Differences in morality

DIFFERENCES IN MORALITY

by Albert Russo

When Palestinians

kidnap and kill Israeli teenagers

they sing, dance and rejoice

and call the murderers heroes

When Israelis

kill young Palestinians

the nation feels guilty, not proud

and the perpetrators

have to pay for their crimes

Remember 9/11 in Manhattan?

the Arab street screamed with glee

Oh to kill 3000 people in the heart of America!

Did it matter that all religions were represented?

What a fantastic feat did those

Western-educated Saudis accomplish!

When Israel wiped out

all the Jewish colonies in Gaza

instead of a gesture of reconciliation

the response was rockets, thousands of them,

launched in southern Israel,

and that has been going on for twelve years,

aiming at one million Israeli civilians

day in and day out, traumatising the population

What other country in this world

welcomes in its hospitals, free of charge

civilian enemies with serious health problems

those include Palestinian babies

from Gaza and the West Bank,

Syrian soldiers badly wounded,

Syria being an awoved enemy of Israel,

as well as patients from all the other

Arab countries who still have not recognized

THE EXISTENCE OF ISRAEL

On the 15th of July Israel accepted a truce

but the Hamas refused it

and continued for six hours

to launch rockets towards Israel

aiming this time at 3,5 millions civilians,

including Tel Avivians and Jerusalemites,

thanks to their former Iranian allies

So, who wants to continue the war

and cares so little about its population?

When Pope Francis prayed at the Security fence

did he know that thanks to it,

terrorism had almost disappeared in Israel?

you ought to pray for Pope Francis

so that he understands that one cannot compare

the Berlin Wall and the Security fence.

Are people the same all over the world?

CERTAINLY NOT

Some swear by death, destruction and martyrs

others sanctify life and innovation

for the good of humanity,

yet some in the world: the negationists

and the intellectually blind,

see what they want to see,

always treating Israel as the agressor.

About the Author

Albert Russo who has published worldwide over 85 books of poetry, fiction and essays (35) and photography (50), in both English and French, his two mother tongues, and sometimes in Italian, (Italian being his 'paternal' tongue) - he also speaks Spanish and German and still has notions of Swahili -, is the recipient of many awards,such as The New York Poetry Forum and Amelia (CA) Awards, The American Society of Writers Fiction Award, The British Diversity Short Story Award, The AZsacra International Poetry Award (Taj Mahal Review - US$ 500), the Books & Authors Award, several Writer’s Digest poetry and fiction Awards (winner and finalist), aquillrelle Awards, the Prix Colette and the Prix de la Liberté, among others. His work has been translated into about 15 languages in 25 countries, on the five continents. He has co-published Gaytude with Adam Donaldson Powell, which won Best Gay Book in the USA. Albert Russo’s major books are the AFRICAN QUATUOR (AQ), his memoir CALL ME CHAMELEON (CMC), his humorous ZAPINETTE Series (Zapy), GOSH ZAPINETTE, the first ever series of global Jewish humor, his books of stories and of poetry encompassing 40 years of writing, entitled: THE CROWDED WORLD OF SOLITUDE, vol. 1 -CWS1 (the stories and essays) and THE CROWDED WORLD OF SOLITUDE, vol. 2 (the poems) CWS2 + the two big books dedicated to his beloved mother Sarah Russo (SR) + about 50 books of photos. His definitive biography penned by the Norwegian African-American writer, poet and artist Adam Donaldson Powell, UNDER THE SHIRTTAILS OF ALBERT RUSSO was released by l’Aleph (November 2017), Wisehouse Publishing. A humanist with roots in Central, Southern Africa, and the Mediterranean, he has been acclaimed by James Baldwin, Edmund White, Martin Tucker, Douglas Parmee of Oxford University, Joseph Kessel, Pierre Emmanuel, both of the Académie Française, among many other literary authorities, as well as by his African peers, Chinua Achebe among them. Albert Russo was also a member of the 1996 jury for the Neustadt International Prize for Literature which often leads to the Nobel Prize of Literature. Latest Prize: Best 2013 Unicef Short Story award in defense of childhood worldwide, for Revenge by proxy / Vengeance par procuration. His 50-odd books of photography have garnered awards in the USA, UK, Russia, France, etc. Some of his work has been exhibited in the Louvre Museum, at the Espace Pierre Cardin, both in Paris, in Times Square, New York, at the Museum of Photography in Lausanne, Switzerland, in Art Berlin, in Tokyo, in Moscow, etc. The former Mayor of the Big Apple, Mr Bloomberg, has lauded his two photo books on Paris and New York. Some of his novels and memoirs have also been filmed in English, with videos 90 and 100 minutes long. Latest award: I have just received the following award. "Dear Albert, It is with great pleasure to announce that you have been selected as a Book Excellence Award Finalist for the following book: 'GOSH ZAPINETTE! the first ever series of global humor’ (770 pages). There were hundreds of entries from around the world and 'GOSH ZAPINETTE! the first ever series of global humor' was selected for its high-quality writing, design and market appeal. Congratulations. The Book Excellence Award Committee.” The Book Excellence Awards Advantage. More than just an awards competition, the Book Excellence Awards provides authors and publishers with extended support and resources on topics such as publishing, marketing, writing, publicity and social media. The Book Excellence Awards is a smart investment on your publishing journey and the results and benefits will last a lifetime! Literary website: www.albertrusso.com - "Art is but a moment of happiness, it is like a lightning of bliss cleaving the never-ending horrors of our world." Albert Russo “Inspiration is like delicious food that your taste buds remember, or a perfume you have long forgotten and whose whiff suddenly brushes your nostrils again, giving you pangs of nostalgia.” Albert Russo