Mourning for Lebanon
Been travelling most of the last 9 days that Israel-Hezbollah crises has lasted. Now at home I follow CNN news constantly for details of what is really happening.
I have no words to describe how I feel about Lebanon being destroyed after just recently personally describing the destruction of 1975-90 civil war in Beirut, and now hearing that several places I just visited including Damour, Tyre in the south and Baalbek in the east are being bombed. Very hard to understand that is true, and that this can happen. Not that the war wasn't to be expected but the fact that the world in which this all is happening is no unsophisticated hostile place, but a modern nation of educated people with modern media and open connections to West.
Now relatively speaking, if you think of the population and the amount of casualties, the 9/11 has happened in Lebanon every day since the beginning of current crises. Secondly, I have been embarrassed how much attention the Western media has paid reporting the distress of the foreigners waiting to be evacuated to their safe homes in the West while so many nationals have to leave their homes and are lacking medical supplies, food and water. Part of me wishes that I had stayed and would be able to help in some ways, just to proclaim that my life is not of greater value even if I was born in the West. My heart couldn't be grieving more deeply for the people of Lebanon, flesh and blood like us.
I have received several updates from people I befriended with, which makes the situation significantly more personal. They are ok, yet everyone I know there has left their homes to stay in safer areas. Generally, Christian areas are safe, since Israel is targeting Shiite Muslim neighbourhoods. Some friends are planning to go and visit Muslim refugees that have had to leave their homes and to offer food, and supplies for children and thus show them Jesus' love. It truly is different to be a Jesus-follower in the Middle East than it is here!
You were on my heart, thinking during these last few days about the fact that you had so recently been there, so I am touched by your post Niina. We don't get what we need to know from the news, that's why we see the emphasis put on fleeing foreigners (all there for a variety of different reasons - we must bear that in mind). If I was faced with the same issues in my country I am left to wonder whether I would be one of those lining up at the docks. What is the truth though....is Israel the 'neighbourhood bully' (Bob Dylan), or should the Lebanese govt. have acted sooner to deal with Hizbollah at its southern border. There are complex issues to unravel. However, I feel for you, and resonate with your compassion for people who are caught up in something they can't control, and just want to live at peace. Thank you for your commitment to Jesus and the consequences.
Posted by: Tim the Enchanter | July 22, 2006 at 04:28 AM
Yes, I choose not to take a political stance since the little I know makes me believe that Lebanese society is very complex for me to understand. What comes to Lebanese government, what I'm told by so many Lebanese people is that it is very corrupted, divided to 18 different groups (one of them being Hezbollah)that have difficulty in obtaining any consensus, and that no reconciliation has happened since the civil war. As a result, no one really knows, who is with whom, who is honest and who is not.
This is why I expect the international community (is there one left???) to intervene and help civilians. None of the people I met a month ago wanted war. Yet, in the very DNA of Lebanon is the co-excistance of faiths, worldviews and peoples.
Posted by: Niina | July 22, 2006 at 08:09 AM
"just to proclaim that my life is not of greater value even if I was born in the West. "
What is that supposed to mean?!!! who suggested that being born in the west makes one's life of greater value?? (apart from you in this blog post)
I found this comment of yours very offensive. You sound american.
Posted by: R | July 24, 2006 at 06:03 AM
That excactly is my point! There is no way that this could happen in the West. My criticism is of the goverments, who sacrifice so many lives, so many futures in order to stop some terrorists.
Posted by: Niina | July 24, 2006 at 07:47 AM
I find it interesting that you say "Now at home I follow CNN news constantly for details of what is REALLY happening." Since when has the news actually got details right on a story? and not be influenced by there local government.
Just my little moan.
Posted by: Mark Thomson | July 24, 2006 at 11:53 AM
I agree with you, Mark. But you need to at least hear the "cover story" in order to think what might be behind that. Anyways, you learn more of the TVnews than from newspapers, and all the media input is supposed to be filtered, I think.
Posted by: Niina | July 24, 2006 at 11:13 PM
R. says, "My criticism is of the goverments, who sacrifice so many lives, so many futures in order to stop some terrorists."
I dont know where you live but if the katucha rockets were coming down on your neighborhood you might think a little differently about "governments sacrificing lives" I think you would be the first to whine to your government to do something about the terrorists. Are any of you blogers aware that the writings of Mohamed say that judgment day will not come until all jews are destroyed. What would you think if the teaching said all Finns, or Germans, all Africans? very shallow thinking my friend.
pablo from vallejo
Posted by: pablo alegre | August 10, 2006 at 02:37 PM