May 5th is Childrens Day in Japan. I also marks the ending of Golden Week. It is a day for parents and family to regoice in the personalities, health and well-being of their children.
It is also customary for families with boys to hand up ‘koinobori’ or carp streamers which represents strength, power and success in their lives.
('Koinobori’ flags hung for Childrens Day festivities)
('Kodomo’ particapating in 'Kodomo no Hi’ celebrations)
Today is National Children’s day. Meeting Children in different countries might be one of my favorite parts of travel. You never have to speak the same language to play and have fun with children! So lucky to have so many little friends in China!
It was on a Wednesday morning (June 1, 2016) that the 20-year-old ‘top Israeli terror suspect’, Meir Ettinger, was released from custody after leading the arson attack on the Dawabsheh home in Duma village.
An attack in which the 18-month-old baby was burned alive on his peaceful sleep, while both of his parents died in hospital. As for Ahmad, their 5-year-old son, he spent months in hospital recovering from third degree burns on 70% of his body.
The Israeli terrorist was released chargeless from that day on and what was most ironically symbolic is that he was released on what is known to be “Children’s Day”.
Anyways, the question that lingers on my conscience is: why do we hear of such news only from local media?
It has been remarkable how, since the Holocaust, in particular, the hoopoe – that is to say, the “Israeli national bird” – sings everyone’s pen to sleep. We are living the claimed freedom of speech era, yet whenever it comes to the occupying Israel, the mass media is seen to be taking a nap. No one could ever say anything sensitive or critical about Jews unless they were “anti-Semetic”.
Children’s Day in Betony is a festive occasion with a grim history. All know though few choose to recall that Children’s Day began as a memorial to the dozens of children in Betony who were stolen from their homes by vampires one night never to be seen again. This happened over a hundred years ago, and the holiday has since become a celebration of youth.
