and Jews in America Whisper

with 9 comments

We whisper to each other, but not to you.

As I made my way back to Los Angeles from our Colorado Ski Vacation, the news of Israel retaliating with a Ground Invasion brought my vacation to an abrupt end. I find it startling that Bloomberg (the Mayor of New York City) is boarding a plane to the Middle East but Condoleeza Rice is silent. Israel has been bombed 90 times in the past few months, they’re hitting back. Hurts, doesn’t it?

I’m a Jew and a woman and the child of an immigrant. Not just any immigrant, but a German Jew born at a particular time. Is he a survivor? I don’t know, that’s his call to make, but I am the child of a refugee and the Granddaughter, Niece, and cousin of survivors. I thought everyone had family members with numbers tattoed.

I know that there are groups that want me dead, simply because I was born. I know that Hamas is one of those groups.

I have family in Israel. We have money in Israeli Defense Bonds. I’ve made Aliyah, and simply because I am a Jew, Israel is mine. Israel is all of ours. It’s the cradle of civilization, and most of our stories begin there.

Do I want peace in the Middle East? Of course I do. Everyone reasonable wants peace everywhere, just sometimes there’s a little work to do first.

Let me give you the Operation Cast Lead scenario in Mommy Terms Script and then maybe it will make sense to you.

HAMAS: Hey Israel, take that! [and a bomb is sent into the south]

ISRAEL: Ouch, that hurt, stop it or I’m going to kick your ass.

HAMAS: No, you can’t because we’ll get the EU and the UN on our side [and then 88 more bombs are sent into Israel]

ISRAEL: Dude, I’m not kidding, I’m going to flatten you if you f*ck with me one more time. I’ve been working out, and it’s going to hurt.

HAMAS: Whatever, I’ll hide in a Mosque or a School House and then if you hit me, you’ll have to hit my wife and kids too. I’m going to make you look like a bully and then I’m going to tell on you.

ISRAEL: That’s your choice, I sure hope you decide against….. *bomb*

HAMAS drops the last bomb

ISRAEL brings out the army, which we all know is a force unlike any other.

HAMAS snivels that women and children are dying but never mentions that their “men” are hiding behind said women and children.

HAMAS asks for help from the International Community. The International Community has somehow forgotten their vows to never negotiate with terrorists and sends the President of France to advise HAMAS on the ins and outs of tailoring your uniform and baking baguettes in winter.

Okay, maybe not the baking.

Monday I’ll buy more Israeli Defense Bonds. Tomorrow morning I’ll explain to my children why war is sometimes necessary.

Written by Jessica Gottlieb

January 3, 2009 at 9:51 pm

9 Responses

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  1. I like the mommy terms script.

    Larry Walker

    January 3, 2009 at 10:03 pm

  2. You go!

    I wish more people would understand what Hamas really represents and why you can’t have peace with fire.

    cliftonofhesperia

    January 3, 2009 at 10:24 pm

  3. Thank you for giving me the words to explain what I have been unable to express.

    Karen

    January 3, 2009 at 10:38 pm

  4. I follow you on twitter. Just wanted to throw in my support. Well said. Like you I hope people wake up and see this for what it is. As much as people hate the last administration, I fear that the new one will be cowardly when it it comes to authentically supporting Israel. Truly I pray for the peace of Israel.

    Your Irish/Christian friend,
    Michael

    Michael

    January 3, 2009 at 10:42 pm

  5. Right on sister. (See–this communist does have something in common with you!). I just don’t understand why Israel is vilified when they are retaliating for their innocent citizens being bombed. Oh wait, I take that back–I do understand. It’s called anti-semitism. And a double standard. Like, if Wales or Ireland started lobbing missles at London, Or Spain started lobbing missles at France, GB or France respectively would be taken to task for striking back. Yeah, right. It is so fucked up. And that big Hamas guy they just killed–the folks in his building were telephoned by the Israelis–told to get out. He refused AND refused to let his wives and children vacate either. He wanted all of them martyred. Well, he got his wish.

    It is SOOOOO fucked up.

    Karen S.

    January 3, 2009 at 11:34 pm

  6. Wish I were able to laugh out laud and enjoy this reading were the situation not as sad… Too bad innocent lives are at stake. But you really got it right.

    Creativivi

    January 4, 2009 at 12:26 am

  7. […] found this blog which provides a great synopsis of a fictional verbal exchange between Israel and Hamas. Folks, […]

  8. LOVE the Mommy Terms Script! But in terms of mommy-wisdom, how do we get them to stop as the fighting is clearly not helping Israel, either? How does this end?

    April

    January 4, 2009 at 8:02 am

  9. Well stated, Jessica. Thank you for articulating this in terms a kid (and parent) can understand. I haven’t been able to do this for myself — heartsick over the escalating violence and my own fear for what will happen next.

    Donna

    January 4, 2009 at 8:58 am


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