The Fire These Times 215/ Israel's Wars Won't Be Contained (Monologue)
Mar 18, 2026
A monologue about wars in the region spilling beyond borders and why they must be stopped. Reflections on generational hauntings and Lebanon's layered traumas. Personal accounts of anxiety, parenting, and living under recurring bombardment. Calls to hold Western tech and political actors accountable and to reject the idea that this violence is inevitable.
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Airplanes Triggering Distant War Anxiety
- Elia Ayoub describes pacing in his Brighton garden, hearing airplanes that trigger anxiety and compel him to record a monologue as a coping mechanism.
- He explains using walks, podcasts, and Star Trek episodes like The Measure of a Man to distract and process anxiety tied to distant violence.
Waking To News Of Beirut Destruction
- Elia recounts news from March 18, 2026: Israeli strikes leveled a building in central Beirut and bombed across Lebanon, while friends in Beirut endured overnight attacks.
- He situates personal sleep disruption and physical symptoms (back pain) as part of the emotional toll of hearing about those strikes.
Generational Trauma Repeats Through Delayed Processing
- Elia traces layered trauma: memories from 2005–2006 and the 2020 Beirut port explosion reverberate years later and resurface with recent bombings.
- He emphasizes delayed processing: short visits and videos created long-term psychosomatic reactions tied to past wars.
