Appalling

Tom Yam lunch

Utterly appalling ... the cabinet meeting to decide on city lockdowns was cancelled because ultra-orthodox mayors threatened the PM ... and he needs them to keep his coalition govt going ... so health bows to politics. With a daily infection rate of an average 2300 and with 1000+ already dead ... the govt has let its citizens down. And the rabbis and ultra-orthodox jews who profess deep faith in God have belittled the gift of life ... because their desire to gather is more important. It is appalling.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-calls-off-cabinet-vote-on-local-lockdowns-as-haredim-fume/?fbclid=IwAR2oPceV8uoTxphXP5hwpKnuWrBaJsJswdSqsUAU4L7m7T2xboXcM_CW-fU

Israel has passed the brink of turning back the pandemic ... it must look to other solutions to cope and move forward. There's suggestion to copy the Swedish model which is "let everyone get infected and get immune." Unfortunately the price of elderly and sick people who die is high ... over 5000. The idea is old and sick people are disposable and are collateral damage for the survival of the young and healthy. This is public euthanasia or russian roulette with corona ... and is even more appalling. If Israel adopts this "solution", then it denies all that God had taught from Sinai.

Pet guanaco at Municipality Square

My opinion is ... it's too late now to turn back the tide. Let the public do what they want ... the govt is afraid to stop them. It only leaves the health system to protect the elderly and sick and high risk people ... they're a minority and it's easier to handle. No need for lockdown ... just provide extra precautionary measures for this minority. Provide social service to visit them at home, provide food and other necessities including health checks ... This added up will cost less than locking down the entire country and collapsing the economy. That's my 2 cents worth. The Israeli crisis as seen from asian eyes is just utterly unbelievable. Asia is at the tail end of this pandemic ... everyone sacrificed out of civic responsibility and a better future. Here ... it's all about "I" and "me".

Enough of griping. Last Saturday I had a lovely lunch of Tom Yam soup cooked by my thai student. It was great comfort food after a very tiring week of work and heatwave. I've also pickled more green chillies. The first lot was very delicious ... even our indian sisters in the kitchen enjoyed it. They suggested I pickle green mangoes as well. I'll try ... if I find green mangoes first!!