Mick Hartley

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The Innocence of Children

From an interview with the children of Palestinian suicide bomber Rim Al-Riyashi, which aired on Al-Aqsa TV on March 8, 2007:

Interviewer: Let’s talk with the two children of the jihad-fighting martyrdom-seeker Rim Al-Riyashi – Dhoha and Muhammad.

Dhoha, you love mama, right? Where did mama go?

Dhoha: To Paradise.

Interviewer: What did mama do?

Dhoha: She committed martyrdom.

Interviewer: She killed Jews, right?

Interviewer: How many did she kill, Muhammad?

Muhammad: Huh?

Interviewer: How many Jews did mama kill?

Muhammad: This many…

Interviewer: How many is that?

Muhammad: Five.

[…]

Interviewer: Are you doing well in kindergarten?

Muhammad: Yes.

Dhoha: I am in kindergarten, I want to tell.

Interviewer: Go on then, tell us. You’re in kindergarten too? Are you in kindergarten, Dhoha? In kindergarten or at school?

Dhoha: In kindergarten.

Interviewer: That’s great.

One should talk about the innocence of children…

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2 responses to “The Innocence of Children”

  1. Noga Avatar
    Noga

    “Dhoha: I want to talk about kindergarten, I want to talk.
    Interviewer: What would you like to recite for us? Have you heard the poem “Mama Rim”?
    Go on then, recite it for us”
    God pities the kindergarten children,
    School children He pities less.
    Grownups he pities not at all.
    He drops them by the wayside,
    And sometimes they have to crawl on hands and knees
    In the scorching sand
    To reach the first aid station,
    Sweating blood.
    Still,
    He may spare some pity
    for those who love truly
    He favours them
    And extends his shade over them
    Like a tree bows over
    The homeless man
    That sleeps on the public bench
    Perhaps we too can take out
    The few talents of grace
    Mother left us.
    Perhaps their happiness will shield us
    Today and for the rest of time
    Yehuda Amichai

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  2. clazy Avatar
    clazy

    Thanks, Noga.

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