Flydubai Incident Shows Need for Self-Reliance, Not Miracles
Translated & summarized from Haaretz by baba
An author reflects on a 2012 earthquake experience in Tokyo to argue against relying on "connections and miracles." He describes feeling helpless and prioritizing his own survival during the tremor. The incident, he contends, should serve as a lesson about self-reliance rather than a belief in inherent Israeli strength or luck.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- A Flydubai incident should not foster a belief in Israeli "lions" relying on luck, an author argues.
- The author recounts a personal experience of helplessness during a 2012 Tokyo earthquake.
- He felt unable to act heroically and prioritized his own survival during the tremor.
- The author perceived disappointment in his partner's eyes after the earthquake.
- The experience highlights a primal survival instinct, not national bravery.
The recent Flydubai incident should not lead to a conclusion that Israelis are a nation of "lions" who can rely on luck or connections, the author argues. Recounting a personal experience during a 2012 trip to Tokyo with his partner, the author described waking up to a violent earthquake in their rented apartment. He felt utterly helpless, unable to speak or act heroically, instead crawling towards the doorframe to save himself, leaving his partner behind. While they both survived and embraced afterward, he perceived disappointment in his partner's eyes. This experience, he suggests, illustrates a primal survival instinct that should not be mistaken for bravery or a reliance on "connections and miracles" as a national characteristic.