Kavita,

Thanks for the post. It was a vivid description of a land that you seem to truly love and cherish. Your story is bittersweet, and the harshness of the situation there is indeed heartbreaking.

I look forward to your next post.

Love, Bo

The rockets home made by the Palestinians, who have so many of their own issues to deal with.

Primarily among them, that hundreds, and not a few, of their little boys have been killed indiscriminately by the Israelis.

It is a common problem when people go to Israel to be 'sucked in' by the Israeli side of things. There are two sides to the story, and a visit to Israel is not complete without a visit to Palestine, or at least Arab areas (of those 7 (actually 6) million you speak of, 1 million are Palestinian) within Israel, such as East Jerusalem.

Myself being Jewish, it was a real eye-opener after having been to Israel several times, to meet a friendly Palestinian, dine in his home, and get to know his side of the story. Truly a life changing experience that made me very passionate about Peace in the region.

I would urge anyone who travels to Israel to experience the two sides of the conflict, as you begin to see, even more clearly, that the conflict is being almost totally driven by 2 small groups of extremists on each side.

Dear Kavita,

How are you, my dear sister? Hope you remain safe in that troubled land.

You have touched on a series of points(going all over the map, a little) without once mentioning the reasons for going over there. Since you have decided to let us in on this trip, I figure it's only a fair question, or expectation. Won't you agree?

"As I stood looking at the sunrise across palm trees over the {M}editerranean {S}ea, I realize how breathtakingly beautiful this country is."

This fact belies the horror that has regularly punctuated this mystic, holy landscape over the ages. It would be be remarkable if, one day, the collective wills of all peoples of that region succeed in establihing a permanent and peaceful cohabitation and coexistence.

Looking forward to your post after you get back.

Love,

Ron.

Dear Kavita,
I have missed your articles.
Safe travel!
Love and Blessings,
~~ Kate

Isn't it amazing that the common folk are not the ones that want war or conflict. Perhaps we whould build a system to put them power.

In the average household in every country I have been in and I suspect on the planet the people are Peaceful and friendly.

Where I live there are people from Iraq and India and several dozen other countries. There are Chinese and Russians and Koreans you name it.

There are people of every religion. Everyone is Peacful with each other.

It is the leadership of the countries that create the war and conflict.

We need to put the people in power and remove the few that benefit from the conflict.

I say we remove the current and established leadership from every country.

Then you got to wonder how much influence do the corporations and financiers have on the state of the world?

Great post. Sow seeds of peace while you are there.

Aradhana

Kavita,

Please find out what, if anything, the Israeli government is doing to end this fearsome, criminal culture of suicide bombers.

It's important to understand the enigmatic psychology of these misguided people. They are not all impoverished, dispossessed or uneducated. I believe that these individuals are brainwashed by a perverse interpretation of Islamic scriptures, the rewards of the 'heroics' martyrdom, for example.

What can we, as a global community, do to stop this madness, this insanity? If they are using this method to make a political statement, it is obviously not working. So, why do they keep doing it?

Can it ever be stopped?

This form of terror does not discriminate its victims. It is therefore a legitimate concern of all of the civilized world. All Muslim leaders in the Arab world and elsewhere should call for an immediate and permanent end to this human tragedy. Let's respect the dignity and sanctity of each human life. Make "living in peace" the new psychology of this world! Make your political statements by peaceful, civil and dignified means.

Regards,

Ron Saywack.

Eleven Eleven

11:11

Notice the days that all the recent posts were posted on is “11”

Now I know the technical reason, some human edited the date field and put the month where the day should be, but do you know the divine reason?

11:11 is a signal, if it hasn’t it will begin capturing your attention. It began for me about 10 years ago and I started writing about it. However at the time I did not realize all the things connected.

Do you think this is just coincidence?

http://www.adbusters.org/campaigns/twominutesofsilence/index.php#2

If you all have never been here http://www.adbusters.org/

If you don’t know about

CULTURE JAMMING (you will love it) Go for it, introduce it to your country or city.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_jamming (check out the links for examples)

This is from http://www.abrupt.org
Once upon a time, the "Evils of the Establishment" were subject to rational critique by academics and revolutionaries. Most people still function under this rationalist model: "Change will come if enough people understand the problem rationally and intellectually." Without at all dismissing the importance of rationality and intellect, I would argue that these tools are no longer themselves adequate. Specifically, in the struggle to debrief people on the poisonous symbolic system called "The Media", the rules have been changed.
Advertising imagery has long been post- or pre-rational. Only in its infancy was promotion about informing people about the product. Now its task is to weave stories, sing songs, to portray not the product but the people who use the product. Promises, threats, training. How can a rational critique even begin to address a worldview whose fundamental issues are not TRUE/FALSE but PLEASURE/PAIN, SEXY/GEEKY, "QUALITY"/"RIP-OFF"?
"Culture Jamming" sticks where rational discourse slides off. It is, simply, the viral introduction of radical ideas. It is viral in that it uses the enemy's own resources to replicate iteself -- corporate logos, marketing psychology, clean typography, "adspeak". It is radical because--ideally--the message, once deciphered, causes damage to blind belief. Fake ads, fake newspaper articles, parodies, pastiche. The best CJ is totally unexpected, surprising, shocking in its implications.

Guerilla Peacefare Using Advanced Technology Coming Soon….

Kavita,

I also fell completely in love with Israel when I visited many years ago. I was privileged to stay in the West Bank and found the people - all of the people Muslim/Jew/Israeli/Arab - to be as kind and hospitable as you say.

The country is truly beautiful and it is indeed heartbreaking when you think of the amount of blood that has been shed in fighting over it. Jerusalem holds a special place in my heart - isn't it magical?

I hope your trip is productive and safe and look forward to hearing more about it.

Love, Sheba

Kavita

It seems strange that in the event of terror, one seems to focus on the pain and anguish of the victims. I believe the victims themselves would want to forget the same. Its all happening everywhere. India, Jerusalem, Thailand, Britain, Afghanistan and even Australia.
Its become a fad for people to resort to violence for any of their rights. Wonder where we are headed next. Cheers

Hospitality and America? You're being humorous with us Kavita!

May Love&Good luck surround you...Sachin

Richard Thomas asked the question, "Then you got to wonder how much influence do the corporations and financiers have on the state of the world."

Finally!!. Somebody has finally asked the right question!! How much? They have all the influence. Period. End of story. I fully expect some kid in the not to distant future to receive an acceptance letter from Cargill-Harvard University. Or if you have questions about your representation in Washington D.C, you'll have to get in touch with the Bechtel U.S. Senator in your state. Or Wolf Blitzer will be interviewing Osama Bin Laden live via satellite and during Osama's detailed answer regarding his whereabouts, including longitude and latitude markers, Wolf will cut away to the news feed from the Exxon-Mobil Federal Reserve as the new Fed chairman details the latest interest rate hike.

The American people will be fine with all of this as it was a part and parcel of the legislation enacted in House bill HR-fuh-Q-2, which also allowed middle class Americans to set aside $3.00 per month tax free if they could provide documentation proving that they spent it at a Shell Quik-Mart purchasing $5.00 lattes twice a week. During months that end in the letter L. While wearing tennis shoes that light up.

One day we're going to colonize Mars too. Cheney's already started negotiating the terms with the Intergalactic Council of Federated and Amalgated Life Forms.

God Bless America.

oops...that's the Intergalactic Council of Federated and Amalgamated Life Forms. Sorry. Haven't dressed to run and get my latte yet...

peace

I pray one day I can visit Jerusalem. I can't wait to hear more about it when you return.

thanks all-have limited email access but wil hopefully write more when I get back...tanks mallika for fixing the glitch..it has been an amazing journey and the interaction with some of the Palestnian arabs quite an eye opener.
love to all
loveto all

You can't be 82756 serious?!?