Monday, August 31, 2009

About Gilad Shalit

See, it's good to spend time in the blogosphere. I'm learning things I'd never know otherwise.

This time it's about a man named Gilad Shalit, who has been in captivity in Gaza since 2006. I can't imagine what his life must be like, and I'm not sure I really want to. From RonMossad.
Gilad Shalit.

Born, August 28th, 1986.

Sitting in captivity in some Gaza hell hole since June 25th, 2006. Meantime, this peice of work goes home to a hero's reception.

I hope we didn't miss our chance to get him back in time for his 23rd birthday. Speaking of which, what were you doing on your 23rd birthday? Or your 22nd? Or your 21st? Well I don't want to talk about my 21st and you probably don't either because like me you probably can't remember too much of it. Lots of fun these early-20's birthdays. Before you realize you're closer to 30 than 20. Or more than halfway to 50. Yikes.

It's a scary time in your life to be 23, you know?

But none of that really matters if every day you wake up in the basement of some nearly-collapsing house surrounded by people who want to nothing more than to see you suffer in the name of their insanity. Nope, no scary decisions necessary here. If they give you food today, you eat it. If they give you water today you drink it. If
they beat you today you nurse your wounds. If they don't, you wonder what they're planning tomorrow.

Everyday you wish it were over. But everyday it continues, same as the day before. Same as it ever was. How many days has it even been anyway? Is it your birthday today? If it was your birthday today, how old would you be? Does it matter? What should you do today in between dealing with your captors? Should you count how many bricks are in the wall again? Should you try to sleep? Will they let you sleep? Do you even remember what normal sleep feels like?

No, not much to decide here. Not much sense in obsessing over the future when you're Gilad Shalit...and it's been more than three years since you had to make a scary decision. No worries about the future or what to do with your life or if you should go out with that girl from last night again...when your entire life consists of just getting to the next hour without having your arm broken or face punched or your body violated. No scary decisions about the future, when the future is just your next breath. Or the next burst of pain. Or the next time you'll be able to chew your food.

Man it sure ain't easy being 23. For some though, it's easier than others.
It must be truly awful to be in his situation. May Gilad Shalit eventually find freedom - preferably sooner rather than later.

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