http://www.intellectualconservative.com/2009/01/26/duly-noted-48/ Conservative and Libertarian Intellectual Philosophy and Politics Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:00:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://www.intellectualconservative.com/2009/01/26/duly-noted-48/comment-page-1/#comment-76172 Ivan Ivanovich Mon, 26 Jan 2009 15:17:53 +0000 http://www.intellectualconservative.com/?p=5272#comment-76172 Yesterday I watched a little of Saree Makdisi's book review on C-SPAN. In the series of stories he tells of the many terrible insults endured by himself and others in Gaza and Israel. I tried to be fair, but somehow my mind kept coming back to 1903 when my grandfather left home in Eastern Europe and came to America. Maybe it was the revolution in Russia, maybe it was the oppressive living conditions, but having thought about it many times I've concluded that he simply woke up one morning and say "This place sucks, I'm getting out of here." Listening to Mr. Makdisi tell of babies born at the Gaza-Israel border waiting to cross and get to a hospital, I wondered why there is no hospital in Gaza. Is there no money to build a hospital among the Arab supporters of Palestine? Why don't these people move to Jordan, Syria, Egypt, or even France? Having moved longer distances myself for less reason, such as a job, I can’t imagine staying and suffering war for myself, never mind my children. We Americans often think of immigrants only coming to America, but the world is full of places of refuge for people that want peace. I wish I could channel my grandfather now and ask him how it was to leave his childhood home and why he left. Somehow, I think he would say “I just wanted a better life. If the place that you are does not give that opportunity then it is time to move on”. I’m glad he felt that way and acted upon his instincts. A hundred years later, I was able to go and visit the place where he was born and it is peaceful. Yesterday I watched a little of Saree Makdisi’s book review on C-SPAN. In the series of stories he tells of the many terrible insults endured by himself and others in Gaza and Israel. I tried to be fair, but somehow my mind kept coming back to 1903 when my grandfather left home in Eastern Europe and came to America. Maybe it was the revolution in Russia, maybe it was the oppressive living conditions, but having thought about it many times I’ve concluded that he simply woke up one morning and say “This place sucks, I’m getting out of here.”
Listening to Mr. Makdisi tell of babies born at the Gaza-Israel border waiting to cross and get to a hospital, I wondered why there is no hospital in Gaza. Is there no money to build a hospital among the Arab supporters of Palestine? Why don’t these people move to Jordan, Syria, Egypt, or even France? Having moved longer distances myself for less reason, such as a job, I can’t imagine staying and suffering war for myself, never mind my children. We Americans often think of immigrants only coming to America, but the world is full of places of refuge for people that want peace. I wish I could channel my grandfather now and ask him how it was to leave his childhood home and why he left. Somehow, I think he would say “I just wanted a better life. If the place that you are does not give that opportunity then it is time to move on”. I’m glad he felt that way and acted upon his instincts. A hundred years later, I was able to go and visit the place where he was born and it is peaceful.

]]>