Black winds blowing...

Okay, Rumsfeld isn't known as the most cultivated guy, but his flippant remark to the looting and destruction of The Iraq National Museum; "stuff happens" seemed cynical to all of us, who'd already shed tears when the bombing of The National Library in Sarajevo burned down thousands of irreplaceable old manuscripts.

But being a long distance witness to the greedy looting of the National Museum in Baghdad in 2003, while US troops and their allies stood idle by, was more than some us could bear. As in Sarajevo it's our history, that's forever lost - And for the peoples of the nations involved, it's a catastrophe beyond words - when you lose your past.

Thousands of works, some over 3.000 years old are lost! Artifacts, Jewelry and object's d'art, some of our civilizations earliest, are gone forever. They are now sitting in secret vaults all over the world, now only for the pleasure of the very few.

The Museum is now (partly) opened, but only half of the sad remains of this invaluable collection will be at display and only for VIPs ?!?

A lot of Iraqis showed up for the big opening, clinging to the iron gates surrounding the Museum. These people were not hoping to see the small exhibition, but rather to get a glimpse of the Prime Minister, while shouting out their needs and their despair. Most of the women there, being some of Iraq's 740.000 widows, most who do not have roof over their heads, neither them nor their fatherless children. These are the true victims of the Iraqi violence. remember the celebrated "shoe thrower"? He did this stunt for the Iraqi war widows and the orphans.

These women was before protected by the extended support system of family, neighbours and mosques. But as the war drag on and on the needs far exceed available help. Iraqi charities are closing down one by one as no help comes from the government or anywhere else.

Some of these widows becomes homeless beggars sifting through garbage, standing outside the mosques asking for handouts or they become prostitutes and some joins the insurgents, becoming suicide bombers for money.

The vast majority are forced into "temporary marriages" - ( Shi'ite trad.) often based on sex, some for hours, some for years, and in this way gets help from government, religious or tribal leaders. A war widow neither has the money nor the clout to pay the bribes needed to oil the offices, where war widow benefits are distributed [50$ a month]

The latest plan from the director of "Baghdad Displacement Committee" is to pay men to marry widows. When asked , why not give the money directly to the women instead? He laughs this preposterous idea off with a; " They'll only spend the money unwisely because they are uneducated and don't know about budgets!" ?!?!

It's the women and the children who pays the full burden of war, in Iraq, Afghanistan, Gaza or anywhere else in world where violence is the order of the day...

Read more in The New York Times

There ain't no going back - Thankfully!

It's has been said been stated that; USA now has their very own "Caricature/drawings" issue, but not quite! 

The US case, though it might be or feel severe nationally. Then the original Danish drawing was a provocation aimed at all Muslims, not only in this country but worldwide. That  everyone feigned surprise, when the demonstrations began internationally, can only been seen as either very, very naive or very, very ignorant - Same same, but different!

I know that most Americans imagine, their proud nation being the very epicenter of the world, but the story of the crazy chimp proceeding the drawing didn't go outside the US! The noise over the Washington Post published drawing did...!

And as said before the only target of the rage, will be the Washington Post (Murdoch's excuse, comes a little late, no?) 

Whereas the Danish version had/ has(?) a broader front line; All things Danish, from burning the embassy in Damascus,  jumping and burning the Flag (though some looked more like the Swiss version) to boycotting Danish products in Saudi supermarkets.

Comparing the newly elected president to a Chimp, seems malicious and outrageous to a nation where segregation, Triple K, Race riots and the Civil Rights Movement marching across the country only lies two generations back.  

One in every eight prisoners in the world, is Afro -American! - And with this bit of info; this particular drawing becomes especially  nasty, as it's two of New York Finest, who's depicted and it's in the law enforcement where discrimination is far from a closed chapter!  So poking "fun"  - (or whatever you'd call it - the Danish drawings were not funny neither) - at the first Afro American President calls forth the most fervid feelings of pride and understandably so! And no need for comparing it to anything. The Chimp drawing speaks volumes of tired, old white men and their tired old white world views growing out of date - fast!

                                                

This is NOT one of the original "Danish Drawings" but a spoof on the Danes made by a Dane

Love hurts in oh so many ways;

My dearest friend Néné led me to the discovery of a classy video featuring my old hero Elvis Costello and Emmylou Harris (She just keeps on getting prettier, with every strand of her grey hair..) Performing  "Love Hurts" on the David Letterman show - 

The host is quite audibly moved by the sheer beauty of their performance.... and so was I ! Well, not to be let behind! And also because I only want to give my readers the very best - I wanted to embed it right here!

But, I then saw this one; "Love hurts" with my man; Keith Richards & Nora Jones - This couple may not have the exquisite elegance of the Elvis And Emmylou act, but they do have an certain allurement (at least to me) which made me stick them in - instead! 

Even if Miss Jones does seem quite awed and maybe even a bit frightened (?) by the presence of the mighty Keith..  Never mind - Enjoy! 

The All Singing All Dancing Oscar Night (mare)

This was a night of; Excessive amounts of ice cream while listening to; silly acceptance speeches with all it's lost moments of really telling it how it is, nervous tears and near fainting spells from young beauties in skintight gowns, weird dress choices, the lack of serious Bling, because of the recession? The surreal experience of seeing someone I actually know (and who actually knows me) winning the award for "Best cinematography" - A well deserved Oscar for his innovative angles and great color frames in Slumdog Millionaire - The grand sweeper movie of the evening!

                                                         

 It was a night of Hugh Wolf(Jack)man doing Fred Astaires "Tophat" routines with Beyonce as his chubby/bootylicious Ginger Rodgers, swirling it in a song & dance medley. This was done in a "We're keeping it low and unglamourous this year" mode - It could have been our local talent night down at the town hall...

                                                           

 And who came up with the idea, of giving an Oscar posthumously? Not that the late Heath Ledger isn't phenomenal in Dark Knight - But that good? And the acceptance speech given by his entire family? Of course it left the whole theater in tears - A true "Kodak Moment" if there ever was one! - Can't shake the feeling of a very calculated moment, thought up by the academy, though!

My Best Oscar Moments ?

1; Danny Boyle doing a Tigger Too jump or two and mentioning a forgotten choreographer of the dancing number in the winning Slumdog Millionaire..

2; The two Japanese winners in different categories, who had very little English under the belt, but still managed to get their message through!

3; Sophia Loren who still oozes sex at 70!

4; Kate Winslet who made her Dad, cat whistle out loud, so she would know where her family were sitting!

5; That even a beauty like Angelina Jolie, who seemingly has it all; Fame, money and love, didn't look the least bit happy nor showed any great affection for her hubby.

6; That Sean Penn finally !!!  Finally took the opportunity of having the whole world watching and made a speech worth his while - and ours! (He remembered the Gay community and the boggled Prop 8 campaign and to welcome Mickey Rourke back to Hollywood- but forgot his wife... ahr, well he is Sean Penn after all!)

And least, but last; the idea of, making 5 former award winners, present the nominees in the "bigger" categories.. That made for some really good TV - And we needed that in this down toned version of the biggest show on earth.

PS; About the photos; I've chosen some of the worst gowns! -We're gonna see the pretty ones until it hurts in the days to come -

PPS; First 'live event' with "Twitter" running simultaneously - A very nice experience and nice chats across the ocean. 140 characters is long enough for a message, But much too short for BullShit, emoticons and such little girliegirlie stuff!

Short, sweet and to the point!

Prelude to the Oscars - Alan Keyes tries again!

While we wait for the Oscars; Here's Alan Keyes from the far, far right calling Obama a "radical communist" and airing his fears of America ceasing to exist - But that's just small stuff compared to the allegations of Obama not being a US citizen and voila; Therefore not President of the country!

Mr Keyes obviously is opting for a non supportive award! This is after, he lost to the main character in 2004 -(In the US senate race)

The supreme court turned down a law suit without comment , when the suit tried to bar the inauguration of Obama... 

This "controversy" and all the allegations that comes along with it, is living a life on its own out there in cyberspace; On the net and in emails - Waaaay out there, where no critique of source is necessary, nor serious research is needed to become a truth....  - But here's, what I don't get is, there's actually someone who believes in this circus!

Link to LA Times

Waltzing with Bashir - A Lebanon War Story - revisited!

Well, I wrote about "Waltz with Bashir" - The animated movie about the bombing of the Chatila and Sabra Refugee Camps in Lebanon.. The posting was before the Golden Globe award to Ari Folman, director... And congrats!! - Even if it was a bit disappointing, that he didn't say a word about the war in Gaza, which was full on, at the time of the event. But maybe he'll mention it, in an aside, if Ari Folman wins again tonight at the Oscars?

                                             

 I hadn't seen the film, at the time I wrote the post, but now I have. And I must agree with Gideon Levy in "Haaretz"  in his very harsh critique of the movie. Yes, it does have a propaganda-ish nature, yes it is a beautifully animated and very talented film... Yes, Ari goes to war, sees some horrible things, drinks a bit, cries a lot, calls his therapist at midnight and sings love songs to Lebanon while crushing it under Israeli tanks! Let it roll, baby - what a great Isareli army! But it's not the IDF's hands, that held the guns, that killed the innocent lives in the Palestinian refugee camps on Lebanese territory - And in the end of the film, when the real footage comes up, with real people in real pain - That's where you see the real massacre... But according to this very talented and very astute Israeli filmmaker; 

"Shame on the murderers, but it was not us, we didn't do it!"

What! Me worry?

In keeping with the apparent theme of this weekend - And if you're not one of them economics wizards, then maybe you've wondered, how it all got sooooo bad? I know I have.... This fantastic little piece of animation shows all the hows and whys pretty clearly!

In this country we have a first lady, who declared, that she simply can't see any Finance crisis going on - anywhere! But then again, she is a first lady and the way this country is going, her man is not gonna loose his job sometime soon - (Damage - really, for the rest of us, mere mortals!)

PS; Please, don't despair; if you've lost your job, your house and are now living in your car! I'm sure that the Bra Dryer (down below) comes with a car-lighter connection 

- Crisis? What crisis?

Oh, by the way;

While we are talking about the economy or rather, the lack of it;

enjoy my man Cash - (no pun intended)

My bills are due, the baby needs shoes and I'm busted!

Tragically Hip & Cool - February edit.

Yes, I know, the recession has gone global! But we have to spend some dough, in order to regenerate more money, jobs & livelihoods and so on... Shopping is not something, you have to do when by your lonesome, or lie to your friends, about the amount of $ you've just spend, nor do you have to duck into alley ways, if you see someone you know, on the other side of the street... Nope, it has been elevated to heroic altitudes. Yes, while the world, as we know it, goes to hell, we'll go shopping! Do it with your head held high, while the president and all of his men will thank you!!!

If you don't know where to go with your altruistic acts of charity - Then I'll help you! 

As an example; Here's a "Bra dryer" for you, my sweet heroine! For the woman, who already has absolutely everything electrical, who doesn't gives a damn about CO2 and all that gobbledygook ! A woman who's tired of the old drier ruining her "Victoria's secrets" she's paid half a mortgage for... !Who doesn't gives a whole lot about global warming, but do care about her precious lingerie! The site won't say anything about prices and such insignificant  details... But who cares, We're saving the world, after all! Buy the darn thing and someone will give you a medal or a monument down at the mall.... one of these days!

 So go do! 

That voodoo! 

That you do!

So well!

How to Justify Injustice -A letter from Reem

Justifying Israeli War Crimes
By: Reem Salahi
 
Having left Gaza now, I am trying to come to terms with what I saw, what I heard and honestly, what I don't think I will ever understand – the justification.  While Israel's recent offensive has been the most egregious of any historical attack upon the Palestinians in Gaza, it is just that, one of many.  Gaza has been under Israeli bombardment and sanctions for many years.  Prior to the Israeli pullout in 2005, Gaza was under the complete control and occupation of Israel.  Nearly 8000 Israeli settlers occupied 40% of Gaza while the 1.5 million Palestinians occupied the remaining 60%.  Settlements were located on the most fertile lands and along Gaza's beautiful coastal regions and checkpoints prevented Palestinian mobility.  Despite being one-fifth the size of Rhode Island, 25 miles long by 4-7.5 miles wide, Gaza was divided into three sections and Palestinians had to pass through multiple checkpoints to get from one section to the next.  Often Israeli forces would close these checkpoints and not allow the Palestinians access to the other regions in Gaza as a form of collective punishment.  
 
Yet with Israel's pullout in 2005, the Palestinian experience has not improved.  Rather, it has become even more unpredictable and isolated.  Palestinians who celebrated the exodus of the Israeli settlers and the return of their land could not have imagined what would follow and how Israel would subsequently unleash its brutal force against them.  As the saying goes, nothing in life is free and the Palestinians have paid, and continue to pay, a dear and unforgivable price for Israel's withdrawal from their legally rightful land.
 
From the first moments of Israel's military campaign on December 27, Israel's indifference to civilian casualties was clear.  Its first attacks started at around 11:30 AM, at a time when children leave the morning session of school and the afternoon students arrive.  The streets were packed with civilians – children no less.  Within moments, hundreds of Palestinians were killed and even more Palestinians were injured (at least 280 Palestinians were killed on the first day, and 700 wounded including more than a dozen policemen attending a graduation ceremony at the Gaza City police station).  One of the little girls in Jabalia told me that she was in school when the attacks started.  She fainted from the overwhelming fear and was not able to go home and see her family for days.  When she did go home, she remembers seeing dead and injured bodies stranded all over street and hearing the thundering sound of missiles falling.  
 
In its offensive, Israel attacked UNRWA warehouses, schools, mosques, civilian neighborhoods, businesses, factories, hospitals, universities and the media center.  Its attacks took place during the day, night, during temporary ceasefires, and often without any notice or=2 0warning.  I would ask the Palestinians I met who had lost loved ones in the recent incursion whether they were warned about an oncoming attack by some flyer or radio announcement.  The majority would laugh at my question.  "Why would I stay in my home if I knew that it was going to be attacked?  Do you think I want to die?  Do you think I would want to put my family and children in danger?"  Most of the Palestinians had no notice that they were going to be attacked and bombarded until it was too late, and at that point, all they could do was stay in their homes, far from any window or door, and pray that their house would not be next.
 
Those, like Majid Fathi Abd al-Aziz al-Najjar, who were warned, tended to flee to "safer" areas.  Majid and his wife and children resided in a border town in Khan Younis.  Shortly after the start of its incursion, the Israeli military dropped flyers on his town, a copy of which he showed me.  It said in Arabic that militants had entered your area and as a result we are forced to react and attack this area.  Yet these flyers were only dropped in the center of town and Majid did not even realize that they were dropped until after the attacks on his way to see the rubble that used to be his home.  Realizing that Israeli tanks were planning on entering Gaza and would destroy anything that would block their entry, Majid packed his family and fled to his relatives home far from the border, in an area deemed safe.  Yet at 10 PM on January 3, 2009, a white phosphorus missile strayed off course and rammed right into the home that Majid and his family had taken refuge in, along with 15-20 other Palestinians.  The missile came through the roof and broke through the wall and hit Majid's wife, Hanan Abd al-Ghani al-Najjar, dead center in her chest.  She died immediately upon impact.  Six or seven others, including Hanan's elderly mother and Hanan and Majid's daughter were severely injured by shrapnel and rushed to the hospital.  Whereas Majid thought he had fled from certain death in his home on the border, death followed him to his place of refuge.  Yet the sad reality is that no matter where Majid fled, no place in Gaza was safe.  Hanan's death was not the unpredictable result of a misguided missile, but rather the predictable consequence of a one-sided war waged by the fifth largest army against a population that is trapped within a prison and weakened by decades of occupation and years of blockade.    
 
While Israel has perfected its many excuses in justifying innocent Palestinian death and destruction ("there were militants present…well we thought there were militants present" "we warned the m but they did not to leave" "missiles were being fired from that [insert location here]" "we are investigating this attack" "it was an accident"), Israel has fallen short of providing actual evidence to substantiate killing people like Hanan Al-Najjar, Kassab Shurrab, Mahmoud Masharrawi, Sabha's husband and the majority of others killed.  After attacking the UN-operated al-Fakhura School in Jabalia on January 6, where many families had taken refuge and killing at least 40 innocent women and children and injuring dozens more, Israel made a rare attempt to actually justify its attacks.  Not only did Israel use one of its staple excuses ("militants were firing from inside the school"), but it actually showed a video of militants firing mortars from the school.  Within a matter of days, though, the video was dated to 2007 and till now, Israel has not provided us with another staple excuse of why, two years later, the al-Fakhura School was attacked and the hundreds of Palestinian civilians were killed and injured.  
 
How does Israel explain the executions, the shooting of Palestinians point blank in cold blood?  How does it justify Israeli soldiers shooting Kassab Shurrab with five bullets across the chest as he came out of his car with his hands to his side, especially as one of the Palestinian hostages sitting blindfolded by the soldiers heard the commander tell the soldier in Hebrew to shoot the civilians that were driving down the road.  What about the two daughters of Khaled Abed Rabbo, Amal, age 2, and Suaad, age 7, murdered by an Israeli soldier using a semi automatic rifle before their father 's eyes as the other Israeli soldiers ate chips and chocolate?  Let us not forget about Sameer Rashid Mohammad Mohammad, a 43 year old UNRWA worker, who was separated from his family by Israeli soldiers and taken to a separate room and shot in the chest?  For four days after killing Sameer, Israeli soldiers held his family hostage and would make the family prepare the murdered Sameer food.  Only when the Israeli soldiers left their home, did Sameer's children see that their father was executed and by their father's dead and bleeding body were piles of food.  How about Farah al-Halo, 1.5 years of age, who was shot in the stomach when her family was forced to evacuate from their home at 6:30 PM by Israeli soldiers who assured them of their safety?  Only 50 meters down the road they were shot at by other Israeli soldiers.  Farah, with her intestines spilling from her stomach, died on the side of the road a few hours later as the same soldiers that had assured their safety watched.
 
Further, how can Israel explain its use of the Palestinians as human shields?  Upon entering a village, Israeli soldiers would separate the men from the women.  Sami Rashid Mohammad Mohammad, Sameer's brother, was taken as a hostage and forced to accompany the Israeli soldiers for four days.  He was handcuffed and blindfolded and made to walk in front of the Israeli tanks and soldiers as bullets would whiz by.  At other times, he was made to sit on his knees in an open field for hours while Israeli soldiers would shoot from behind him and often at his feet.  These Palestinians were nothing more than entertainment for the soldiers, a child's play toy.  When I asked Sami whether he saw any Palestinian militants during his time as a human shield, he laughed and said that he only saw Israeli soldiers with their blackened faces and camouflage outfits.  "It was only Israeli soldiers shooting at each other," he remarked.  It is thus no wonder that between four to six Israeli soldiers were killed and 24 others injured in "friendly fire." 
 
Additionally, how can Israel explain the humiliation tactics it used against the Palestinians such as forcing Palestinian ambulance drivers to abandon their ambulance cars and drive donkey carts to pick up the dead and wounded as if to equate Palestinians with donkeys?  The soldiers would grant the ambulance drivers half an hour to clear the area using donkey carts and threatened to shoot after half an hour.  And what about the racist remarks painted on the walls of the Palestinian homes?  One of my co-delegates took pictures of the Hebrew writings graffitied on the walls of some of the Palestinian homes we visited in Zeitoun and had a friend translate them.  Among the things written were: "Death to Arabs" "War now between Arabs and Jews" "An Arab brave is an Arab in a grave" "Bad to the Arab=good for me" "He who dreams Givati [Israeli infantry brigade] does not expel Jews. He who dreams Givati kills Arabs!!!"  
 
The reality is that Israel cannot explain or justify any of these things, nor does it even care to do so.  When Israel's staple excuses are not readily consumed or when it is examined under a critical lens, Israel applies another tactic– threat and demonetization.  Israel has created one of the strongest lobby organizations in the U.S., AIPAC, which actively demonizes any opponent or criticizer of the State of Israel.  Due to John Ging's, the Director of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), open opposition to Israel's attacks in Gaza and his call for the investigation of Israeli attacks, he has been demonized and AIPAC recently introduced House Resolution 29 attacking UNRWA and alleging that it supports terrorists.  Even I have received a few threatening emails upon the issuance of NLG's Press Report which documented some of our findings.  One of the emails indicated that I, along with the other attorneys, will have our careers followed.  As the email stated, "Israel is smart not stupid, and will continue to do what they must as will America to survive even over the bodies of their leaders if necessary."
 
Almost every Palestinian I met in Gaza believes that Israel's recent attack will only be followed by another bloodier and more deadly attack on Gaza that will exterminate the Palestinians once and for all.  Considering the history of attacks on Gaza, the level of atrocities recently committed in Gaza and the lack of international redress, I do not think that these statements are mere paranoia.  Israel must be held accountable for its crimes in Gaza lest it commit larger and more egregious crimes in the future.  As one who has been trained in the legal profession, I demand that Israel engage the legal arena and provide the international community with real evidence, and not just staple excuses and dated videos, that can justify every single civilian murder and the widespread destruction of Palestinian civil society.  Until Israel is able to do so, the evidence in Gaza leads anyone willing to visit to the inevitable conclusion that Israel has committed war crimes.

Link to Free Gaza  

Wheeling and dealing;

This is the deal; When I encounter injustice, I have a real hard time, not welling up.. It's about the only thing, that has that effect on me! Doesn't matter if it's in public places or not, I can feel the tears bursting through like springtime, when the levee brakes. 

Naught matter if it's injustice done to me directly or to the children denied of a future in a war torn country like Gaza/West bank. When I hear the wails of fear, of a boy, being seized by the DR Congo army, looking for new recruits for their army of boy-soldiers. Or when I talk to a Burkha clad woman, born in a country, where women are sick from lack of sunshine on their skin. I cry, when men of faith, dynamites ancient Buddhas or rob the national library.The tears will come, when my grandmother tells me, how life is lived, when you have to ask for your husbands permission for a passport. Listening to women with death in their eyes, while recounting their nightmares of Darfurs Janjaweed raping and killing their daughters and then raping great-grandmother too.

This great lotto ticket; The wheel of fortune in life, which decides where you're born and under which circumstances.... It's got nothing to do with justice or what you're "entitled" to!

By the way;

 People in this country, Denmark, are really good at being "entitled" to just about everything; From welfare to 42" HD ready TV flat screens....

 The two sentences you hear the most is; "It's just not fair!/ I have the right!"

Well, It's just not fair, that Obama has given a fantasyllion to Wall Street, when I haven't got a dime, because I borrowed too much and are paying 500000000% in interests! - But then again it's not fair that millions of children are working their childhood away to keep hunger down!  - It's all about keeping your perspectives, me thinks.....?

 - Even if it does make me howl of the injustice of it all, when I see that a guy like MC Hammer gets his own reality show...???!!! Thus Paying off his mortgage and then some!

My problem these days are of being thoroughly misunderstood by some people & to top it off, having a very sporadic Internet-connection, which won't let me use my "right of free speech" exactly when I want to!                 

  And I will not stand for, having to wait for my

 instant gratification !!! 

Is that all??  Shame on me - uaaaaargh!;

~0~

"The Sons of Adam are members of a whole

Each is created from a greater, single soul

Whenever Fate to one of them brings pain

No other can without distress remain

You who for others' torment do not care

Cannont the name of 'Human' rightly bear"

Sa'di [1184 - 1291]

Out of loop, lately!

Hey everyone..

Been out of the loop, lately - I've been a victim of Pomp & Circumstance - A well meaning neighbour has cut me off;  from the world, basically...or at least from www. - More or less the very same thing...

But now I'm back and I can say to all of my 3-10 readers or so; "Don't despair! I'm back on track!"

 Just have to read up upon a few days worth of news, feeds and what have you - Block out interfering reality and I'll be right there with y'all!

Must admit, that my withdrawal symptoms has been severe, and it'll take a least a moment or two to get my bearings.

Palestine on Valentine;" In Gaza, the struggle within me"

© 2009 Łukasz Trzciński

Tuesday, 10 February 2009 09:51

Written by Natalie Abou Shakra

It is a curve, a curvy path. From the very top, till the very bottom. You can trace it with a light touch, from the inclined neck, down to the sensitive nape, around the curve of a yearning breast, around the erecting nipple. The waist moves for your hands to tighten their grip and motion you closer. The line of the hip seduces your tongue to taste its prolonged solitude, in dire need of the warm, damp of the salivary liquid you leave as you go further below. The thighs expand their distance, awaiting a touch, in between a distant cave, that had once existed, now forgotten- Bomb! We all fall down to the ground... a reverie of a longing sensuality broken. Your body does not belong to you any longer. Your sex has suddenly disappeared. You no longer are man, or woman; you are an object subliming in fright, rigidity, terror, trauma, disgust, and anxiety. Love under the bombs? What an alluring, distant broken dream...

Twenty two days, and the coming ones hold more savagery to your body than ever before. The body of Gaza has been barbarically violated, raped. To the images of slaughtering and torn human flesh you awake, you arise, and to the anxiety that you are next, you dwell. Your body, your sex, your self, you lose in the oblivion of an existence you once lived.

I open the tap for warm water, and nothing pours down. I smell of sweat, and a week of non-cleaned flesh, but the yearning for a touch, is left intact despite it all. My hair, too oily to be stroked gently, tangled and shaggy. I am clad in an attire of loose cloths, the only ones I could find, untouched by any other dirt, than that on my body. It removes any form, or curve my figure reveals. I tie the long hair around in several trials to the back. Its length no longer shows. Despite the continuous vibrations of the shelling, shaking the building I am, I struggle to place my kohl. I resist with all my might, "the day shall not rise without the kohl," I jokingly tell myself. "I placed nail polish on," the lady I live with tells me. "I want my spirits uplifted. I cannot take it anymore," she confides in me. She remained home during the twenty two days of death and terror that have not ended yet, now that trauma and shock have replaced them. She is married and has a seven year old boy dependent on her life and wellbeing. I am an activist dedicated to a cause and struggle. I do not stay home. I shall not die home.

The house, without tap water, is a haven of unwashed dishes, smelly bathrooms, and dirty laundry. Nevertheless, it is a roof atop our heads, despite all the broken windows of our house. My host family consists of three individuals, the child and his parents, and now myself. We shared a vacant room, of which we placed a mattress that can support us against the cold of the floor, of which to sleep on during the sleepless nights. There is no privacy to the self, no moment to live to touch yourself, to feel that there is still a body that yearns within you, that sends shocks of vibrations, other than those of the shelling, that cause you to smile, to feel, to climax.

Outside, every man becomes a potential prospect to your loneliness; a companion that can soothe the hunger; the hunger for a loving touch, and the thirst; the thirst for sentimental unity, and the flowing of emotions. ‘Do I still look like a woman?' I ask myself in the empty streets as I walk alone, in a ghost town, with no lights, no electricity to lift the shadow of darkness that has fallen against a million and a half bodies of a land. ‘Can I break a taboo or two? Do I have a right to against these circumstances?' I question the desperate, yearning soul in the human being of me.

Eyes lock with the pedestrians as I move towards my destination. It is still a long walk towards where I am supposed to be. The shelling continues, and the darkness is broken from the White Phosphorous the Israeli Occupation Forces light our skies with. During the day, darkness dwells reflecting the sun rays, as a result of the constant bombings and dark smoke that arises. Our days become nights, and nights turn to day. I fear for my health, as we all do, against the chemicals used. Can we be future cancer victims? How will my body respond to this present in case it has a future to live?

I struggle with myself to resist an occupation and all its influences. I struggle with a body, with no weapon. I struggle to smile, to laugh, to sing, to dance... to live my days as if there is no grander might that can remove my physical self from this being. I struggle to defy death, the killing machine, the loneliness, the fatigue of emotions and sentiments, the extinction of entertainment, the sadness of tales, of unjust facades of an absurd reality. I struggle for a rose, in a black field of death. I struggle for a crimson reality other than that of blood. I struggle for unity against division. I struggle to defy insecurity and its all resulting fragmentations. I struggle to listen to a tune, to touch a man. I struggle and struggle with all that I can, to live the last moments, as if they were the only ones in my life, to allow myself the non-existent pleasures of an already shortened life span.

Gaza the spark of burning coal onto the ears of forgetfulness; Gaza, now the liberating torch against all the evils of occupation, oppression, repression, colonialism and silence; Gaza, the struggle of the politics of identity and the right to self-determination, of a people, of a body, of every child, man and woman.

Link to; Free Gaza