Now for a good twelve-hour sleep, I told myself. Twelve solid hours. Let birds sing, let people go to work. Somewhere out there, a volcano might blow, Israeli commandos might decimate a Palestinian village. I couldn't stop it. I was going to sleep.
The narrator expresses a strong desire for uninterrupted sleep, emphasizing the need for a solid twelve-hour rest to escape the chaos of the world around him. He acknowledges the inevitability of global events occurring while he sleeps, such as natural disasters and conflicts, but resolves to prioritize his own need for rest over the turmoil outside.
This internal conflict illustrates the struggle between personal tranquility and the harsh realities of life. The mention of significant events indicates a sense of disconnection, as he chooses to retreat into slumber rather than engage with the world’s problems, highlighting a common human tendency to seek refuge in sleep during turbulent times.