Are We Being Ants or Grasshoppers?
There is a very wierd atmosphere here in Israel now. On the one hand the people are demanding an inquiry commission into the government's running of the war. There is nothing wrong with that - I think it is definitely necessary.
On the other hand everyone knows that this war is not over. Haaretz has an article where this is spelled out specifically - and the time frame for the next round is said to be in a matter of months or weeks.
So my question is, are we making most of this time? Is someone doing what should be done NOW to prepare for the next round?
I have no suggestions for the IDF - there are others who know better than I what should be done. But anyone with a little common sense knows what should be done on the home front. Here is my "to do list":
Improvements to the bomb shelters - bathroom and shower facilities installed or upgraded?
Air conditioner/heaters ready to be installed if necessary?
Plan to evacuate the poor and elderly who want to leave the north and cannot do it on their own?
Plan to educate the children in case of war during school year? Computers ready to be put in bomb shelters? Volunteer teachers ready to go up north?
"Twinning program" in other parts of the country - where similar communities are matched and can absorb temporary refugees if the need arises?
Israelis are famous for being able to fly by the seat of their pants - which is a good survival skill in this part of the world, since we don't always know what is around the corner. On the other hand we Jews pride ourselves as being intelligent - and learning from our mistakes is one component of that intelligence.
Are we being ants or grasshoppers this summer?
There is a very wierd atmosphere here in Israel now. On the one hand the people are demanding an inquiry commission into the government's running of the war. There is nothing wrong with that - I think it is definitely necessary.
On the other hand everyone knows that this war is not over. Haaretz has an article where this is spelled out specifically - and the time frame for the next round is said to be in a matter of months or weeks.
So my question is, are we making most of this time? Is someone doing what should be done NOW to prepare for the next round?
I have no suggestions for the IDF - there are others who know better than I what should be done. But anyone with a little common sense knows what should be done on the home front. Here is my "to do list":
Improvements to the bomb shelters - bathroom and shower facilities installed or upgraded?
Air conditioner/heaters ready to be installed if necessary?
Plan to evacuate the poor and elderly who want to leave the north and cannot do it on their own?
Plan to educate the children in case of war during school year? Computers ready to be put in bomb shelters? Volunteer teachers ready to go up north?
"Twinning program" in other parts of the country - where similar communities are matched and can absorb temporary refugees if the need arises?
Israelis are famous for being able to fly by the seat of their pants - which is a good survival skill in this part of the world, since we don't always know what is around the corner. On the other hand we Jews pride ourselves as being intelligent - and learning from our mistakes is one component of that intelligence.
Are we being ants or grasshoppers this summer?
posted by westbankmama at 8:16 AM
1 Comments:
Excellent post, WBM. One claim I will never agree with is:
"On the other hand we Jews pride ourselves as being intelligent - and learning from our mistakes is one component of that intelligence."
I mean the second half, of course - we are famous for the opposite - never learning from our mistakes, I believe. Actually, come to think of it, we are not unique in this trait - it is only human.
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