Still in hospital, with a 90% chance of getting out of here today. The doctors are still debating. One of the side effects of the chemo that is somewhat annoying is what’s called peripheral neuropathy This is a side effect of the Vincristine (aka Oncovin), and what it means for me is that I have a tingling in my finger tips, and more tingling in my feet. I don’t have a lot of independent motion in my toes. Fortunately I can still walk ok, and the effects are generally reversible during the course of several months following chemo. It’s not painful so much, but a bit annoying. My feet feel permanently cold.
More on the topic of religion in schools. I did not go to school in the US, so I stand corrected by Rick’s entry yesterday, that religious studies *can* be taught in US public schools. My question then becomes, so why aren’t they? My daughter is 6th grade and at no time has she been taught anything about religion at our local public school. What are the major religions? What are their beliefs? What are the sacred texts? Love it or hate it, one must surely allow that an understanding of religion is an important part of a balanced education.
I am watching the events in Palestine and Israel with great interest. If Sharon is out of the picture who will pick up the olive branch? Surely not Netanyahu? Back in the early seventies I spent three months working on Kibbutz Erez, near the Gaza border. When I was there it was a relatively peaceful time. One day a friend and I went to Gaza, and I remember seeing the bullet holes in the buildings and being very aware of the Israeli patrols on the street. However, as I said, it was a relatively peaceful time, and I found the Palestinians very hospitable; they lost no opportunity to bemoan their occupation by Israel. This is something that we take for granted in the west — the right to self-determination. Now, I also think that the Palestinians have been idiots in the way that they have resisted the occupation, but an occupation it is, and I do not believe that anything can get settled until the Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank is complete. I’m not a big fan of Sharon, but I do applaud the withdrawal from Gaza and I hope that Palestine can reciprocate and demonstrate to Israel that it can be trusted.