make knowledge not war

finally got everything ready (i hope) for the student visa application. it was really a huge sigh of relief because everything seemed so confusing. and the amount of paper work is staggering, with all sorts of preposterous forms and fees.

and so as i was finally able to enjoy some moments of self-satisfaction, i was also equally and utterly shocked while reading the story on how the united states withdrew 7 fullbright grants from gaza because israel refused to grant the students permission to leave.


i've always been neutral on the subject of the israeli-palestinian crisis. to me, the middle-east peace roadmap is about as significant/symbolic as me having an occasional constipation - in other words, i just don't give a shit. honestly, i put more thought into which finger i'd use to pick my nostrails.

but today something stirred inside me. the actions of the israeli government not only seem extremely discriminatory, but it's also truly a step backwards in building a more cordial relationship with palestine. and you wonder why the roadmap never seem to point to anywhere, maybe it's because one of the parties responsible for drawing it up is really a cock and has no sense of direction at all?

the claim on the israeli's part is that that education has no relations to humanitarian concerns in gaza and hence it would be pose too much of a risk to the israeli soldiers. too much of a risk for what? that the soldiers would inadvertently soil themselves upon letting 7 students out of gaza? or that letting 7 students past the checkpoint would make them seem a bit weak and homosexual?

it's quite pointless to continue the argument knowing there's nothing anyone can do to change the israelis' mind, because obviously the israeli government has got its head stuck so far up its ass that it would be akin to telling a cow to milk itself - wishful thinking. peace is an ideal, and education can help to inculcate and spread that ideal to the masses and nurture people who cherish that ideal. so apparently it's not peace that the israelis want?

now you know why people often express their frustration towards certain irrational individuals with the phrase "(someone) is being so jewish". in the case of the israeli government, i can't help but snicker at the irony of the double whammy there. classic.


+listening to: jesus just left chicago by gov't mule