israeli flyer
a few days ago, flyers were dropped down on us from the sky. this is one of them. we have deciphered it as a pic of nasrallah coming out of a vase saying "any services?" around him are the president of syria, the leader of hamas, and the iranian president. on the bottom of the vase it says "beirut". oh, and they are all sitting on a map of lebanon. i found this near the Phoenicia Hotel.
posted by zena at 2:04 AM
25 Comments:
I wish things could be easy. It is such a mistake to think that a whole nation is unfriendly, arrogant or to be blamed for something or whatever starts with "they are..." If everybody could see that our short time on earth could be so much better if we tried to share the best we can give. But there always seem to be a few human beings (on all sides) who just don't see things this way. Who are just not tolerant enough for this world. Isn't tolerance what most religions have in common? Why is it so hard for so many peaceful people to control politics?
I wish you all the best! My warmest sympathies to you and everyone who is suffering from this war! I. (27, student of psychology, Germany)
may Allah be with us all
Zena, my name is Madeline and I am writing from Australia. We hear your cry for help, it is on our news everyday and your message is getting out. Don't feel alone, there are millions of people praying for you.
You are in my thoughts everyday, stay strong.
I am glad to have found your wonderful blog.
These crimes by Israel's government and my own government (US) will not go unpunished, I truly believe.
Lebanon is a beautiful people with a great people, and it will always be--Israeli aggression cannot change that.
I pray for peace, and for your safety, and for Lebanon.
Robb,
http://insolidarity.blogsome.com/
Imagine an Israel, secular, open to all, friends with all neigbouring countries..rational accepted borders.. what an amazing leader of creativity and good it would be for the whole area. But no...it slaughters, bombs, invades, develops nuclear weapons.
So often we see our leaders completely out of touch with what the person on the street, those just trying to live thier lives in friendship and peace wish.
The legacy of this period of history for the USA (and to some degree those who support it too) will not be that it was evil, just that it was unbelievably, unutterably stupid.
[Unless there are two Lebanese women artists staying on in Lebanon, I happened to catch a fragment of an interview with Zena on the BBC. A check of her bio discloses that she has an exhibit in Beirut which she does not want to leave and also exhibits in Greenwich Village where she was apparently living on 9/11. I find the personal comments of individuals on the scene frequently more informative than those of professional commentators. I read widely each morning about things in the Middle East (and elsewhere) and then think about things and look for the connections and implications. Things that I would observe today are:
1) Israel is in a bad place and with it the Bush administration. They are in a Peter-Rabbit-in-the-Briar-Patch situation:
http://www.thorntonburgess.org/Peter%20Rabbit%20Story.htm
Peter Rabbit is always making a fool out of some would be predator. This is not to say that Hezbollah is the good guy, but it does look to have snookered both the Israelis and the Bush administration into engaging in a hopeless battle to extricate well embedded and suicidal fighters who are winning THE STORY -- and it is THE STORY that is the important thing here. Israel and the U.S. are now both on the defensive and our own energizer bunny looks to be far over her head in figuring what to do next. What national leader in his/her right mind is going to send its troops into Lebanon to try to root out/disarm Hezbollah? Who is kidding whom? "No way!" I can hear, national leaders muttering under their breath -- from here to Turkey:
No Troop Commitments for Lebanon
By ELAINE SCIOLINO and STEVEN ERLANGER
Support is building for an international military force in
southern Lebanon, but there are concerns that soldiers
would be seen as allied to Israel.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/25/world/middleeast/25force.html?th&emc=th
2) Iraq is blowing up in the face of our designated leaders there and they are desperately trying to dissociate themselves from us -- while supporting Hezbollah? Will this put a chill on the notorious Bush smirk? We shall see:
Top Iraqi’s White House Visit Shows Gaps With U.S.
By EDWARD WONG
Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki is expected to make
requests that clash sharply with President Bush’s foreign
policy.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/25/world/middleeast/25maliki.html?th&emc=th
..................
With this background I send along Zena's latest. One can see her incurable energy here in her ziggydoodle artwork. Enjoy:
http://www.ziggydoodle.com/
Ed Kent]
..............................
Beirut Update from Zena
http://beirutupdate.blogspot.com/ (for pics, etc.)
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
israeli flyer
a few days ago, flyers were dropped down on us from the sky. this is one of them. we have deciphered it as a pic of nasrallah coming out of a vase saying "any services?" around him are the president of syria, the leader of hamas, and the iranian president. on the bottom of the vase it says "beirut". oh, and they are all sitting on a map of lebanon. i found this near the Phoenicia Hotel.
i finally went to the supermarket.
i have been dreading it... didn't want to see empty shelves. didn't want to see people queuing.
what i did see... shelves beginning to empty. a priest buying a lot of beer. long lines..
i have never been so self conscious buying food before. my pride would not let me overstock. i saw long life milk... my hand reached out for a bottle, and then another, and then a third. as soon as i saw them in my trolly, i took one out and put it back on the shelf, and then the second, and finally the third. i did not buy milk. i was so self conscious about it. i thought to myself, better leave it for a mother who has kids to buy it.
i ended up buying strange things. things i was worried i may not find in the country again. i bought a bottle of triple sec. so that i can make cosmopolitans for my friends when they eventually do start coming over to visit again.
i bought pesto in a jar. i know it will soon become a luxury item. i bought two small jars.
i bought sanitary napkins. the ones i like. i never want to get stuck with those really thick 1980s bulky ones. i always used to see them in my cousin's bathroom when we used to visit Beirut in the 80s. they remind me of war.
i bought the shampoo i like. i don't want to end up using that crappy generic kind that comes in huge plastic bottles and is either fluorescent pink or green. looks radioactive. it reminds me of Beirut in the 80s.
i bought smoked almonds. two cans.
i bought more pasta. yuck.
***
i have been getting some beautiful emails... about love and compassion. thank you so much... people i have never met before... new friends... so, i got to wondering... if there are so many beautiful people out there, why is there war?
how can this equation be possible? that there are so many beautiful people out there, but yet, there is so much war.
***
it is so hot. now that our "refugees" have gone, my husband keeps walking around the house in his boxers. i tell him to put some clothes on and his reply is, "what for? we don't have any neighbors anymore. they are all gone. who is going to see me??"
hehe. he's right. so, i let him off the hook.
***
beirut in the 80s. i feel like i am 10 and 30 all at the same time.
***
we are almost up to 1 million refugees now.
israel invaded the south of lebanon. they are on lebanese soil now. they are attacking villages, one after the other.
hizuballah continues to fire into israel.
israel continues to fire into lebanon.
civilian targets are still being hit. today a hospital was hit. so were ambulances.
what is this war? why is this war?
posted by zena at 12:55 AM 4 comments
--
"A war is just if there is no alternative, and the resort to arms is legitimate if they represent your last hope." (Livy cited by Machiavelli)
--
Ed Kent 718-951-5324 (voice mail only) [blind copies]
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CollegeConversation
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PeaceEfforts
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EndingPoverty
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/440neighborhood
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/StudentConcerns
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AcademicFreedom
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PrivacyRights
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Israel_Palestine
http://BlogByEdKent.blogspot.com/
http://www.bloggernews.net
this is somthing i found that can help understand what we all facing:
http://www.memritv.org/Transcript.asp?P1=1185
and:
http://switch5.castup.net/frames/20041020_MemriTV_Popup/video_480x360.asp?ai=214&ar=1050wmv&ak=null
we are all in the same boat!
david
israel
i hope youre okay zeina x
liz
Dear Zena,
my name's Alberto (nickname Ladal) I'm writing from Conegliano, a village in Italy. I cannot completly understand what you are feelling now, but I wanna say you are not alone. You have to know there are millions and millions and millions of people praying for you and for Lebanon in this moment. Don't be afraid, this nightmare is going to finish out. I know, sometimes words are useless, but you have be hopefull and believe in the future, a smart tomorrow. Stay strong.
Alberto
things are bad very bad
Rmeich has 35 000 now. running out of reserves. under the bombs. very frightened.
14.17 lebanon time, Israel advancing to yaroun fierce battles
cannot write anymore
HELP
please scream to the world
let them stop
hezbolloh fighters do not retreat to rmeich
....
scream for me
I can't...
it is night time here in adelaide
people do not say their pain
....
still love
fayrouz
Hi Zena
I heard you speaking on BBC worldservice today. I know your work from Espace SD and Art Lounge. I just saw some of your pics on www.bloggingbeirut.com and decided to check out this blog.Then I discovered it was yours! I was puzzled however, when you said that you don't have anywhere else to go. What about Nigeria, London, New York? Haven't you lived and worked in those places? Not to say that you should go, on the contrary, please stay. Keep safe and I'm glad to have discovered your blog. I will visit regularly. Bye for now. From Jaximou in Lebanon
zena you rock!
thinking of you and cant wait to see you!
love,
euroarabe
Zena,
I don't know much about you but my family by-law speak highly of your late father. I just received your link to your blog and I feel so sad of what is happening right now in Lebanon. I had a chance to visit about four years ago and what a beautiful country, the people were so friendly and the food amazing. I will keep you, your family, and the rest who are suffering because of this war in my prayers. Stay strong!
May God be with you,
Honduras
Sending you love and support from San Francisco, CA.
Thank you for being so strong and sharing your reality.
You are in my thoughts and prayers!
Zena.. you are not alone.. check out everyone that is reading your thoughts!!! I was emailed this link by a friend of mine.. you should check it out:
http://www.slate.com/id/2146306/
Faerlie (a US citizen) also refuses to leave Beirut.. her voice is also being heard.. and we will keep doing what we can in whichever part of the world we may be..
for lebanon.. nounou :)
hi zena,
found your blog on my way through the day's news about Lebanon. I hope, you are safe and I just wanted to thank you for your words from the very heart of the conflict. It's important that we can hear such voices and read such thoughts that usually would not make their way through to us by official media.
You are in our hearts.
C. (Economist, Germany)
Zena....
I have been reading your posts faithfully, and praying for you and Lebanon just as faithfully.
I think it would encourage you to also know that there are people here (US) protesting our govt and the lack of help they have been to Lebanon, but especially for the help they have been to Israel in all this. We are writing letters and e-mails. But most of all we pray.
You are an ecouragement to me. you are so strong. Please do not lose hope or faith. and continue to keep us all updated.
with love and many prayers -
~ J - Bentnbroken@hotmail.com ~
I wish you and everyone around you love and light. May peace find these dreadful times soon. May all of the fear leave you for a deep sleep, rest. I am wishing you safety and happiness.
I added a link to your beautiful blog.
I do not believe in praying myself.
I believe in acting.
And I am working at the distribution of the news that television and media do not give.
The real voice of people like you.
Thank you and keep updting.
Information will set us all free.
may peace prevale.
and if you can.. or feel like.. you can post on http://indymedia.org
it is a indipendent media network.
Please post on all the american cities.
there are 20 online.. more or less
keep talking
kiss
I often wonder the same things - how can there be so many beautiful people in the world
and yet war?
and yet racism?
and yet murder?
and yet genocide?
and yet...
and yet...
and yet..
I wonder
in our efforts to define ourselves
to shape our evolution as a world community
is this the best we can do?
how in the world can anyone look at the image of a dead child
and say that the ends justify the means?
madness.
I'm tempted to swim in the pond-scum of despair
that tiny dark corner of my mind
that aches to scream "fuck-it!"
and rip off my shirt and run into the street and protest something
break something
set something on fire...
to abandon the small shred of sanity I cling to each day
that says killing for any reason is wrong -
justifying killing is insane...
but another part of me believes
- that we are evolving as a world community
- that the good in people far outweighs the not so good
- that global consciousness is struggling to assert itself into minds struggling just as hard to hold on to tiny fearful selfish and self-centered greedy views of the world
and we must not give in to their fear, instigation, intimidation or self-righteous crap
we must not lower ourselves to the level of mind which believes that
violence is acceptable and the way to peace
- this is but the math of frightened children who unfortunately have weapons -
instead we should be encouraged to join hands even stronger and affirm as one:
"I am the experience of a peaceful planet, right here, right now.
The choice I make in this moment determines the experience I have of the world around me."
May peace prevail where you are
where I am and everywhere else...
thank you for your efforts
your words
and for being
I hope I did not ramble too much :-)
Peacepole1
Zena- I've linked some of your sites to my blog. From high in the mountains of Colorado I am wishing you peace.
- RR
Dear Zena, You and Lebanon and Beirut are ancored in our thoughts. You write so beautyfully, and your sketches and thoughts of what is happening around you bring Lebanon even closer. Living in a small country as ours Denmark it is very hard to imagine the situation as the one you in Lebanon now experience. We feel so sad for you. But Zena where have you been to day..no news
I do worry for you, you are so young and so eager and you see so much suffering. But please write, we need thoughts like yours.
Give Tampopo a hug, I love Jack Russels.. and take care of your husbond and go on painting.
Much love from a family who admires you, and wish for peace.
I feel embarrassed to post, because the country I was born in, is sponsoring Israel's stupidity (or maybe Israel is sponsoring our stupidity), but know that we, the citizens, hear you. We had a rally for Lebanese civilians this past weekend in my little city, and all over the US people are speaking up with letters and rallies and donations. Our representatives are slow to acknowledge our validity, but they will have to. My friends and family all want this war to stop right now.
Hello Zena
I read your diary in the Guardian newspaper last week and was so touched by your story; I am Jewish but am totally ashamed for what Israel and America are doing to Lebanon and the Lebanese people - it is beyond belief.
Even though I don't know you I find myself thinking about you every day and hoping you are OK. Have now found your blog and see that you are still writing. You are a wonderful writer and your words are touching millions - I will tell as many people as possible to read your blog and then perhaps someone in the right place will speak out. Nobody really seems to know what to do to stop all this madness - perhaps Israel will come to their senses soon and realise that no good can possibly come of it???
I hope it is of some comfort to you to know that your story has gone all over the world to millions, many of whom are trying to do hatever they can to stop all this.
Thinking of you daily
Nina (UK)
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