Hamsin

A hamsin was blowing throughout the whole day yesterday - probably the last one this year (hamsin = desert winds, sand storm). The whole sky was a sickly yellow. Sunlight was hardly seeping through and lights had to be turned on indoors. The air was hot (35 degrees) and very uncomfortable.

Talk, talk and empty talk - there was no protection for the Iraqi Catholics as promised by the govt. http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/10/13/iraq.main/index.html I just simply cannot understand how in this 21st century people are still forcing others to join their religion - and I mean this generally, cf the situations in India, etc... Well we might as well revert to the Middle Ages again. And the problem in Akko is not good. Like the following article says: if non-Jews must obey Jewish holiday laws, then shouldn't Jews follow non-Jewish holiday laws? http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1222017529549&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull and now inflammatory words are issued by outside groups: http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1222017531048&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull Let commonsense prevail! Tawfik Jamal, the car-driver in the midst of this affair, said it was a mistake - so let's move on from there. It's not worth the shattered lives and properties lost during these 4 days of rioting.

Anyway a little happy news: Monday was William's birthday - our Lebanese seminarian now in Rome. Tried calling his mobile twice but the line was cut (found out he was in class! had to turn it off when it rang!), so I messaged him. An hour later after class, he messaged back and then called my room. We had a nice chat (5 minutes and the line was cut - it was a public pay phone), he's doing well and his italian is much better now. He used to speak mostly french - his arabic isn't as good as his french. But now in Rome he's forced to speak Italian everyday.

Today is the feast of St Teresa of Avila - the Carmelite reformer. Her determination to reform the Order earned her the scorn and enmity of many. They called her stupid, headstrong, individualistic, stubborn, obstinate, proud, rebel and tried to excommunicate her, imprison her, exiled her etc... Well today she is a saint, a doctor of the Church and we say she was far-sighted, persevering, inspired by God, .... all those virtues. How the song changes in time! The lesson to learn is - don't judge too quickly. You will only look like a fool when time moves on and prove you wrong.