Another Day

Image by Paola Bilancieri.

It’s just another day

in the life of an IDF soldier

a sunny, beautiful day

He got up early

as usual

and had his favorite breakfast

lovingly prepared by his wife

fresh salad, hummus and yogurt

He is in no hurry

his task is simple

drop two-ton bombs

on a hospital, a mosque,

some civilian buildings,

a nursery school

He is oblivious to the suffering

he is causing

After all, from up high

he can see nobody

just a bunch of people

children, women, the aged and the disabled

running like ants

away from fire

The body parts of dismembered

civilians, the ravaged towns

the destroyed infrastructure

the desolate landscape

are not his concern. He just

follows orders

like any good, dutiful soldier

This is just another day

in his predictable

everyday life.

Dr. Cesar Chelala is a co-winner of the 1979 Overseas Press Club of America award for the article “Missing or Disappeared in Argentina: The Desperate Search for Thousands of Abducted Victims.”