They’re Everywhere
June 18, 2008
The other day on the bus, someone’s cellphone started blaring Sheryl Crow. I looked to see where it was coming from and, of course, it was the girl with big sunglasses, manicured nails, an army uniform, and a machine gun whose pink-sparkle cellphone was ringing (not the same girl as pictured above). And the other day a young couple in civilian clothes asked Max and I for directions. It was jarring as they walked away to see their machine guns swinging behind them.
Mandatory military service is just a part of life here, and the soldiers are required to keep their guns with them all the time. I don’t feel threatened by the nice kids with guns, nor do I sense that there will be any reason for anyone to use one of those guns in the vicinity of myself. But still, it is hard for me to imagine having military service be so much a part of my daily life, and I still find it difficult not to stare at the stylish girl soldiers. As Max pointed out, the two of us would have finished our time by now, and who would I be if I had just finished 3 years in the military instead of 3 years majoring in Art at Oberlin College?
Anyway, yesterday must have been field trip day for the soldiers. I ran into the crowd above while taking a bus tour of the city. And later, at the archeological attraction City of David, where the top picture is taken, most of the visitors were soldiers.
great pictures so far, helen. it’s exciting to see israel through your eyes. i haven’t been there since i was thirteen, but i remember being struck by the guns too ( though not literally). but what was most strange to me, was how people had no problems picking up hitch hikers with an m-16 slung over their shoulder. i guess in some respects, people would actually feel safer with the protection of a machine gun in their car. keep up the good work, the combination of the writing and the visual of this blog is great.
-ben