An Israeli Veteran Talks to Her Dog
A short-short story
Hello, my name is Dahlia. I just finished my required service in the Israeli army. Part of me is honored to defend our tiny state of Israel. But yes, I have some mixed feelings now.
Even though our country is much more open to debate than is Gaza or any of the large Muslim countries that surround us, I’m shy by nature, so I feel most comfortable talking about it to my sweet dog, Luna.
Today, I decided to talk to her not in sentences but to just free-associate whatever word or phrase came to mind. Here’s what I recall:
Palestinian kids. Horrible. Overreaction. World will hate us more than ever. Forever? Antisemitism. The Israeli people. The Jewish people. Scientists, filmmakers, women’s rights, minority rights — Arabs serve in the Knesset. Arabs are 20% in Israel, Jews in Muslim countries: Zero. Will Israel be destroyed? Hamas. Hamas schools — train kids to kill Jews. From the river to the sea. Jihad, rockets, my sister — fuck the terrorists — music festival, kibbutz, cafes, buses, bar-mitzvahs, bat-mitzvahs, tunnels, tunnels, tunnels. We gave Hamas Gaza 20 years ago — We’re not “occupiers.” Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, Al-Aqsa Martyr Brigade, PLO, Iran, regional war, nuclear, nuclear war. Nuclear war — Oh my God!
Dear Luna, I sometimes don’t like Israel but I love Israel and I love you sweet, sweet Luna. Come here — Let me give you a hug.
I read this aloud on YouTube.
Marty Nemko is a career and personal coach, and author of 30 books including Secrets: a book of short-short stories. You can reach Marty at mnemko@comcast.net.
