Happy Birthday, Patriots!

Today is the State of Israel's 58th birthday.

It's been a tough trip, and it's gonna get a lot harder before it gets better.

It's not perfect, but then again, it's a far cry from Darfur, Liberia or Nepal, so we all need a little bit of perspective here.

Israel's been around for almost sixty years, and despite any suggestions to the contrary , we're here to stay.

We're going to end up stepping on people's toes and pissing people off. Some might attribute that to the jewish "hutzpah". Me, I say it's just clumsiness and adolescent awkwardness; I don't get any sort of kick out of refugee camps and tearing down houses, smart-bomb assasinations and witholding independence from the Palestinian Authority.

I am, however, realistic. This is the only place in the world we have. And nobody's going to make life easy for us around here. Suicide bombing is fucked up, and calling for bloody murder is barbaric and primitive. And the people we're fighting -- we are not their enemies; their enemies are ignorance, oppression and the greed and fanaticism of their own government.

So no, six million people are not going to uproot and relocate, big fucking surprise there. No, it will not cease to be a jewish state. No, we're not going to play nice and share. When neither side is willing to compromise, negotiation is nothing more than a charade.

I love my country, for the most simple, base, primitive reason that it is mine. It's an animalistic sense of illogical, unreasoned patriotism. It is the place where I grew up, and it is the only country in the world that will have me.

That said, I abhor violence. I would love nothing more than to see peace come to the region. Life's bad enough as it is without everyone trying to kill each other. Stability in the region would mean more tax money spent on the people, more foreign investments, more jobs, more cultural exchange, more places to visit in the world... There are assholes everywhere, and to them I say - there's nothing glorious in death, it's just a fucking drag.

Spring is here, and life is good. People are going out today with their diminutive barbecues ("mangal", in Hebrew). The men will stand flapping away at the smoking charcoal, a bottle of Maccabi Beer in hand. The children will start a game of football ("soccer", to you American Imperialistic Infidels!) and occasionally kick the ball into someone's hummus. There will not be a park, beach or single piece of open land that will not be occupied by a picnic blanket. Many, MANY sunflower seeds will be eaten.

And, of course, the flags.

To all of you, I say come. Visit. Check it out. There's things to meet and people to do. Home of the Lowest Place in the World, Infected Mushroom, and this weekend I'm going diving off the shores of the Red Sea. As Raven keeps reminding me -- "Israel. Who knew?"

To my country I say... well, I think I've said it.

-Yehonatan "Jono" Barel