Haifa etc.

Из разговора с мужем:
- Как ты думаешь, отсутствие страха - это идиотизм, или мужество?
- А зачем противопоставлять?...

translation:

From the conversation with my husband:
- What do you think, the absence of fear - is it idiotic, or heroic?
- Why does one oppose the other?


The exchange was posted by Polya, my friend who lives in Haifa and refuses to leave or for that matter go to a bomb shelter. Her husband, Yasha is very witty guy. I spoke to him today to get some updates on what going on with the family. He is a professor at the Technion which has been closed all week due to rockets hitting it. Yasha thinks it will be re-opened in next week. We talked a little about politics, Yasha is pretty much on the right. I spoke about disapproving public opinion of Israel and the insistance of some at looking at things from "their point of view" he said something to affect that when someone with an axe comes running after you, you have to choices: a) to sympathize with the axe wielder and let him hack into pieces or b) shoot him in the head. I thought it was pretty simple way of explaining the situation and the correct response. I think we both agreed that both don't want to "look at it from their side" - we rather stick to ours.
It's surreal to see images of destruction on the streets of Haifa. It hard to remember neighborhoods, streets, and shops that I walked on, hailed cabs, drank coffee, etc....are wrecked. When I was in Haifa I lived with my great uncle and his wife. I lived in a tiny fortified room. The "Bomb Shelter" room, all modern Israeli apartments have them. I remember hating opening and closing the door - it was extremely heavy and loud. Now I'm happy remembering the heaviness of the door. After speaking to my great aunt I know that when the sirens sound the elderly couple that I stayed with goes to the tiny room I used to occupy. Very strange and sad that it's getting used for its purpose.