Rising racism

A field of clover ... blanket of green

Another new week has begun ... another month. Exams are over and the new semester begins. Summer is what I'm looking for. Though winter is wonderful for Christmas ... and Spring is full of beautiful flowers and greenery, it doesn't give as much opportunity for public events as in Summer ... such as open-air concerts and bazaars and lovely sunsets. Not that I actually have the chance to join in any of these ... as the last few summers have shown. I'll probably be neck-high with work and this Summer will pass me by like the past 7 summers. Still it's fun planning for it.

Some time back I mentioned my lost of memory. It hasn't stopped. I still mix up days, lose documents, not knowing why I go to a certain place. And worse ... I forget to take my medicine. OK .... now I forget why I wrote this. OK ... next topic.

There are still protests and clashes along the borders of Palestine and Israel over Trump's plan. But little has happened here in Jerusalem except for some chanting and scuffles.  Street talk informs me that once when the weather warms up, more violence is expected.

Asian veggies at the asian grocery

And because of the coronavirus, we're now facing rising racism. People in the streets make remarks about chinese, they cross the roads ... but so far they have not chased us out of shops and restaurants. My friend who owns a lebanese restaurant was telling me how a chinese couple came for a meal on a very rainy day last week. His first reaction was to say the restaurant i closed ... but his elderly father said "Have pity .... it's raining and they are hungry". Fear versus compassion. Believe me fear usually wins ... so I'm avoiding any unhappy incidents and am staying home as much as possible. Well one thing on my side is everyone in the Old City and also the New City know me and trust me. A FB post from a northern Israeli city by a chinese person lamented that nasty remarks were made at her over the coronavirus. Yes it's started in other cities ... and I'm sure it'll reach Jerusalem. I'm staying home ... and going only to shops and restaurants who know me.