Matti Friedman’s Pumpkinflowers: A Soldier's Story of a Forgotten War is a well thought out and expansively presented account of what it means to be a drafted combat solider in a citizen-solider army. Friedman tells the story of several young Israeli men (including himself) who were stationed in the security zone in the early 90s in southern Lebanon which was in place since the end of the Lebanon War in the 80s.
Friedman’s details are astonishing. The soldier’s life is laid before us, and also the wider geopolitical circumstances which brought Israeli 19 year old men to southern Lebanon in the first place.
Once he is out of the army, instead of heading to India like other former Israeli soldiers, he uses his Canadian passport to travel back to Lebanon as a tourist. He even goes the southern border – Hezbollah territory – and visits his abandoned post, the Pumpkin.
This last bit is astonishing, as it shows how fluid our position is, how based on perception and feeble misconceptions. As a Jew and Israeli, his gun is trained north, toward Lebanon, and he is unwanted. As a Canadian and tourist he wanders freely – is welcomed by Lebanese people as a guest in their country, and treated with utmost courtesy.
Friedman’s details are astonishing. The soldier’s life is laid before us, and also the wider geopolitical circumstances which brought Israeli 19 year old men to southern Lebanon in the first place.
Once he is out of the army, instead of heading to India like other former Israeli soldiers, he uses his Canadian passport to travel back to Lebanon as a tourist. He even goes the southern border – Hezbollah territory – and visits his abandoned post, the Pumpkin.
This last bit is astonishing, as it shows how fluid our position is, how based on perception and feeble misconceptions. As a Jew and Israeli, his gun is trained north, toward Lebanon, and he is unwanted. As a Canadian and tourist he wanders freely – is welcomed by Lebanese people as a guest in their country, and treated with utmost courtesy.
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