40 years since victory

In this photo released by the Government Press Office, Israeli army paratroopers Zion Karasanti, left, Yitzhak Yifat, center, and Haim Oshri, right, stand next to the Western Wall, Judaism holiest site, in Jerusalem's Old City after it was captured on June 7, 1967. Four decades after an underdog Israeli military campaign that captured the world's imagination, the people of Israel, the Middle East and the world are still struggling to come to terms with it. The war tripled Israel's size and probably prevented its annihilation. But with victory came burdens, hatreds and many, many deaths for Israelis and the Palestinians in their newly-expanded territory.

AP Photo/David Rubinger, GPO, HO @ Yahoo!

rumi-nations

I have much enjoyed a presentation called "Ruminations" in which ordinary lovers of Rumi read out his poetry in their own languages: Farsi, Arabic, Turkish, Dari, as well as English. This was part of the Sydney Writers Festival held over the past fortnight or so.

I must confess that I was sceptical that any such group could do Rumi justice but they did come as close as it gets, mainly because of the simplicity and sincerity of their presentation. Bravo to them all!

Artwork by Master Mahmoud Farshchian
background for the Ruminations poster @ Auburn Council