OH MY BLEEDING PILES

A gentleman from Oakland by the name of Tristan Anderson got hit in the face with a tear-gas canister three days ago. This is not something which can be expected by normal people who mind their own business. One actually has to do several things for it to happen.


What Mr. Anderson (aka 'Cricket') did was join the International Solidarity Movement, travel to Israel, cross over into Palestinian territory, and take part in a rock-throwing protest in a closed military zone.


With all due respect for people of that ilk, there may be something about such behaviour which makes the old tear-gas canister in the face a little more likely. At least the chance is no longer one in a million.
Being on the same side as rock-throwing demonstrators, in a closed military zone, with the IDF on the other side? There are certain risks involved. Even if you do have the protection of an American passport and a liberal education.
[Mr. Tristan (Cricket) Anderson at one point gained fame for squatting in the branches of a tree on the UC Berkeley campus for twenty-one months. He may have gotten college credits for that endeavor.]


Mister Anderson is currently in hospital in Israel, receiving the best medical care possible (as has been communicated by several e-mailers from the anti-Israel side). Part of his brain had to be removed, and doctors have tried to repair some of the damage to his face. He may also lose an eye.


Now, I don't really give a flying you-know-what about his face. People like that almost always have a sneering superior smirk on their face at all times, and are unpleasant to look at. That, and their ideological repulsiveness, make them less than Barbie to begin with.
But I hope he does NOT loose the eye, and I am disturbed by the brain thing. It is always a bad thing when someone's brain gets damaged.
He may be wrong, and he may quite probably be an evil self-righteous sonofabitch for joining that bunch of opportunistic Jew-hating bastards known as the ISM....., AND furthermore serious damage is something I would certainly wish to have happen to Hamas-supporters (such as the members of ISM, International ANSWER, and Bay Area Women in Black) - but, however, still, nevertheless. The brain. And the eye.
I do not feel bad about what happened to him (and have no sympathy whatsoever for his friends, family, and supporters), but it disturbs me.

Lets just say my piles bleed for him and leave it at that.