Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., July 24, 2008 Tamuz 21, 5768 | | Israel Time: 02:35 (EST+7)
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Why make do with cancer?
By Avirama Golan
Tags: cell phones, hamas, radiation 

Someone must have been very bored this summer. As though the terror attacks in Jerusalem were not exciting enough, apparently the sea is no longer a source of beauty and enjoyment - it's full of huge, dangerous jellyfish. Oh, and flowers cause terrible allergies. Not enough? Want more? The Environmental Protection Ministry warns against sleeping near your cell-phone charger - it emits lethal radiation.

But we're not alone in our search for fear. The French weekly magazine Le Nouvel Observateur this week devoted an entire issue to the dangers of cell-phone use. Hollywood psychiatrist David Servan-Schreiber, who brainwashed the French with his praises for Omega 3, is now having them sign a manifesto against cell phones. Another doctor claims that in recent years, there has been a dramatic increase in the incidence of malignant brain tumors. The source of the catastrophe? Cell phones.

The French, who have not had a war, a revolution or even a student uprising for such a very long time, have an excuse. But what is our excuse? We, who are scarred by genuine disasters? In order to escape my stresses, I turned on the television. On the screen, I saw the terribly serious face of Yaron London, who informed us of an imminent lethal earthquake. I turned off the TV and went out for a walk, but in the street someone had posted huge signs: "Israel is going over to black." A terrible panic swept over me before I understood: We have passed the "red line" of water consumption and have reached the bottom. Soon we will all dry up and die of thirst. Oh, now I feel better.
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While I was wondering where we will all hide from the earthquake, and where we will get water to revive our telephone-poisoned existence, I read in the newspaper that the head of the Shin Bet security services, Yuval Diskin, warns Hamas possesses missiles that can reach Kiryat Gat and maybe even Ashdod. What's more? Senior members of the security establishment warn of a wave of terror by Hezbollah in the North. The anonymous cautioners don't say what to do or, heaven forfend, to take responsibility. For them, a future "we told you so" will suffice. Or maybe they are also seeking justification for an attack that is already in the making.

But all these intimidations are swallowed up by the big one. Hardly an hour passes on news broadcasts on the radio without some expert, pundit or former defense official answering questions that ignite our panicked imagination: But if, let's say, nevertheless, they attack first, what kind of missiles will they have? What's the range? How many dead? In which areas? And when we've all been properly frightened, when the interview really starts to heat up, comes the question: Is Israel capable of striking Iran? With what means? And when? When? When?!

That, apparently, is the solution. If it's so hard for us simply to be, and life seems deadly boring when there's no disaster of some sort going on, and every manufacturer of cell-phone chargers or every politician who uses wars for his own advancement manages to sow panic - it's better to go all out. Why make do with jellyfish and cancer-causing telephones when we have Ahmadinejad?
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