Friends and Neighbours

I made the mistake of stopping by a neighbour's front porch the other day.

Soon we were discussing books.

I talked about the two books I reviewed here on Sunday.

Soon we were talking about the imperial itch and how so many nation states have destroyed and subjugated so many others in the most awful and violent and terminal ways.

All of this was...well, neighbourly, until the following emerged.

"And now, of course, the Hebrews, are doing exactly the same thing to the Palestinians," said my neighbour.

Our friendship, such as it is, was saved by my cell phone ringing.

I was distracted and then taken away by the urgency of the call.

Of course, this unfortunate moment has stayed with me.

The Hebrews.

Not the Israelis.

That would be the 7 Million Israelis who are living on a narrow strip of land surrounded by 100 million others who wish them dead, who have sworn for more than half a century now to kill them all and remove them from the region, who have tried exactly that numerous times.

Make no mistake, Israel has done some god-awful dreadful things.

No excuses.

Meanwhile, Arabs and Jews work and worship side by side in Israel and Arabs are significantly represented in Parliament.

And Israel - not the Hebrews - continues to live under bombardments and the constant threat of annihilation...of promised and sworn and dedicated annihilation.

But my dear old lovely gardening neighbour in the leafy sleepy sanctuary of West Point Grey has the "Hebrews" down as world criminals and murderers.

Safety and spare time are wonderful bounties and much to be enjoyed.