Entries from January 2009

January 7, 2009

Gaza Conflict Updates

George Matayev, a hairdresser, said, “If there is a cease-fire now, we will get to the point where we will have to leave [Israel], let alone Sderot.” Ilan Sinai, a mechanic, said he was sorry for the soldiers who were dying, and even for the Palestinian civilians on the other side. But he added, “This [...]

January 6, 2009

Inhumane Weapons Reported Being Used Against Palestinians

According to doctors in Gaza, the Israeli army is using DIME weapons, which are an exotic type of bomb or missile that technically isn’t invented yet, in their military push in Gaza. October of 2006 was when the first reports came in that Israel was using a new type of weapon against the Palestinians. According to Doug [...]

January 6, 2009

The Unique Voice of Suheir Hammad

Suheir Hammad is a Palestinian-American poet, author, and political activist. She was born in Amman, Jordan to Palestinian refugee parents and immigrated with her family to Brooklyn when she was five. • NY Magazine interview with Suheir. • EI interview. • Poems by Suheir (here too). • Her home page. (videos embedded)

January 5, 2009

Obama Failed and He’s Not Even President Yet

The often repeated words of Hope and Change during the presidential campaign appear unusually silent during the violence occurring in Gaza. When Barack Obama has a chance to say something to influence change and to give hope he’s remained silent and indifferent. • The United Nations reports that over 25% of the casualties in Gaza are civilians. • UN [...]

January 3, 2009

Racing the Storm

When I worked in the electronics department at Sears, the full-commission employees would ask that I give them my sales since I got paid a base. Sometimes I forgot. This big Puerto Rican guy from Colorado, who also got paid a base salary, was named Mark. He said he came to Oregon on his Harley [...]