A CNN reporter in Israel was interviewing an Israeli veteran of the 1967 War and the 1973 Yom Kippur War who was now a scholar and a distinguished member of the Knesset. Attempting a different approach the interviewer asked the wise statesman, “If you could use just one word to describe Israel what would it be?”
Irritated the elder statesman replied, “How foolish can you be? How can anyone describe the fulfillment of a 2000 year old dream in only one word? How can you surmise the suffering, the depth, the commitment to God in only one word? How can you assemble Jews from all over the world into this land of miracles and find one word to describe such a feat of history and human potential?”
Stubbornly the reporter persisted, “I know this is challenging, but if you could, what word would you choose?”
Impatiently the statesman replied simply, “Good.”
Somewhat dissappointed and perplexed, the reporter asked, “What if you could use two words?”
He paused and replied, “Not good.”
Tips to Bruce Tuchman