Understanding Arabic

Paula R. Stern
A Soldier's Mother
05 June '11

For those who are not familiar with the terms "Nakba" and "Naksa" - perhaps this explanation will help you. This is a bit of humor...black humor, perhaps, on a day of sadness and stupidity.

Sadness - because once again, Israelis were forced to open fire; once again, the world may condemn us for defending our land and once again; and stupidity because irresponsible, stupid, stupid parents took their children into a war zone. Reports are coming in that 9-year-olds and 12-year-olds are mixed in with those on the border.

Understanding Arabic
by Jonathan Feldstein (reprinted with permission)


Nakba (Nak’ba\ (n[a^]k ba), n. 1. The world voted (in 1947) to establish two states in the remaining 20 percent of Mandatory Palestine, after unilaterally creating Jordan in 80% of the territory that we claim as our homeland, the Jews accepted it and we amassed troops and fought to slaughter every single one, and to drive the rest into the sea. The Jews kicked our asses as far back as Baghdad, Damascus and Cairo, we lost unilaterally, and now we whine and complain that they beat us, trying to undo the damage we did to ourselves, blaming Israel for all our problems, while still not recognizing Israel’s right to exist. 2. Our stupidity.

Naksa (Nak’sa\ (n[a^]k sa), n. 1. We tried to wipe Israel off the map again (in 1967) by massing troops on its border, closing shipping lanes to Israeli vessels, and other acts of war, we got our asses handed to us in the shortest war on record, and now we whine and complain that the Israelis beat us, trying to undo the damage we did to ourselves, blaming Israel for all our problems, while still not recognizing Israel’s right to exist. 2. Our stupidity.

Nakba/Naksa day – 1. Every year we commemorate our stupidity by blaming Israel for all our problems, continuing to be belligerent, continuing not to recognize Israel, and being the one party that refuses to make peace and take responsibility for our actions. 2. Intransigence personified and the sole obstacle to peace.

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