I ran into an old friend on the train the other day. He asked how I was and I responded, "completely distraught, aren't you?" He wasn't. We proceeded to have a riveting conversation about all of the crimes against humanity around the world and why Gaza in particular was so alarming to people.
It's "mowing the grass," he said. They do this every other year or so, everyone gets hot and bothered, then things quiet down, everyone forgets, and then the grass needs to be cut again in another two years.
I tried my best to convince him that it was different this time. People who typically shrug their shoulders, are speaking out. People who typically say, "I could never boycott Starbucks," are giving up their coffees. Reporters are being taken out of Gaza by networks then being put back in because of public pressure. It's different!
