We in Jerusalem are often delayed and prevented from going where we want to go by the discovery of a suspicious object.See those bags strapped to the trash bin?
Very soon traffic was at a standstill, backed up for blocks.
Before doubling back and walking a different route, I stood there for a while, soaking up the atmosphere.The Christian Ethiopian lady in white continued sitting and waiting for her bus. (Ethiopia Street and their church and monastery are right around the corner from HaNeviim Street.)
Soon came two ultra-Orthodox haredi men in black.
Then an Arab family.
We, representing the different populaton "sectors," all stood there, equally curious if something would explode, wondering when the police sappers and/or robot would arrive, and annoyed by the delay and detour.
But no one was afraid.
It is just a common fact of life in Israel, these suspicious objects.
.
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Thanks so much for posting this narrative. You told it well. I wish it wasn't so common as to become a mundane, everyday sort of thing. Your presentation of it placed it so well within the context of the diverse society of your city.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean and feel Dina. Couple years ago when the radical Muslims bombed the HSBC building in İstanbul, I was practically at the next building. All the noise and the smoke was terrifying but I remember how we all calmly left the building. I guess its the price we are all paying to live in this part of the world. In a weird way its becoming something normal.
ReplyDeleteMary Ann and Aysegul, you have both been in the thick of the real thing.
ReplyDeleteThank God, I have never seen in person a real terrorist attack.
I am so glad you are both alive and well and happily blogging.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts here. We bloggers here at this end of the Med have a strange bond.
We have no concept what daily life is like for you.
ReplyDeleteYou have just reminded me of when our eager bomb squad blew up the suitcase forgotten on the curb side by a local stand-up comedian...
ReplyDeleteThis was interesting, and I felt better for viewing the scene from the safety of Adelaide. Then I remembered we had a parcel bomb explode at the headquarters of the National Crime Authority here in 1994, killing a detective sergeant. Despite a reward of 1 million dollars, the perpetrators have still not been called to account.
ReplyDeleteAnd no one was afraid? Oh my goodness! It's hard for me to imagine that this kind of thing would be so commonplace that people would not feel threatened.
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