Sunday, July 30, 2006

An Exodus of Dreams

Yet another massacre in Qana. 57 dead among them 27 children...and counting.

And if this is the story in the south, then the rest of Lebanon has many shattered dreams to gather and rebuild.

Many bygone and shattered dreams. This is what war does. Israel's war on Lebanon has impacted all of Lebanon and all of the Lebanese.

As there are fighters facing up to the Israeli war machine, there are also youth issuing their passports to head out, head out to the unknown, to save the day.

I'll recount some stories, close to home:

Ahmad was getting ready to enter college. He just finished high school. He helps in his family's business: a fashion retail store. His parents brought in a large shipment this summer; it was forecasted to be a busy summer indeed and their business was doing great. Until the war started and the country was blockaded by Israeli warships and the country isolated.

Ahmad had to do something, to help his parents pay back for the shipment purchased. He's leaving for the first time to the UAE to work at a restaurant. He needs to send the money back to his parents to save them from dire consequences.

Ahmad is leaving, when his parents never wished him to leave and could die if he does. No college for now, the dreams are postponed, put on hold.

Farah is married to someone who works in the cell phone industry. Since the cell phone transmittors were severely hit by Israeli warplanes last week, her husband is almost out of his job. No substantial income for now. Her husband renewed her passport and issued one for his baby son. She's leaving for a month to be with her family in a neighboring country, to reduce the pressure off of her husband and until he figures out a strategy to come back strong.

Abu Hassan, a grandfather, who is staying back in Lebanon, though all of his children live abroad. He's comforted by being close to where he buried his wife whom he loved and loves dearly. Now his children are calling him everyday so he could leave the country. The blockade will lead to medicine shortages and he needs his medicines on a daily basis. He's resisting, saying that it's all fine and things will get better, but his children do not want to lose yet another parent. And despite him carrying an American passport, he still did not agree to taking the ferry boat to Cyprus. But now his son is organizing his exit. I can understand his reluctance to leave; leaving behind memories and the house he raised his children in.

Abdallah lives abroad, has lived abroad for 30 years. After the Cedar Revolution he had hope for his country, a chance to retire in Lebanon, in a country that after the exit of the Syrian influence had hope of flourishing at last. He stopped reading the newspapers when the national dialogue dragged and completely stopped watching TV after the war on Lebanon.

In 1996 when Lebanon was flourishing and rebuilding itself, he returned with his family for a chance of taking part in his country's renewal. He left after 10 months, after Israel's Grapes of Wrath war on Lebanon and the Qana massacre. All the potential investors he was courting took their money out. He returned to where he came from, shattered dreams and a destiny to be always away. Perhaps this hope has been demolished completely now. He has asked his daughter to speed his immigration papers to the U.S.

These are some stories, not the universe of stories, but they are real stories.

The Lebanese are tired of war. My brother told me today that the Lebanese are not willing anymore to pay LL5,000 per a gallon of gas in the name of resistance. The northeners might not be fighting amongst their southern nationals, but they're housing the displaced and paying the electricity and water bills for the southerners. And this is not just something new.

All of Lebanon pays the price for war. Israel will not achieve much through its agression. Military solutions are old and tired solutions. They take away lives, shatter the dreams and make out of civilized people aggressors.

If PM Seniora does not quickly and swiftly move forward with blanketing the country with state sovereignty, then Lebanon will head to civil war and the exodus of dreams will continue.

"Nobody knows how many rebellions, besides political rebellions, ferment in the masses of life which people earth."

30 comments:

soulpole66 said...

lebanon's gov't thanks hezbollah. disinvites rice.

so now, looks like lebanon = hezbollah

and should be treated as such.

and hezbollah has a machine gun on their flag...

freespeechlover said...

I cannot believe you people who are justifying these war crimes against Lebanese civilians. If you think U.S. citizens are just going to let the Israeli government take our tax money to keep killing Arabs, without any resentment among the public about this, you're dreaming.

Tsedek said...

Very sad, heartbreaking stories Doha :(

@ destroylebanon GRRRRRRRRR

Are you for real???

Tse.

Baroon said...

ayal

from my observiation in last 2 weeks in this page more than 90%-95% of commentors are either isrealies or pro-isrealies . ( Im not) . I dont know where the lebanies commentors are !

with regard to Isreali Media and what u wrote : what u really expect ? u think some one will show up in ur TV and say " yes we knew there are civlians but we simply didnt care cuz we wanted to take down 1 Active HA ..even if 1% chance of actually hit him" ?

stillruleall said...

To All Non Israelis:
What would you do if your country was getting attacked, and you knew the rockets were coming from a certain building. Would you have your own people get killed by the rockets, or take out the building with all the terrorists inside, and hope there are no innocents getting killed?
We did what we did because we had no choice, and we sorry civilians had to die, but when civilians are hanging around rocket launchers, what do they think will happen?

JC C said...

BREAKING NEWS:

Fox News is reporting Israel is declaring a 24 hour cease-fire (on airstrikes) for humanitarian purposes, after a request from the UN. (Some others are claiming this is a 48 hour one, but unsure...)

Lirun said...

doha

i think you are a legend.. your relentless support for peace notwithstanding the tragedy that you are enduring is phenominal.. it demonstrates a maturity and depth that many can only aspire to achieve.. you are consistent and dignified no matter what happens..

i think you deserve a nobel peace prize..

what happened today is the epitomy of the tragedy that this war embodies.. it has magnified how divorced acts of aggression and their consequences can be from basic fundamental good.. it demonstrates to you what israel has indured time and time again when kids have been blown up on buses andin night clubs and in weddings etc.. and documents for the world at large that israel hits hard too..

these acts do not forward peace.. they are atrocities.. the shelling of a house full of kids and the HA seeking safe harbour in their midst are equally inexcusable.. reasons and purposes lose context when kids die..

your blog has been plagued by people who dump rhetoric all over it.. they regurgitate highly unorganic news and purge it all over the place.. they mix in bad and foul sentiments and surf their egos..

however your blog has also inspired a generation of people on both sides of our conflict to raise their voices in their own blogs and speak out and be heard and bypass the global supercrap highway..

god bless you doha.. your cobloggers and your true inspirees.. i think you have started more peaceful change and dialog than could ever be imagined..

wishing peace to all.. may no one need to grieve again..

lirun
telaviv
www.emspeace.blogspot.com
let us be inspired by the wise

Uri Kalish said...

We all just repeat the same things over and over again. Surely everyone has learned a few things he did not know about the ‘other side’, no?

I think this may be the right format for mutual understanding:



Things I think Israelis should know about Lebanon and Hezbollah:

The non-military part of Hezbollah is helping South Lebanon in many ways where the Lebanese government doesn’t.

Hezbollah is the only organisation that represents (politically) a certain sector of the Lebanese people.

Most of the Lebanese wants to disarm Hezbollah and have already started talking about it internally, but they are afraid this can lead to a civil war. The Lebanese had only 1 year to achieve that (only after Syria left) and not 6 years like it is often been claimed.

Hezbollah is much stronger than the Lebanese army.

As the attacks go on, Nasrallah gains more support.



Things I think Lebanese should know about Israel and IDF:

Israel has no interest in Lebanese soil.

Israel has been continuously attacked by Hezbollah rockets and small fire arms since 2000.

The Israeli public is divided over the Palestinian issues, but united about this war and ending Hezbollah attacks from the north.

The IDF do tries its best not to harm civilians, but rockets are being launched from residential areas.

Israel believes Hammas (and maybe even Iran) are waiting to see if Hezbollah will break the IDF to gain motivation for attacks against Israel. Therefore it will not agree to cease fire for at least a week or two in order to ensure Nasrallah can’t claim victory (he will do that regardless).



Your comments…

Papa Ray said...

I don't think the world ever understands the death of children or want's our children killed, but besides the want, there must be someone to stop it.

There will always be those who want to war for whatever reason suits them at the time.

But throughout history there has been one religion that has not only believed in conquest, but has encouraged it.

That religion is the world's worse enemy, especially for those who believe in it.

It has to change, to come to the present, instead of the past.

Papa Ray
West Texas
USA

Uri Kalish said...

Comments about my previous post?

Lirun said...

im off to bed people..

good night and wishing us all a safer tomorrow

lirun
telaviv
www.emspeace.blogspot.com
tired of today (what a luxury)

Lirun said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Uri Kalish said...

To dougjnn,

I agree.

The Middle East News Addict said...

It is heartwarming to hear the voice of reason even through these tragic times. Indeed this whole catastrophy will end when Lebanon assumes sovereignty over ALL of Lebanon; thus preventing Hezbollah from dragging Lebanon into this unnecessary war. My heart weaps with Lebanon over this tragedy but it is time for the Lebanse people to stand up and shout out loud: Stop sacrificing Lebanon for Hezbollah; Sacrifice Hezbollah for Lebanon!

Baroon said...

John Smith

all ur notes respectivly noted . i :

"Israel believes Hammas (and maybe even Iran) are waiting to see if Hezbollah will break the IDF to gain motivation for attacks against Israel."

It was better from the first place if isreal had the Goths to lunch attack on a country who can stand for his self instead of attacking 1000+ some millitance and 3 million civinalns and want to prove his power by that act !!
and regardless of what Media sell to every one around the world . Iran has no intrest to start or attack any country ( forget the speeches i mean practically ). and if u look at history iran never attacked any one of his niegbours in last 100 years or more

Baroon said...

John Smith

all ur notes respectivly noted . i have comment on last one thou :

"Israel believes Hammas (and maybe even Iran) are waiting to see if Hezbollah will break the IDF to gain motivation for attacks against Israel."

It was better from the first place if isreal had the Goths to lunch attack on a country who can stand for his self instead of attacking 1000+ some millitance and 3 million civinalns and want to prove his power by that act !!
and regardless of what Media sell to every one around the world . Iran has no intrest to start or attack any country ( forget the speeches i mean practically ). and if u look at history iran never attacked any one of his niegbours in last 100 years or more

Baroon said...

stateroom

I said " if u read history"
so i will not argue " Historical facts" here go and read. that war was not started by iran . Iraq attacked iran . and i said " iran in 100 years didnt start.."

Texas Bankruptcy Nerd said...

Mazel tov!

Ca y est: The birth pangs of one hundred million miscarriages of justice.

The unsexed Lady Macbeth of the West looms over the Middle East with a benign smirk, to her right on a gossimer leash strung with glistening tax dollars, the snapping pit bull of Israeli zealots.

Her afterbirth: the pan-Arabian dolchstoss that leaves generations imporverished and hate-filled; the long knife of ersatz diplomacy firmly nestled in the back of the terror-filled, democratic, sovereign nation, among others.

Shhh media... the baby is hemorrhaging...

Lirun said...

i will never give up my dream for peace..

i vow to honour the death of the children who yesterday paid the price of their lives (and all other victims) for the stupidity of adults.. by forever seeking peace..

lirun
telaviv
www.emspeace.blogspot.com

Baroon said...

stateroom :
He " khomeini" done so many revalutionary speechs Like all the revalutionary figures. BUT still iran didnt start the war on Iraq . Saddam attacked iran exactly in same manner he attacked Kuwait. iranian millitary forces were not on even on boarders and thats why iraq was able to take over several cities and KM inside iranian boarders in first day of war !! which took iran 9 month of war to take them back after brutels battels.

Lirun said...

ok thats just great.. lets all start arguing about other wars in history as well.. that's soooo productive..

i am saddened by the attacks on jewish institutions in chicago and sydney.. but i can not say that they are unusual.. french jews - many of which are very intimated with their muslim compatriots can tell us a lot about racial vilification..

this is such a stain on what is generally a peaceful coexistence..

i believe that only few people could deny that outside our native region - we all get along very well..

its important that we learn from our brothers and sisters overseas rather than teach them our stupidity..

wishing us all peace

lirun
telaviv
www.emspeace.blogspot.com
enough is enough

JC C said...

Some scary thoughts linked from here:

http://allisonkaplansommer.blogmosis.com/history/032661.html

In particular: this, spoken by a Hezbollah fighter:

"The real battle is after the end of this war. We will have to settle score with the Lebanese politicians. We also have the best security and intelligence apparatus in this country, and we can reach any of those people who are speaking against us now. Let's finish with the Israelis and then we will settle scores later."

Lirun said...

you have raised an excellent point john.. i noticed on some on the footage of the horrific suffering of the lebanese.. some women were pushing people aside so that the world could see the carnage..

in israel we dont do that.. we see it as disrespectful.. the problem is however that unless people see your plight they will never understand your reactions and you become indefensible..

its a vile dillema - but one that critically tips the balance in war.. and can turn a justified cause into baseless and a evil mission into blessed..

israel needs to wake up to the true parameters of the conflict - which to my mind are fought at least 50% in the minds of people in some virtual war tv land..

the problem is then further complicated by the ramifications of publicity.. even if you are victimised - does it help you to cry to the world? will they listen? or will they continue eating the crumpets and jam just as they did in rwanda? and if they do care - will they then fear doing business with you? withdraw investment? desert your tourist attractions? alienate you from the lucrative social circles of international politics and think of you as war torn?

so many people can be impacted either way and there are so many arguments for and against..

to my mind.. in the balance of issues.. if you paint th eworld's tv screens with blood - they do in fact turn away from the screens 3 seconds letter and finish their pizza and beer and become desensitised.. they get pissed off at you for disrupting their eutopian views that the world is just dandy.. they dont help you (unless you have oil) and shortly after they forget you all together..

so i vote not to show the dead..

Baroon said...

John

they should be shown in a certain extend.its nesseccary for pepole to see horific senes of war and destruction to relize more the need of peace ( every where) .its give the war and ur " Supposed enemy" a FACE

Lirun said...

barroon - i believe in putting faces to victims.. but make them dignified photos so they are remembered as humans and so people can identify with the victims.. very few people can identify with torn flesh and blood..

wishing this was a hypothetical discussion

lirun
telaviv
www.emspeace.blogspot.com
war is disgusting

Baroon said...

John
I said ( to some extend)., i agree that repeating it will drive audience to indifference .
Personaly i do changes chanels if the pictures was to graphic .
But in war they don’t show photos of roses and strip dancers ! it will be photos of destruction and dead bodies .
building are not more important that people ,so why not showing the person who lived and died there ?
I hate it when i see a body in ( iraq- africa- lebanon-wherever) Wrapped in a sheet or black plastic on top of eachother with zerro respect but this is how war is ( not respecting the human life ) so it must be shown as the real image of war

Empathy is more needed than sympathy.

Unknown said...

How can anyone believe this garbage?

"The Lebanese could take their fate into their own hands, and not wait for the US to tell Israel to stop (actually, we know the US has rushed and is rushing more bombs to the Israelis for the continuation of the "war", which is clearly no more than the coldblood onslaugh by the Israelis of Lebanese civilians using US precision laser-guided bombs)"

And then to go on to suggest that the Lebanese go south to join the HB and fight to drive out the Israeli's? What? ARe you running out of human shield?

The only real solution to this war is to stop the bombs and begin talking. The Lebanese people, caught in the middle of this war, must realize that the HB have done little good for Lebanon and they have commandeered this whole scenario. Do not fall prey to their deceptive ways. Though the Israelis have struck at the core of Lebanese life and living, had the HB gone to war with ANY neighbor, retalliation naturally would cast them as an enemy. This is what HB wants. Are you so much a puppet that you let HB mold you like this?

The Middle East News Addict said...

Nasbind. Your racist remarks are an indications that you are either Arab or worse than that, a Neo-Nazi who supports the Arabs for destroying the Jews. Anyway as per your remark that Lebanon should not fight Israel's wars; You do not understand this is not Israel's war, it is Lebanon's war. Israel is only doing the job Lebanon should have done in the past 6 years. The fact that the government in Lebanon is afraid of a civil war is no excuse for Israel to sit quietly and suffer the blows. It is in the interests of Lebanon to stop that because they were making huge progress till Hezbollah, aware of the fact it is losing power, dragged them into the war. But I know you do not care about Lebanon. For you Arabs are like Jews and should be destroyed. You proved that when you suggested to send the Lebanese people as human shields to the south. And one final note: If you do believe that this is Israel's war, then why are you so against it?

And to Al-Ghadabulasati, the soldiers were kidnapped from the Israeli side of the border as indicated by the UN. Now I know you do not accept Israel as having any border (i.e. no right to exist) but that is your problem and I think you should really work on it. As for the Shebaa farms being Lebanese, the UN has said it is Syrian,; Syria and Lebanon said it is Lebanese. Yet Syria is not willing to officially sign any document that confirms that. Now why is that? could it be that they think they could use the Lebanese people and Hezbollah to fight their wars for them?

Lirun said...

omer i agree..

a movement of false rhetoric is developing.. people are lying because now the propaganda war is taking over and the misinformation bombs are exploding loud and clear..

however.. against these bombs there is no need to run or hide.. we can simply apply our common sense.. remember that at the end of the day we are all humans and realise that both sides are going to be fed a whole lot of crap..

the brilliance of this blog is that we can here test the veracity of the claims of our media.. we can compare and contrast and try to decipher where the truth may in fact possibly exist..

we are blessed by this opportunity.. a small blessing in the midst of a deadly storm..

let us not waste it on aimless bickering..

there is much good work to be done..

peace needs to happen.. lets bring it

lirun
telaviv
www.emspeace.blogspot.com
there is no time other than the present

ARTISTAS DE BUENOS AIRES said...

¿Por qué ?
No entiendo esta guerra.
Podría alguien explicarme.

Why?
I do not understand this war.
Somebody could explain to me.

Pourquoi ?
Je ne comprends pas cette guerre.
Pourrait quelqu'un expliquer je.

¿Por qué?
Eu não compreendo esta guerra.
Alguém poderia explicar-meo.

Damit?
Ich verstehe nicht diesen Krieg.
Jemand könnte mir erklären.

Ma, Per que?
Non capisco questa guerra.
Qualcuno potrebbe spiegare a me.

Så att?
Jag förstår inte att denna kriger.
Någon kunde förklara.

Zodat?
Ik begrijp deze oorlog niet.
Somebody kon verklaren.

因此?
我不瞭解這場戰爭。
某人可能解釋。

Έτσι ώστε;
Δεν καταλαβαίνω αυτόν τον πόλεμο.
Κάποιος θα μπορούσε να εξηγήσει.

Так НОП?
Я не понимаю это войну.
Кто-нибудь смогло объяснить.