Sunday, January 8, 2012

Abstractions of loss



I've never been to Gaza.

Its hard for me to imagine a Palestine on the sea.

At the news desk I edited stories about the goings on in Gaza every single day. Right after the morning weather forecast I'd edit the Gaza crossings story, tracking how many grain trucks went in, and how many loads of carnations were allowed out under that single Dutch government initiative that delivered some sort of life support to the dead export economy.

On 26 December 2008 I got a message from my colleague asking that I drop lunch and come into the office, bombs had been dropped on a police graduation ceremony in Gaza City and there were hundreds dead. I was eating a cupcake at the time.