11/11/2004 - Another Topical Post

Okay, I can't resist mentioning this. I try not to keep up with current events, but sometimes NPR takes a break from deifying unknown jazz musicians and alcoholic poets and inserts a little real news.

I heard this morning that Palestinians, in response to Yasser Arafat's death, are doing the following:
- Shooting guns
- Weeping
- Burning tires

I'm originally from Detroit, so I understand the shooting of guns. We do that all the time. Births, weddings, deaths, and sometimes even deaths at weddings because everyone's shooting guns. Hell, we shoot guns for any reason. If we have a good idea... BANG!
"You must have had a good idea!"
"Yup! We should all go shoot our guns!"
BANG! BANG! "Great idea! Let's go!"

Weeping. I definitely understand this. Your president's dead, and it's not like life isn't already tumultuous and unpredictable in the Middle East.

Burning tires. I'm lost on this one. It doesn't seem like a typical mourning activity. I really am confused, and I'm not trying to make light of a very emotional situation. I am sympathetic to the difficulties that Palestinians are facing, however, upon hearing the news of Arafat's death this morning, I felt no urge to pull my car over, remove the tires, and light them.

There must be more to the story.