2:4 A Stupid World

Living in a War

I recently spent a majority of my Internet viewing time scouring through blog sites and have been overwhelmed with the number of writers covering the Israel-Lebanon conflict, providing observations, commentary, or news coverage. Many took similar avenues: tracing the developments bit by bit, backed up with quotes by officials, clips from video-sharing sites, such as http://www.youtubes.com/, to illustrate the point further and cartoons to bring a giggle to the matter. My favourite blog candidly outlined the two ways to conduct your life in Israel presently; 1. drink alcohol; or 2. rationalise your fears of being caught up in the terror by appreciating the fact that you are more likely to be hit by a car than a missile ( http://www.jewlicious.com/?p=2437), I chose to appreciate the former rather than the latter, with the rationalisation providing no resolution to my nerves, considering the behaviour of a majority of Israeli car drivers. Anyway, it was light relief to see someone had a similar approach to my own.

Crashing of Waves

One morning last week, I went to chill on the beach, in the hope of clearing the news reporter’s voices resounding in my head with the sounds of the ocean and the heat of the sun. A friend was to join me, but at the last minute declined the offer, saying she didn't feel it was safe to be in an open space considering the problems going on right now. I was adamant to not allow this bloody situation continue to ruin my emotional balance. I was to continue my journey to the beach and take advantage of the bonus points of a Middle Eastern lifestyle. I reached the sand, laid out my yellow beach towel on the sun bed, stripped down to my bikini, plonked onto the bed, and spread my body out as if was I melting butter on toast. I closed my eyes and searched for the sounds of the waves.

The swishing of the water and the crashing of the waves did soothe my nervous edge for about five minutes or so, by which time screeching sounds of helicopter blades sliced through the tranquillity of the sky. I jumped up and observed a line of army helicopters making their way to the north. I wondered if the 18-year old young men suited up in army green shirts and trousers, sat anxiously on their way to carry out a mission, were actually gazing out the windows, looking down on the sand. I am sure they wished to remove themselves from where they were, to join in the fun below. I realised I wasn’t going to find a peace of mind anywhere. I felt guilty over my complaints and anxieties, which in comparison to those soldiers, were pathetic. I was merely overwhelmed by the elements associated with living in a war: terror, fear of terror, sadness over the casualties of terror, and an overwhelming dread that Effy could be called up at any point to join the reserves, something which is a constant throb in my heart. As I sat on the sun bed in a daze of comprehension, I realised that as long as I live in a country in battle, there would be no where to run from the elements of war.

Troubles Across the Sea

It has become tedious hearing about the Israel-Lebanon conflict, and I presume I am not alone in that matter, apart from certain politicians. I am tired of the war dominating Sky News headlines, conversations amongst colleagues and friends, and even the debate on Israel-affiliated blogs. Furthermore, I am emotionally drained from the worry extending from a deep acknowledgment of the current affairs. So, I took decisive action in response to my present state of mind and limited my viewing time of Sky News to 3 half-an-hour doses every day, once in the morning, once in the day and once before bedtime.

This afternoon, after completing my mid-day dose of news coverage, concerning 80 missiles that landed 59 miles north of my couch, I flicked over to an Oprah Winfrey re-run on Channel 22. This tele-visual crap came as a delight, distracting me from my own reality, which of course was perfect timing. Oprah’s topic of the day focused on how media and the entertainment industry have marginalised women, brainwashing them to behave a certain way … a great debate to get me riled up.

The first guest was a young woman, who spoke of her experiences as a dancer for hip-hop videos, disclosing her experiences of intimidation and subordination by the producers and performers. These incidences involved being instructed to take drugs on set to enhance the performance, sexual harassement, and, obviously, denial of any civil work rights. She proclaimed to have 'seen the light' and came to the realisation of her self-worth since kicking a drug habit. The US of A, the chief advocate and exemplar of civil liberties and democracy has, as a society, developed in a vulgar way that is no more progressive than as it was 50 years ago. At least back then, women were not represented as, simply put, prostitutes in mainstream entertainment. Please correct me if I am wrong.

The second guest was the punk/rock/pop singer, Alecia Beth Moore, otherwise known as Pink. She deliberated on her song ‘Stupid Girl,’ as the lyrics neatly tied into the discussion on Oprah. In the song, Pink mocks the behavioural and consumer-driven culture that has arisen in popular culture, and has lead to a trend of imitating tabloid celebrities amongst young women.

Lyrics: (Chorus)
Maybe if I act like that, that guy will call me back
Porno Paparazzi girl, I don't wanna be a stupid girl
Baby if I act like that, flipping my blond hair back
Push up my bra like that, I don't wanna be a stupid girl

(A line I like)
Disasters all around
World despaired
Their only concern
Will they f*** up my hair

Pink discovered, in discussion with acquaintances, that people have difficulty in recalling a public figure who is both, shock horror, pretty and clever, without the use of Google search engine. Her conclusion was “oil and water is not the same as sexiness and intelligence”. Oprah and her professional psychotherapist prop continued to conclude that women ‘dumb down’ their intelligence and exacerbate their sexuality in order to fit into a male dominated society.

Another worry, apart from who Pink associates with, is why it is only up till now that such a huge societal defect had taken stage on Oprah. One reason may be due to the fact that a large number of Oprah’s guests include those precise architects of a society that marginalise women. For instance, Ludacris, the rapper recently appeared on Oprah, and whose videos aren’t exactly liberating for the female race. People complain yet at the same support/maintain it, both for their own benefit. The term ‘hyp-o-crit’ comes to mind.

My own concern is that this sleazy antiquated culture of subordinating women is rearing it’s ugly head in modern day culture, not only in the US of A, but across the shores into Europe and, more so, to the holy land.

Oil and Water: Can it Mix in the Middle East?

Israeli television schedules are suffocated with US productions, all of which hold a simple purpose for me, mindless entertainment (no offence to Americans). I must admit, I do love to watch the Sopranos, Sex and the City and Desperate Housewives, and not to forget, Martha. However, shows such as I want to be a Hilton and Entertainment are, simply put, a mechanism to maintain a culture of envying the life of the rich and famous, and in turn, perpetuating obsessive consumerism, eating disorders and mental drainage. Even British reality-show productions are put through U.S. crap-izer machinery, coming out the other end with scripted conversation, dramatic background music and doses of foundation. Okay, I have slightly side-tracked … but what I was trying to establish is that the Israeli audience is given daily doses of this American culture, via media channels, and as a result, the Oprah-issue of the marginalisation of women has come to the Middle East. And, in addition, it has created a youth culture that seeks to live up to the lifestyle of their US counterparts, which is quite hard to do on an Israeli wage, hence the extent of debt here.

A visit to Tel Aviv beach on a Saturday afternoon appears like an entrance to the backstage of a Paris Hilton look-alike contest. Young girls prance around, swinging their hips, flicking their long high-lightened and straightened locks, jewelled up, glamed up and dieted out. In the clubs, Western sounds of ‘MTV’/ pop/hip-hop fill the space. Girls enter like jewelled-out lemmings, all wearing pretty much the same: hot pants, flashy tight tops and dangly bling. Many fill the dance floor, imitating the moves they saw the night before on MTV … grinding, booty-shaking and sultry facial expressions. In Israeli media, the young ladies look and act much the same … anorexic, flesh-baring and overtly flirtatious. It seems like a large number of the young women of this society have been reprogrammed by male technicians to dress sexy, act sexy and to maintain age 8 hip sizes.

Stupid World

The world seems to commit sadomasochism on itself, developing societies infiltrated by greed, war, starvation and hate. People conduct their lives in the shadow of their idols, in response to governmental action, or in respect to what they are preached via media channels. Trouble extends everywhere, in different forms, influencing those around them like a domino affect. When I made Aliyah, many friends could not understand why I wanted to spend my life in a country defined heavily by war and terror. American counterparts may also frown over my choice of residency, but I believe the US and UK have their own crap, or should I say societal issues, to deal with, just like Israel. My friend Corrine pointed out that you can never run away from trouble; you only move to a place that has different forms of trouble. You simply have to learn how to handle these new issues in a new way. She recently moved to Israel from Hackney, London. She came from a place where she feared for her life every time she walked down the street and got on the tube, where intimidation by gangs exist and where stabbings and muggings are committed on a daily basis. And now, she lives in a country that is in the middle of a war. The world is a stupid place because, just like oil and water, it will not allow prosperity and true happiness to mix, something which will never change unless people stop being so stupid.