Territory is important. History is full of bloody battles over land, regardless the size, value and quality of that land.
The vaster the better. A tiny, crowded country with hardly any solid borders like the one I live in, is a recipe for disaster. It might get swallowed up by its neighbors. Peace can help, but genuine, lasting peace in this region is hard to imagine, as the dispute is...over land. We're being accused of having robbed others of their land.
A country with a pluralistic population definitely needs a vast territory ; this will help give people the right space and distancing, and so prevent ethnical and religious conflicts between the various groups. Togetherness can sometimes be a recipe for disaster too. Luckily, most pluralistic nations do have the adequate space.
And from the general to the individual.
I once had a neighbor whose 'hobby' was to demolish parts in his apartment (and even beyond that) seeking to enlarge it; that was weird and annoying.
I discussed the matter with another neighbor and she said: 'oh, well, he's looking for the desert , he'll never have enough space compared to the vastness of the desert'.
- What do you mean?
- His ancestors lived in a place close to the Sahara desert in Morocco.
- So ?! He's second or third generation in Israel, and hasn't even seen that desert.
At this point, she threw me the famous line: 'you can take a man out of the desert, you cannot take the desert out of a man, for many generations'. 'As long as he lives, wherever he lives, he'll always try to demolish something to make way for more living space'.
That's the desert syndrome, according to her.
It sounded like a joke, but she wasn't joking.
Anyway, if you happen to be angry at someone or something (and I used to be very angry at that demolish-er), you might 'buy' even a rather strange explanation such as 'looking for the desert'.
To put it simply...I have always been, and always be on Israel's side!
ReplyDeleteTake care, DUTA. :)
Thank you, Lee for your kind support.
DeleteInteresting saying with some truth to it.
ReplyDeleteThere's always some grain of truth in what people say. We 've only got to look for that.
DeleteFascinating! I hadn't heard of any of this before. Were there not building codes he had to abide by before he started doing his demolishing?
ReplyDeletebetty
Oh, Betty, you've asked the very right question. Where there's a government in control, and strict regulations,this guy wouldn't have dared to cause us so much unhappiness with his demolishing.
DeleteHistory of battles fought over land and it still goes on probably always will in certain regions of this world.
ReplyDeleteThe desert must have been in that mans blood from his ancestors, you know I kind of believe that, there is just something in it I feel.
Land disputes are as eternal as Life on earth.
DeleteBeliefs like the one with the desert , can be checked, you know, but we people are usually looking for similarities not for things that will divide us, and turn us against one another.
I have lived in, or visited very tiny countries and found the experience claustrophobic.
ReplyDeleteIn Australia we have the opposite problem. A very large land (7.7 million km²) but the entire population squished into a tiny proportion of the land: 85% of the 26 million people live very close to the eastern and SE coasts. A lot of the rest of the land, as you say, is desert.
Having land is not the problem but populating it is.
DeleteAustralia is Paradise on earth, and yet it is considered by many as being 'at the end of the world', so for this reason, many find the continent as unappealing.
I think this can be true, that if you have something in you which has come from past generations, that it can be carried on in to you too. Perhaps my need to play music and dance comes from my gypsy ancestors!
ReplyDeleteYou don't say! gypsy ancestors! How interesting! Gypsies are definitely musical and rhythmical people.You've inherited some great musical talent being able to play on various instruments, conducting a choir, and so many other beautiful things.
DeleteI've never heard of that, and is very interesting. Sort of reminds me of a lady I knew years ago who lived in Kansas who was very wealthy. Every 3 months she totally redid her bathroom and living room, so she would have yard sales with new or practically new stuff that she would sell for next to nothing! I loved it, but never considered the backstory behind it. Hope you're doing well, and sending hugs, RO
ReplyDeleteRegarding that lady in KAnsas, as long as it is a private house, and the renovations don't affect neighbors,things are bearable. In an apartment, however, one has to consider the neighbors.
DeleteOh, this is a good one, Duta! It really gives me insight on how some people are. And then some of us..give us more room and we will fill it with clutter. I so enjoyed this post.
ReplyDeleteI have a cousin who recently bought his dream house. He doesn't have kids and he and his wife are always off on some adventure. They are never home. While some of us, find a place and even if it's not the best place in the world continue to live there, no matter what.
Thank you Ellie. I'm always glad to provide insight and enjoyment. A place to live in doesn't have to be big or fancy, but functional and comfortable.
DeleteHi Duta, Israel surely isn`t like any other desert! It is a desert that blossoms and bears fruit and exports flowers to the world! A verse always comes to mind when I read your posts!! Today is about the desert that is like no other desert, the land of Israel! On that topic, sharing the words of Isaiah in reply to your post today!! Blessings and Love!
ReplyDeleteThe desert will rejoice, and flowers will bloom in the wilderness. The desert will sing and shout for joy; it will be as beautiful as the Lebanon Mountains and as fertile as the fields of Carmel and Sharon. Everyone will see the LORD's splendour, see his greatness and power. Give strength to hands that are tired and to knees that tremble with weakness. Tell everyone who is discouraged, “Be strong and don't be afraid! God is coming to your rescue, coming to punish your enemies.” The blind will be able to see, and the deaf will hear. The lame will leap and dance, and those who cannot speak will shout for joy. Streams of water will flow through the desert; the burning sand will become a lake, and dry land will be filled with springs. from ISAIAH, Ch. 35
Israel's southern part, The Negev, is a flourishing desert. With the right irrigation systems, it's possible to turn desert soil into fertile soil and practice good agriculture.
DeleteWho knows, maybe climate change, God's present tool, will turn deserts into a place with water bodies. Everything is possible.
Thanks for your always relevant verses.
Hmmm, that's an odd way of looking at it I think. If you want the desert, go tot he desert, if you want a bigger living space move to a bigger apartment! Just doesn't make sense to inconvenience all those living around you. I would have been greatly annoyed as well DUTA.
ReplyDeleteI've almost moved because of him. I blame, however, not the guy but the authorities. One doesn't feel law and order anywhere, and that's worrying.
DeleteThat's an interesting analogy, always looking for more.
ReplyDeleteIn this case, for more space. Looking for more is not a crime, but only if it's not on the back of others.
DeleteAh, that's the thing about Canada, it is huge, and sparsely populated if you are not near the Canada/US border.
ReplyDeleteI understand there's a similar situation in Australia. It's good, however, to have the space. With the climate getting bad everywhere, people will constantly be on the move from one place to another.
DeleteI'm always looking for sun and sand. Maybe I was a mermaid!
ReplyDeleteCould be; everything is possible, Sharon.
DeleteI think this post could have been written just for me as I contemplate the VERY BIG house two doors down on the lake. He's looking for the desert. I just sort of wish he had looked for it someplace else!
ReplyDeleteThese things happen anywhere, but in an apartment complex it's particularly annoying. I blame the incompetent authorities that do nothing to enforce regulations, causing neighbors to suffer and quarrel.
Deleteit is so good written:)
ReplyDeleteThank you very much,Kathy. You've made my day with these kind words.
Deletethank to you that I can read it!
DeleteYou're welcome to read anything that I write in my blog.
DeleteMind blowing post
ReplyDeleteYour words are very encouraging! Thank you.
DeleteI also have never heard that expression of "looking for the desert" but can agree that for some people there will never be enough space. Most likely it's why people remodel or move. Amazing that the guy you mentioned could demolish/remodel when living in an apt. We currently are apt dwellers and such practices are not allowed here or any other place we know about.
ReplyDeleteLucky you living in a place with law and order. Here, in my neck of the woods it doesn't matter if allowed or not. If he feels like doing something, he'll just do it.
DeleteLooking for the desert, I will remember that. Perhaps that explains my neighbor who has taken over a publicly owned alley next to our houses and has planted trees in it. My neighbor is aiming to expand his territory, rather imperialistic.
ReplyDeleteSadly, those 'imperialistic' neighbors with expansion intentions are everywhere. One has to keep an eye on them and inform the authorities.
DeleteI've not come across the phrase "looking for the desert" before, but it seems there are some who are never satisfied with the space they have.
ReplyDeleteFortunately at the moment, here in the UK, we do have planning regulations that should be applied for and adhered to.
Unfortunately you still get those that flaunt them! However, usually the authorities will demolish any building that does not meet the requirement.
All the best Jan
That's my kind of authorities - to demolish unlawful construction, but we don't have it here, that is, they exist but do not function.
DeleteHi, Duta!
ReplyDeleteI just want you to know something. I love to pray, always have. So for me it has been nothing short of heaven to join prayer groups. Seems like I'm always in one. Israel is always on our hearts. We only read the true sources, not American media news. And we read our Bibles and know what God says about His first born, Israel. Your land gets prayed for and all the wonderful people there, too, every single day in our Christian gatherings. May your country prosper, always. It is America's greatest ally.
Thanks a lot for your very kind words of support and good wishes.
DeleteI also believe in the power of prayer. My praying is usually direct and individual - as they say, from my heart to God's Ears.
Very interesting way to look at it!
ReplyDeleteI just wish people would care about others more. In my soul, no one is above another, if we all worked together, this world would be great! Big Hugs!
Thank you. I wish that too, but reality constantly frustrates me. We have to accept the diversity of people and try to make the best of it.
DeleteBig hugs to you too!