Today is an important day.
Jewish people all over the world are praying that Gilad will be home today.
I join those prayers.
We all do.
Update:
Gilad is home!
This is a pretty remarkable and wonderful moment.
After 5 years in captivity they actually released the guy alive. Sure, he is pale (because he has not seen the sun in five years) and skinny (because they starved him), but he is alive.
I do not know quite what to make of this, exactly, but it is important.
Gilad is home.
Clearly Hamas didn't spend any money on feeding him for five years. No wonder they refused to allow the Red Cross to see him during that period.
ReplyDeleteAnd the Palestinians have wasted no time in celebrating their released murderers, and vowing to do it again. Then they complain when everyone in the civilized world thinks of them as terrorists.
Y'know, I do not know what to make of this moment, exactly.
ReplyDeleteIt was very poignant and sad over the last few days as we saw the relatives of the victims of terrorists condemning this deal... understandably enough... but I'm just happy that the poor guy is free.
I cannot wait to hear what he has to say.
Above all it shows the uniqueness of Israeli values. No other country in the world would do this; free a thousand for one. Would that her enemies had her humanity.
ReplyDeleteEvidently he was subjected to an Egyptian TV interview prior to his release where he was asked among other things:
ReplyDelete“What lessons did you learn from you captivity?”
Egyptians -1.......Humanity.....0
Love this opinion piece
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4136659,00.html
"The Arab side is the clear winner of the Gilad Shalit swap. If anyone around here thought Israel could challenge the Arab standards of cruelty and primitivism, Tuesday’s events sat the record straight. We lost the sadism contest by knock-out.
It started in the West Bank, where Hamas fans marked the joyous occasion of their countrymen’s release from jail with some trademark Arab civility: Urging renewed terror attacks and the butchering of Jews. Indeed, when it comes to pure lust for Jewish blood, the Palestinians outshine virtually any competitors......"
This is a special moment.
ReplyDeleteI think that I want to leave this post up, front and center, for the rest of the day.
This is Gilad's day.
Hey Doodad,
ReplyDeleteI started to read that link and, I have to tell you, I got about 2 sentences in before I moved on.
Readers will not know what I am talking about, but my partner, Doodad, put up a link to the Angry Arab discussing how happy the guy is about Gilad's freedom.
http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2011/10/festival-of-your-racism.html
He's one Angry Arab, for sure.
Yikes!
It doesn't matter, tho.
What matters is that Gilad is home.
That is one angry Arab.
ReplyDeleteI hope Gilad Schalit will be given his peace and, when ready, speak to the double standard so evident in his case.
Yeah I decided against it because I should be happy this day; not pissed at some Arab.
ReplyDeleteThis is a day in history to be remembered; a pivotal day I would say. I am happy to be here as a witness to Israel's humanity no matter where this event takes us.
This is one of those events that I simply do not know what to make of other than the fact that I am very, very pleased with the release of Gilad Shalit.
ReplyDeleteSome, of course, are arguing that this is a bad deal because Israel let loose a bunch of murderers among those prisoners.
Others are suggesting that Israel will use some of those prisoners for intelligence gathering.
All I know is that today is a special day.
It just is.
I do not know what it will mean for Israel, or anyone else, going forward.
I don't.
All I know is that Gilad is free.
Finally free.
Israeli singer Arik Einstein dedicates ballad to Gilad Shalit
ReplyDeleteOne of Israel’s music giants has recorded a song honoring abducted soldier Gilad Shalit's return to Israel after over five years in captivity in Gaza.
By City Mouse Online
“Now that you are here” (words by Guy Bocati)
And we will never forget
The sweet moment
That we heard it was over
And that you are coming
To be near
A smile of innocent children
Took over our faces
The first shudder
After five years
Now that you are here
Take it slow
Don’t run fast
Remember, forget, laugh
Always be a hero
You are allowed to cry
Its not simple at all
To forgive fate
But now that you are here
You can have love
You can have a strong embrace
You can breathe deep
For five years the heart ticked
A clock ticking pain
The fear that you would not return
Killed our heart
We love
To hear your name
Now you are back
And there is a great love here
Take what is possible
Don’t dare to be shy
We have waited just to give you
Everything you ask for
But now that you are here….
Oh, how wonderful it is that you are here
http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/israeli-singer-arik-einstein-dedicates-ballad-to-gilad-shalit-1.390852