I Can Do Anything You Can Do Better , I Can Do Anything Better Than You
So we are in the midst of the Corona Follies part deux. As usual, we got very full of ourselves thinking we were better than everyone in how we dealt with the pandemic. People were saying ' boy I wish I were in Israel. They really know what they are doing there'
Not sure they are saying that now and the people here are fed up.
Most people are not happy that our Prime Minister has been charged with three major crimes but didn't step down, but hey, he beat Corona
Most people are not happy that our government is not helping small business people whom they made to shut down for 8 weeks, but hey, they beat Corona
Most people are not happy with our very dysfunctional government that is now once again threatening new elections, but hey, they beat Corona.
Thing is they didn't beat anything. Seems they got lucky.
Now I understand that we can not pin all the blame for the new , better , stronger version of this Corona Crap, solely on the government. I have been saying for two months, since they opened the cages, that it seemed people were being very lax about social distancing, mask wearing, etc.. We , the citizens, are very much to blame ( not me, of course, since I bareley leave my house and always wear a mask when I do) .
However, now, we are reminded that we just don't want to put up with all the other nonsense anymore.
There are daily protests against Bibi. This is being dealt with by ordering the police to handle the protesters with a very heavy hand and simultaneously blame the protesters for the renewed spread of corona.
The way they deal with things here sometimes reminds me of elementary school
'wear your mask, or we will lock you up again and it will be alllllll yourrrrrr fault.'
Please.
Funny, I was not going to write any of that but it has been on my mind lately.
What I was going to write about is a trip to the beach I took before the nine days started. I can say that most of the people, even the ones in the low risk groups, were wearing their masks until they were settled. There was also plenty of room to not to be sitting on top of anyone ( a benefit of going on a Monday afternoon).
Normally, when I do go to the beach, ( which was only twice last year but 3 times so far this year) I use it as an opportunity to read a book, which I don't do often. There is nothing better than sitting by the sea, listening to the sound of crashing waves and curling up with the federalist papers.
Such fun
Anyway, this time I spent three hours just taking in the sights. There were two guys playing makkot, that amazing beach game that has no score or rules whatsoever. I have never seen the game played this way. They were professionals. every volley lasted more than 10 hits. They were hitting hard also.
and to each other.
It made me understand for the first time why people would play this game. It is just that I have never seen anyone play it this well. Normally people will get one or two hits in and then spend 10 minutes getting their ball from the ocean. These guys were great and in their 70's
I was also stuck by how many young parents with babies and small children there were. I guess I am getting more sentimental as I get older but, whereas many people see being in Israel only as fulfillment of our religion, I was proud, amazed and in awe of the young people who live here ( as opposed to the exile) and start families and just live their lives.
The small children are running around, building castles, eating sand
and .
then the Apache helicopter flies by.
This is not uncommon on the beach but in this particular movement, when I let my Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas anxiety leave for a minute , it hit like a brick
All these beautiful , innocent children will one day be called upon to defend this country.
and yet
It is our country. We will take care of ourselves, defend ourselves , laugh together and cry together.
Because for all the stuff that goes on here, and there is a lot, when we need to , we can act as one.
When I see what is going on in the USA , I am very grateful for that.