Israelis gather on hillsides to watch and cheer as military drops bombs on Gaza

[4now]

People drink, snack and pose for selfies against a background of explosions as Palestinian death toll mounts in ongoing offensive
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/20/israelis-cheer-gaza-bombing

[4139]

2. The more things change, the more they stay the same...

"It is a popular, almost legendary, story that innumerable civilians armed with picnic baskets followed the Union Army out from Washington in July 1861 to watch what everyone thought would be the climactic battle of a short rebellion....

In truth, many sightseers packed picnic baskets; but this was more a necessity than a frivolous pursuit on a Sunday afternoon. Centreville was a good 25 miles from Washington, a seven-hour carriage ride one way. The sightseers would need nourishment during their adventurous excursion and they could not rely on the hospitality of local Virginians, now citizens of a rival nation.

Near Centreville, Capt. John Tidball witnessed a “throng of sightseers” approach his battery. “They came in all manner of ways, some in stylish carriages, others in city hacks, and still others in buggies, on horseback and even on foot. Apparently everything in the shape of vehicles in and around Washington had been pressed into service for the occasion. It was Sunday and everybody seemed to have taken a general holiday; that is all the male population, for I saw none of the other sex there, except a few huckster women who had driven out in carts loaded with pies and other edibles. All manner of people were represented in this crowd, from the most grave and noble senators to hotel waiters.”

London Times correspondent William Howard Russell observed, “On the hill beside me there was a crowd of civilians on horseback, and in all sorts of vehicles, with a few of the fairer, if not gentler sex .... The spectators were all excited, and a lady with an opera glass who was near me was quite beside herself when an unusually heavy discharge roused the current of her blood —‘That is splendid, Oh my! Is not that first rate? I guess we will be in Richmond to-morrow.’ Irritated by constant appeals to borrow his glass, Russell decided to.........

http://www.civilwar.org/hallowed-ground-magazine/spring-2011/spectators-witness-history-at.html

[Viva_Daddy]

3. Let's not forget our own hyped up coverage of the "shock & awe" invasion of Iraq.

[Fozzledick]

4. They must be happy to be able to come out of their bomb shelters for a change.

Hamas has been firing rockets at them for 14 years.

[azurnoir]

5. so they've spent 14 continuous years in bomb shelters is that what you mean?

interesting claim there