Juxtaposition

I've spent some time at the Kotel over the past few days. Check out Tussling with T'fillah for more about my my experience. Here's a juxtaposition that everybody notices when they come to Israel, specifically the Kotel: these guys (dressed beautifully in green)
davening next to those guys (below, dressed fashionably in black). While I was dancing at the Kotel the other night, I was whacked continually by the butt of an M-16 or two, not unlike the one seen here.
So there we are amid beautiful songs, Pslams, and harmonious voices and I am coming into contact with objects of war.
Strangely, it gives hope for a peaceful time when those weapons will no longer be necessary. But it also frightens one into realizing that sometimes those weapons are necessary. Obviously I prefer the former, and dancing with soldiers younger than I gave me a great appreciation for the often difficult tasks that their country asks them to carry out. They're still able to sing Psalms of praise and peace, that's a juxtaposition.

Hebrew phrase of the day:
Shavarti et shtei haraglayim, v'hem koavim.
I broke both (of my) legs, and they hurt.