There is something wrong with the news media

You know how the news the past week has been full of stories about the bombs in Gaza? This reminded me of something Trax and I talked about when we had lunch last month.

I was asking her how things were going where she lives, in the far north of Israel. Reminding her how worried I was about her a few years ago when they were being shelled from Lebanon. She said things were OK in the north, but the southern cities were being shelled from Gaza. "Oh, yes, of course," I mumbled, trying to cover for the fact that I had not known that. A flash of irritation. Why didn't I know that. Why does our news media not find it newsworthy when Israeli cities are shelled day after day after day. Why does the United Nations not find that worthy of condemnation. But let the Israelis defend themselves, after a long period of patience, more than most any nation on Earth would show, and they are roundly condemned for shelling Gaza.

Don't search for obscure stories that I missed and tell me that there was reporting about the early shelling. I'm talking about the mainstream American media. News stories going on and on that you cannot miss, even if you are not a new hound. Because that is what is going on now. And if you are not paying attention, you might think that Israel is the bad guy. And that's not fair.

Think of what would happen if Mexico started lobbing shells at San Diego. How fair would it be if we had to sit here day after day taking it, then when we decided to defend ourselves, the world suddenly took notice and condemned us?

Thank you Harriet

I want to thank Harriet for giving me my very first blogging award. And such an attractive one, too. Very thoughtful.

Reprieve

I called to check on Aunt M this morning and got some good news. Whatever blockage there was got un-kinked, and her system is moving again. Yay! And she is 88 pounds, not 80. I hope she is able to maximize her caloric intake now and can gain weight, to be better able to face the next crisis. Suddenly my hope is back that she will be alive in mid-February, when I and my entire family (without the teenagers) will travel there to meet her. Even my husband. I purchased these tickets a couple of months back. There is a bat mitzvah happening with a niece from my husband's side of the family about 2 hours away on Saturday, and then we will spend Sunday with Aunt M and my cousins. Won't it be great if Aunt M can meet my husband and older kids?