Desperate Serbwife

Sad for Lebanon

A few years back, I had the opportunity to visit Lebanon as part of a project I was working on. I know that when many Americans think of Lebanon, they can only remember the horrible civil war, almost 20 years ago. However, the Lebanon I visited was such a wonderful place and I am so sad to hear what is happening today.

Beirut still had pock-marked buildings from the bombings, but it also had rebuilt major parts of the city. The Roman ruins at Baalbek were stunning (and bigger than the ones in Rome). The people were over-the-top kind and my Lebanese co-workers showed me all around their beautiful country and invited me to their homes for amazing Lebanese feasts. Everyone I met told stories of the war and made it was absolutely clear that they would do anything to avoid more fighting.

You see, the majority of the people of Lebanon are not Hezbollah (despite the skewed view that the media presents) and most of the people can't stand what Hezbollah does. You have all seen proof of this when the entire city came out to protest for peace after Hariri was killed in a car bomb. The people of Beiruit are not the same as Hezbollah and it makes me so sad to hear that Israel has bombed the runways at the international airport because this means that all Lebanese people will suffer, not just the Hezbollah terrorists who control the South. It means that one of Lebanon's major industries - tourism - will be disrupted for a long time. It also means that the economic growth which has been pulling the Lebanese people out of the cycle of poverty and desperation will be stifled once again by conflict.

Please don't get me wrong, I strongly believe that Israel has a right to defend themselves against a direct attack such as the one which happened yesterday. Israel is under constant threat from Hezbollah (not to mention Hamas) and they have every right to protect their citizens from this threat. I just wish they could find some way to work with the new, moderate Lebanese government against Hezbollah rather than forcing them into a corner by bombing them. I don't have the answer but I'm sure it's out there somewhere.

The situation in the Middle East is just so sad, in so many ways. So much hate, so much desperation, vengence, intolerance, ignorance, fear, prejudice. This cycle has gone on longer than anyone can remember - will it ever stop?

I am so sick of people pointing fingers, assigning blame, calling names, holding grudges and teaching hate to the next generation. The people I knew in Lebanon lived through a war that taught them that war wasn't the solution and they were all working to make the world a better place through tolerance and understanding of their neighbors' religions. For them, I am so sad to know that they, once again, have to live through more bombs and fighting and fear.

posted by Brooke @ 3:22 PM