This is a very long comment I wrote in reply to a post by ysabetwordsmith (here). I'm reposting it because it deals with some issues I've been thinking a lot about lately and I'd really like to discuss it here as well.



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I didn't write this out of any great idealism regarding the moral authority of my army or any other. I'm not asking anyone to love the military. But at least don't misrepresent us.

We are still people, and we are still responsible for our own actions. Claiming otherwise does not show kindness and understanding, but rather contempt for us and for our choices.

As a moral human being, what are a soldier's obligations if they find out that their army is acting immorally?

Or that the army acted immorally in the past, though those actions don't have any effect on its actions in the present?

Caught up on my flist while I was home over last weekend, but chances are very very good I accidentally missed important things - poke me if I did!

***

Mid-October, 2009:

• Me: Hmm, NaNoWriMo's coming up.
• My Smarter Self: Sad, this is the first time since middle school that we're not attempting it.
• Me: ...Who said we're not doing it this year?
• My Smarter Self: Are you insane? You barely have time to shower!

So I'm only doing it symbolically this year - 10k will be beyond my expectations - but I ought to get a few thousand words in anyway.

***

Yuletide signups are open, which means that it's time for me to try and make everyone I know sign up this year (do it! It's fun! Only 2 days left!!)

(For those of you who don't know, Yuletide is basically a secret Santas exchange for fic in small fandoms.  There's a terrific community that's grown up around it that I've unfortunately lacked the time and opportunity to take part in this year or last.)

This is my second time doing Yuletide - the first was last year during basic training - and I'm really looking forward to it!  While I'm beyond satisfied with how last year's fic came out, it barely passed the 1k words mark as I only had one two-day weeked durting basic training to write it. I'm hoping to be able to put some more time (and words) into this year's piece, and even to write more than one.  Can't wait to get my assignment!

Dear Santa letter coming soon - hopefully by this weekend.

Funniest. Video. Ever!

I was sure this really was vintage until a 61-year-old Sasi Keshet came onscreen at 1:56. ^_^

The ridiculous suits, the hair and the, ah, wriggling should probably have given it away, though the 70s army miniskirts are spot on.


Dammit, it's scary how much I am in love with that man good his voice is for someone born in 1947!

Edit: Oh, and the girls have their berets on the wrong shoulder (or else the frames have been flipped). This is Israel - you'd think someone would have noticed!  :D

I got your package the day before I went back to base after a week's vacation. It made my day at a time when I really, really needed cheering up.

The notepaper is beautiful (I love sunflowers!) and the lovely card made me smile all day.  Am wearing the purple earrings right now! <3

Thank you so much!  *hugs*


PS: Was going to send off your package the same day, but I figured I'd skip the riots in the old city and get you the stuff I planned to send you next time I'm home.  ^_^
 

• 06:28 bit.ly/sQc9F BBC lends support to global warming skepticism in today's most shared article. Disturbing. #
• 23:59 Arms caches in South Lebanon seem to only explode on my shifts (why is that?). bit.ly/10dZw1 (Haaretz) #

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May you have a great year, full of wonderful things, lovely new houses and victory over Mt. TBR!

Happy birthday & יום הולדת שמח!

It really makes my day that this is the "most shared" article on the BBC site:

The need for action was even greater in 2002 following one of Malawi's worst droughts, which killed thousands of people and left his family on the brink of starvation.

Unable to attend school, he kept up his education by using a local library.

Fascinated by science, his life changed one day when he picked up a tattered textbook and saw a picture of a windmill.

Mr Kamkwamba told the BBC News website: "I was very interested when I saw the windmill could make electricity and pump water.

"I thought: 'That could be a defence against hunger. Maybe I should build one for myself'."

This guy is a genius! I donated $40 to him and his village a couple years ago, when he was only slightly famous. ^^

Am going through a sudden onset of I Hate It Here And Want To Die.

I hope it's just pms.

*desperately needs hugs and funny/happy links*

...

In other unfortunate news, I realized while unpacking yesterday that I forgot my bath towel.  (What kind of hitchhiker does that make me?)  Will be drying myself off with a hand towel for next 2 weeks..

...

PS:  I need to write a slideshow about Sabra and Shatila this morning.  I THINK I NEED THOSE HAPPY PILLS NOW, THANK YOU.  :(

 

Happy (Hebrew) new year, and Eid Mubarak!

Here's a seasonal song that sums up this time of year very well: chilly winds and new beginnings.


Tishrei Song / Hava Alberstein
Lyrics: Rachel Shapira
Music: Dani Amihud

The skies change
Before the eyes of the farmers
The neighbors are preparing
For the Days of Awe.

Someone is thinking about you
And writing down your deeds.
Come home quickly
With the chilly wind.

(Hebrew source)

I do not like this song.

The video is annoying.  The lyrics are inane.

I have been watching it over and over again on Youtube through the last 3 days of shifts.  WHY CAN'T I STOP?!?!

I meant to post about my birthday today, but it was sort of upstaged by the events of the 11th.

The US wasn't the only one marking 9/11 this year:



I was asleep between shifts when the rockets fell, a few kilometers away. Sprinted to the bomb shelter, helmet and flak jacket in hand, where I waited with a bunch of the combat soldiers from the base. Lost an earring rushing up to the war rooms an hour or two later.  (First time I'd worn the pair, too.  I blame Al Qaida, or whoever it turns out to be).

They gave me a couple extra hours of sleep after the whole thing was over, since I'm supposed to get 6 hours before a night shift, but for some reason I didn't exactly manage to nod off.  Our rooms aren't reinforced, and they're in sight of Lebanon.

I think I'll be sleeping in my clothes these next few nights...



(Pictures from YNet and Haaretz.)

I've decided to read The Lord of the Rings again - sort of an insane decision, as my time for reading is practically nil most of the time I'm on base. Why? Mostly so I can properly visualize my progress on The Eowyn Challenge (drawing inspiration from Elizabeth Bear), which seems like a fun way to keep track of exercise progress.

There's also the fact that I haven't read it in way, way too long.

Because I only came up with this bright idea after arriving on base, I've had to resort to downloading the book to my phone and reading it there. (Seeing as I have about 5 copies of the book at home, two of them collector's editions, plus about a zillion other Tolkien/Middle Earth- related books sitting next to them on my bookshelf, I feel no guilt whatsoever about this.) It's not exactly comfortable, but I'm managing.

There is something strange, almost wrong, about autoscrolling through A Long-Expected Party, but I expect I'll get used to it.

*   *   *

Progress so far: 4.9 km (3 miles) - Cross The Water on a plank bridge.

Over 8 months in already (time flies when you're working your ass off!), and I've finally gotten my corporal stripes. They're so new I haven't even sewn them on yet, as you can see.

I've been taking rather more pleasure than I ought to in signing my name as a corporal instead of a private over the last couple days.

In any case, I decided two weeks ago that I am not signing on for extra, ever (not even for the officer's course, which I am now almost sure I don't want). So: less than one year and 4 months left!

I pierced my ears last Sunday! For the first time!

As self-mutilation goes, it's actually rather attractive. Only another 3 weeks or so until I can finally wear dangly earrings.

To those of you who have already been through this: any tips?

What I did last weekend:

• Ohad Khitman concert
• Mira Awad & Ahinoam Nini concert (I have been waiting to go to a Mira Awad concert for months and months now, and it totally met all my expectations. Also: front row seats!!!)
• Shopping. Lots and lots of shopping.
• Visited the National Library for the first time in months - I keep making new discoveries every time I visit.
• More shopping! New clothes - yay!
• Finally saw HP6! Would probably have been able to absorb it better if I hadn't been sitting next to two fangirl friends (YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!) who kept laughing every time something with slashy undertones happened on screen. Which was, um, THE WHOLE MOVIE. But hey - more fun this way. ^^

What I did this weekend:

• Night shift
• Day shift
• More night shifts
• Read about 400 pages of Carol Berg's Lighthouse books (one bright spot, at least - I'm finally reading Breath and Bone)
• Sorted my email (only 10 mails in my inbox! This is a record, people!)

Yes, you tell me which sounds more fun.

I am tipsier right now than I've managed to get in months, and allowing myself to get anywhere near a keyboard and internet right now is probably a mistake, but I have an irrepressible urge to post right now.

Just got back from a concert of a singer/songwriter called Ohad Khitman, who is one of the more popular artists on the Israeli scene these days. Live, he emoted just a bit too much for my taste, but his lyrics are incredible - listening to him perform songs I'd never heard before, it felt like like he was reading my mind - more than that: telling me things I needed to hear.

The chorus of this song just makes me happy. He played it twice, which could have been overkill but ended up being perfect.



* * * * *

Got home from base late this afternoon, going back Tuesday morning. So much to do in between...

I'll confess to being foolishly excited when I saw front page on Sunday, the day before I went back to base:




What a relief that I sent my report off this afternoon and will get at least six hours tonight! (When that seems like luxury, you know something is seriously wrong.)

If I have to look at one more news article, I'm going to shoot someone. Probably myself. (<< *is joking. Mostly*)

• an antibiotics prescription (finally!) after a month of negative tests, misdiagnosis and suffering.  (Army medical system = FAIL.)

• a new phone that has:
  • a touch screen
  • a camera
  • user-friendly, very fast internet
  • good speakers
  • great design
  • lots of general shininess and features I haven't even started to explore yet (tv channels! Unlimited viewing time for $6 a month!). This is the first time in my life that my phone isn't at least thee years behind the herd, and I have to say - it feels really good.

• an official email from one's division commander (who is a general and two ranks below the Chief of Staff, and for whom one has a great amount of personal respect), sent to the entire branch, praising a weekly report one started and has been in charge of writing ever since.

These past two weeks have been intense, strange, awesome and more interesting than any other period in my service so far. This is not just because of external events that touched on my work (though there were certainly enough of those) but also because personal, internal developments. After this past week and a half, I think I can finally say that I'm getting the hang of this job. At the risk of jinxing myself - I feel ready to take on almost anything it can throw at me.

Like these last few days.

From Haaretz: