The loaded loader

July 7, 2008 - 5:31 PM by

It’s an unfortunate fact of life in Israel that following a terror attack, whether it’s a bus bombing, roadside shooting or last week’s terrifying rampage with a construction ‘loader,’ the tools of violence become more noticeable to the rest of us.

During the years of the second intifada, we all became more aware of people wearing unsuitably heavy outerwear during the hot summer months, of abandoned or forgotten knapsacks in public places or how dark a highway can seem at night when it’s been the site of a shooting attack. The signs and symbols can be almost comical, as one looks for ways to alleviate the stress and pain of unnecessary losses.

After last week’s attack with a construction loader that killed three people, I began looking at the ubiquitous construction equipment around Jerusalem with a new lens. In the way that often happens, the bulldozers, loaders and other construction vehicles became the subject of conversation, including the fact that while much of the media used the term bulldozer to describe the machine that was used, it was actually a loader that wreaked Wednesday’s tragic havoc.

And so it was one of those ironic life moments when we were woken up the other morning by the sound of a bulldozer outside our apartment building, digging up the driveway that serves as a pedestrian byway between two streets. To be honest, we were kind of nervous. It was only a few days after the incident, and here was a massive piece of machinery right outside our window, driven by local Arab construction workers.

We ventured outside and tentatively asked what was going on. Turns out they were sent by the municipality to put in the street lights that we’ve been requesting for months. We smiled, exclaimed, and thanked them for starting the work. They smiled, nodded and went back to work. And now, as always in this city, we’re stuck in that somewhat uneasy but familiar status quo that exists between the Jews and Arabs in Jerusalem. They’re driving the bulldozer outside our house, we’re bypassing it on our way home, and though we nod, smile and offer each other the right of way, we barely speak the same language.

Tags: , , , • Category: A New Reality, General, Life 

Comments

One Comment on The loaded loader

  1. David-Joe on Tue, Jul 8th 2008 2:45 AM

    2. In the days following the worlds worst terror attack ever, Sep 11 2001, people in New York city for months would all look upwards when the sound of a jet was heard flying over and seemed to be louder or closer than normal.

    Ground Zero is hallowed ground and it feels that way.

    Each time I travel through the subway station at Cortland Street [below the WTC] that is a construction site today and see the stairs leading to the actual GZ site and the light pouring in, I remember that terrible day and the later pictures on tv that showed one of the most awful sights ever – that of people forced to decide how to die, either be burned or jump from the windows.

    If ever civilians have experienced what it feels like after a battle in war, then this is a pretty close.

    Unfortunately so many Americans have forgotten that the US is at war with an intractible enemy, usually those on the left and unfortunately there are many Jewish Americans included on this side.

    No American ought to have feelings for this enemy. And have the responsibility of supporting their admirable defense force in a ruthless and must win war.

    Yesterday was the 32 anniversary of the Entebbe rescue and I remember it well even though I was a kid. Even though the world has alterted for the worse significantly isnce then, it remains the noble task of the only two free nations that can be relied upon to fight against Islamic totalitarianism, Israel and the United States.

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