Duty Calls

Within couple of weeks from today, I would be away for one month, for army service.

This is part of the duties as citizen of Israel, every man must give 3 years when he's 18 plus one month per year. I finished my 3 years long ago, but now the yearly month arrive and I obey.

The army service come in tense times - in mid august, grand plan is going to take place: something called the Evacuation Plan. it's very long story, it begin (and ends) in the Israeli-Palestine conflict. bottom line of that Plan is, that Israel is willing to return conquered land to the palestinians. problem is, we have people, our own people, living there on those lands. people which we sent, back when we conquered it. so it comes down to forcing your own people out of their home. its natural they resist such move, and things are getting more tense in every passing day...... and of course the terrorists are taking advantage over this and try to bring as much terror attacks as possible into action so that it would look like Israel is running away with its tail beteen its feet like we did in Lebanon. all this means, there is chance for civil war accompanied by massive terror attacks - luckily, my service should end shortly before this.

So before leaving, I wanted to:
1. let you know.
2. maybe discuss the topic of civil duties - I'm not aware of such duty in any other place.
3. maybe discuss myself - as I first "expose" myself in this thread, feel free to ask personal questions - I don't promise to answer, but good chance that I will.

Yahav

Wow.... what exactily will it be like there? What are your quarters like? Will you have Internet access?

Thanx for the heads-up Shadow

We don't have civil duties here, we use to have in the old apartheid years, but its the New South Africa now, as we like to call it, where everyone has the right to equal opportunities.

I wish you and your country all of the best Shadow and I hope for a safe return

I am sure your Rider will keep you Dragon Company while you are away

it's going to be like army, but more "softened" strict as most soldiers are older than the officers.
quarters? dunno, depends where we're going to be stationed - usually rooms, 3-5 in each room with two-floor beds, but sometimes we have only tents which are also cool.
internet access? phone line in the best case.


thanks, my country won't be the same after this plan takes place - dunno if it's good or bad because in theory, we're doing what we should have done long ago.... but if it come in the cost of civil war I fear it's all for nothing.

Hey Yahav,

First of all, I wish you the best udring your month in service. I hope you will be able to stay out of any harm's way and complete your turn without event.

Secondly, Dial up!?!?!?!?!?!?! What has the world come to?

We'll be sure to save your seat til you return!

-Taylor

And of course his young rider, nofriends, will take care of the dragon!!
We'll miss you wizi!!



In Greece army is obligatory for approximately one year and that period keep diminishing...
The age that men enlist is not standard... If someone doesn't study he has to go to the army at 18 otherwise as soon as he finishes his studies.
We have a conflict with Turkey which keeps since greeks were under turkish hold-down(for 400 years).. I think that's the main reason. And if things don't change, this situation wiil continue.. Can you believe it that the school's history books teach us that turkish were the bad and cruel people and we were the good ones? So, they pass that message to the next generations and that situation remain impassioned!

If we have a turkish friend here, I'd like to know what turkish books say about greeks...

thank you Taylor, I will surely try to stay out of trouble.
and I meant, we would hopefully have phone so we can call home (cellulars would probably not work because it's not really in Israel) so no way we'd have Internet....


sounds much like the conflict between the Israeli ppl and the palestinian ppl... too much, too long hatred. it's very pity, but I fear nothing we can do.

Thanks for letting us know Shadow!! Stay safe as has already been said. See ya when you get back!! I am sure there will be lots for you to do

Stay safe shadow.

In Portugal this days you go to the army if you feel like it. It is an option. But it is recent, because in the past years everyone had to go for one year.

Yeah, it's sad... Can you believe it that my grandfather who was not educated and he had live in the hold-down(he drove out of the Turkey when he was 9 years old), he NEVER talked nastily about turkish because he didn't want to pass that hate to us and today they are educated people in the news, newspapers etc who talk about the turkish like they are not human beings? When I listen things like that, I want to throw the TV of the window!

Hey, shadow, see if you can name a military unit after me, will ya? I want to turn on the news one day and hear "In Isreal, a bunch of trolls attacking the nation were neutralized by the heavy fire laid down by Unit :bcon:. And now onto weather."