 | | An Israeli 4th grade student tries on a gas mask |
Israeli schoolchildren had some poignant questions for a soldier introducing them to gas masks as part of preparations for possible Iraqi missile attacks should the United States go to war in the Gulf. "What happens if I throw up inside my mask?" and "How many minutes will the war last?" were just some of the queries voiced by the 9- and 10-year-olds in a Jerusalem school. While the United States readies for possible conflict in Iraq and Israel gears up for feared Iraqi missile strikes, soldiers are visiting classrooms across Israel to acquaint youngsters with the protection they would need in the event of chemical or biological attack. "The kids get a chance to practice with the gas mask kits brought into the schools and then can go home and explain to their parents and even grandparents," said Bilha Noy, head of the Education Ministry's psychological and counseling service. In the 1991 Gulf War, Iraq launched 39 conventional Scud missiles at Israel, causing heavy damage to property. In one classroom for 9- and 10-year-olds at a Jerusalem school, a boy tried on a gas mask with the help of the soldier instructor. As he lifted his head to look at his classmates, they burst into laughter. In kindergartens, gas masks are added unobtrusively to the pile of toys so they become a familiar sight, but only the teachers are instructed in their use. Coming face to face with the black rubber masks elicits not only laughter. "For me, it is frightening," said 10-year-old Neta. "And when they explained to us how to use the gas mask, I got even more scared. It is so complicated to put on and there is also the antidote and you have to be in a sealed room." According to Noy, fear is both natural and expected. "Our goal is not to comfort, but to say yes, it is frightening, but if you obey instructions and do what you are told to do, your chances of surviving are higher," said Noy. (Agencies) | 以色列士兵在學(xué)校向孩子們介紹如何使用防毒面具，因?yàn)槿绻绹鸵晾嗽诤车貐^(qū)開戰(zhàn)，伊拉克很可能會(huì)發(fā)射導(dǎo)彈，以色列不得不為此作些準(zhǔn)備。然而，孩子們向士兵提出的問題令人感到心酸。 在耶路撒冷的一所學(xué)校，這些9到10歲的孩子們經(jīng)常問道"如果我戴著防毒面具的時(shí)候嘔吐怎么辦？"，"戰(zhàn)爭會(huì)持續(xù)幾分鐘？"。 美國已經(jīng)準(zhǔn)備好可能對(duì)伊拉克作戰(zhàn)，以色列也在積極準(zhǔn)備防范伊拉克導(dǎo)彈襲擊。以色列士兵們來到全國各地學(xué)校，教孩子們?nèi)f一遭受生化武器攻擊，如何進(jìn)行基本的自我保護(hù)。 教育部心理咨詢服務(wù)的負(fù)責(zé)人比爾哈·諾伊說："孩子們有機(jī)會(huì)練習(xí)使用士兵們帶來的防毒面具，等他們回到家，就可以告訴他們的父母甚至祖父母那是怎么回事了。" 在1991年的海灣戰(zhàn)爭中，伊拉克向以色列發(fā)射了39枚常規(guī)飛毛腿導(dǎo)彈，造成了巨大的財(cái)產(chǎn)損失。 在耶路撒冷一所學(xué)校里，一班9至10歲的孩子在學(xué)習(xí)使用防毒面具。一個(gè)男孩在士兵的指導(dǎo)下戴上了防毒面具，當(dāng)他抬頭看向同學(xué)們的時(shí)候，大家爆發(fā)出一陣大笑。 在幼兒園，防毒面具被悄悄地放在了一堆玩具中，這是為了讓孩子們對(duì)它感到熟悉。但是只有老師知道使用方法。 然而，和這些黑色的橡膠面罩打交道并不只會(huì)令人發(fā)笑。 10歲的內(nèi)塔說："我覺得很害怕。當(dāng)他們教我們?cè)趺从梅蓝久婢邥r(shí)，我更加害怕了。要學(xué)會(huì)戴上這東西，還有解毒劑，還必須呆在密閉的空間，這太復(fù)雜了。" 而在諾伊看來，害怕是很自然的，也是意料之中的。 他說："我們的目的并不是去安慰別人。是的，這的確令人恐懼，但如果你遵照說明，按照他們教你的那樣做，你就有更多活下來的機(jī)會(huì)。" （中國日?qǐng)?bào)網(wǎng)站譯） |
Updated: 2003-01-10 01:00
