36 Comments
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Taka's avatar

Good old story. I’ve never wished this Happy Ending more than I do now. I want all these war to happen in the third state, “ the Republic of Force-Is-the-Only-Language-They-Understand.”

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Leah Greenspan's avatar

Thank you Etgar. Your story put a small smile on my grim face and for a short moment I reflected on wide endless corn fields.

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Karl Straub's avatar

Beautiful, funny, and sad. Which is like saying “an Etgar Keret story.”

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תמרה's avatar

Toda. It seems that that Third State ... exists ... just about everywhere. If something can be imagined, it can be. What we have now is a failure of humane imagination. We should be able to do better. Sholdn’t we?

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Audrey Gran Weinberg's avatar

I am thankful that the pen can be mightier than the sword. Somehow this lights a little glimmer of hope in the dark dark darkness.

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Elibec's avatar

Terrific story. Thank you. I'm sending good wishes, peaceful wishes too

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Karen B's avatar

If only. My heart hurts for all the people in the Middle East. The third state would be a brilliant option. Be safe❤️

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David Williams's avatar

I’ve thought about this story and letter exchange often over the last few years. It has always felt to me like an example of what an Etgar Keret story does best: zooms us in on the humanity hovering underneath the cloud of confusion kicked up by the political, historical, tribal forces that shape the news, our fears, and too often our thinking.

I returned to the story on my own yesterday after reading the news, and I’ve shared with friends, etc.

Thank you for bringing it into the world and for resharing it Etgar.

Thinking about you and hoping for moments of humanity, like this story and friendship, to find ways to cut through the dark clouds.

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Janice Ellen Bressler's avatar

Thank you

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Sabrina Y. Smith's avatar

Sending you hope Etgar (it's hard to hold onto these days). My heart breaks for both sides – may a third possibility arise. Thanks for this story, words can truly act like balms to our hearts.

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Yuezhong's avatar

Sometimes, we need some "wishful" thinking to keep on living, even during the direst time. Thank you for this funny, sad, and hopeful story.

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Joshua Gibbs's avatar

Thanks

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Erdal Kaplanseren's avatar

Dear Etgar,

Reading your stories reminds me of how many reasons I have to keep hope alive despite all the difficulties and pains in life. Since I first read them, I have always found hope and the light of happiness in your stories, and for that I am grateful.

Turkish poet Edip Cansever says in his famous poem "Blood Sounds in My Handkerchief," "Nudge hope. Soothe despair."

I remind my relatives who fall into despair of this, because it is worth it for the beauty in life...

I wish you to remain in love and health.

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Clara Mayagoitia Orozco's avatar

Its a beautiful story it makes me cry...i hope a happy ending about whats happening and the people they took returned safe to their families...hope this will end soon.

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Ruben Bix's avatar

Beautiful fable.

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Lor's avatar

Thanks as always for the story Etgar. I wish as an American -- with most of my family living in Israel -- so sad scared and dejected. I long for the hope of living in a folded up corn field in a suit case or something like peace within a fictional world-- I look to you in this time for some hope in the alphabet soup. You and your readers are wonderful. Thank you and toda.

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