Huttonian has been commissioned to write a think piece on the state of the Palestine/Israeli Peace Process for a working party set up by the Church of Scotland. Every year the General Assembly of the CofS produces a report on the state of the nation and, less comprehensively, the hot spots elsewhere in the world. Palestine is hotter than most and one could compose a five word comment: ,'Awful, likely to get worse'. But I have been asked to spread myself to 2,500 words.
Looking out of the window across the peaceful Glebe field, to the Whiteadder Gorge and beyond, with the sun blazing down, a slight breeze removing a few more autumnal leaves and Farmer C's cows doing bovine things in the middle distance, it is very hard to conjure up images of the Middle East; daily killings; sullen resentment; hopelessness; fear; widespread destruction.
I suppose one can wander along to the Orchard-our nearest equivalent to Gaza-as far as house density is concerned-imagining low flying Tornados deliberately breaking the sound barrier so as to terrify local people and firing the odd rocket into the Cross; or tanks swarming across Knowe's Close ready to take out 'radicals' holding out in Schoolers Row. Two houses are burning in Merse View. A helicopter circles overhead. Mobs demonstrating on the Village Green hurling rocks at East Lothian's finest and demanding an end to the occupation of the Merse and the immediate withdrawal of the army to south of the Tweed. All the time a huge 'security barrier' snakes its way along the Paxton -Swinton Road with two gates between Paxton and Kelso cutting the good folk of Fishwick off from their bus stop and driving Tweedhill Fisheries and Farmer N's piggery into instant bankruptcy.
My imagination boggles overtime. But some how I am still confronted with a
blank sheet.
I'll have to wait until the 6pm news for real inspiration
