Comments on: Lebanon postscript

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 23:59:59 +0000

Excellent letter.
Seems to match my sentiments 100% (only with more eloquence than I can usually muster).

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 23:59:59 +0000

Good on Alain Chammas!!
Lisa,have you prehaps read the account of the disgraceful treatment dissed out by a room of Jordanian reporters to the female Yedioth Ahronoth reporter in Amman at a press conference last week?
Here is the Al Bawaba version.Have you seen it yet on Ynet or the Israeli news sites??
http://www.albawaba.com/en/countries/Lebanon/216108

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 23:59:59 +0000

What an absolutely beautiful letter. I'm so glad that you received this, and other heartfelt and generous letters from other Lebanese people.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 23:59:59 +0000

That was an interesting letter: it shows, bare and simple, what's the purpuse of human interest journalism. Surely “humanizing the other side” ain't enough to stop the war, but it surely improves things.
About the reactions from the foreign aid worker, I had similar experiences: for some reason, I've always found it easier to discuss MidEast life with Arab folks than with some fellow Europeans. I dunno why, but it's not the politics for sure: there's just more mutual respect, go figure.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 23:59:59 +0000

Hey Lisa, sentiments shared, congrats on the Beirut piece
You might be interested in these series of vids from BBC's “return to Gaza”:
http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=26744_Video-_Return_to_Gaza&only
-i

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 23:59:59 +0000

I love this letter. Alain doesn't cover up his early childhood terrors (the painted light bulbs) nor does he minimize the ghastliness of Israel's incursion into Lebanon last summer. (My beloved cousin was killed in an Israeli army tank weeks shy of his wedding — in Bint Jbeil, the last place on earth he would have chosen to be, and surely not in a tank… more likely like you, a peace seeker, he would have preferred coming to Lebanon as a friend, not an enemy). Lisa, people don't write such letters (and all the supportive comments on your posts from Lebanese people) unless they are moved that someone chose to see their humanity and the kinship between our people. The NGO person I have met in the bodies of Americans and Germans. Different languages, same know-it-all attitude with grand plans no one finds interesting. Thank you for your courageous work.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 23:59:59 +0000

Very touching letter. I hope Alain is correct that most Lebanese feel (at least privately) similar feelings toward us that Alain does. I think at some point in my life, I'll get to see Israel and Lebanon as strong friends. I'm still wondering what's on the other side of the fence.
Guess I'll just have to use my Canadian passport and find out, won't I (wow, where did I get THIS idea from? )

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 23:59:59 +0000

Alain's childhood is very similar to mine in Beirut. I vividly remember the painted lightbulbs in the 67 war, as well as the crowds shouting “Nasser – Nasser” and the pickup truck with fedayoun driving in the streets.
As a jewish child (I was 6 at the time) living in Beirut, my interpretation of events was somewhat different from Alain's. I was very worried about showing my religion at the time, and about our house having any signs of our jewishness.
We also moved to France, in 1970 though. We left along with most of the Lebanese jews around that time.
We ended up in Montreal just like Alain and his family. We always maintained contacts with other Lebanese expatriates – Jews, Christians, and Moslems.
I always felt the pull of the middle east growing up in Montreal, and eventually made my way back – to Israel this time – as close as I could to my roots.
My kids are proud to be Jewish Lebanese Israelis with some Polish and Russian from their mother's side.
I still dream of the day we'll all be able to get into our cars and drive across the Lebanese-Israeli border.
Isaacd

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 23:59:59 +0000

Lisa,
Has there been anymore word on your interview subjects who were hassled after the interview was broadcast? Has the storm blown over?
Hopefully Hezbullah & their ilk have moved onto other attention getting stunts.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 23:59:59 +0000

“Many Lebanese would love to see the relationship with Israel normalized eventually.”
But would they feel comfortable admitting it in public when part of the country is (de)volving in Hezbullahstan?