on the eve of ceasefire
this morning, i woke up with a smile on my face. my husband had jumped on top of me, kissing me all over my face, saying that the war was going to end.. that the UN voted... that things were going to get better now. i had only fallen asleep two hours earlier, but jumped out of bed with a kind of energy i hadn't had in over a month. it was a good morning.
everything changes this weekend.
things are supposed to come to some kind of end. one way or another.
on the eve of ceasefire, i have mixed emotions.
i am grateful that things are coming to and end.
however, the real work now lies ahead of us. its not just about rebuilding.. lives, country and moral. but, it's also about moving forward positively on all sides.
war instils hatred in people. we as human beings have to make sure that we don't fall into the vicious cycle of hate.
we have to rise above the politics and speak as citizens of beautiful Mother Earth.
i don't believe that we are born to hate. i believe that it is conditioned through things like fear, violence, oppression and misunderstanding.
one should not have to live in fear. one should not have to be subjected to violence.
it seems these days that violence and fear govern our lives. it is all over the tv and in the news... but we should not let it. it is a disguise people use for their own selfish gains. the reality of life is love not fear. we have to remember that.
life is beautiful... it is like the never ending possibilities of youth... it is like the first kiss...
remember that scene in The Matrix (the 3rd one), right at the end, when Neo and Trinity enter the Machine World... they are flying their plane, holding hands... love is guiding them through the war zone. then they shoot up into the sky, cutting away from the darkness, into the electric clouds... fighting for their life... then suddenly they get through it and they see Earth for what it really is: beautiful clear skies... and then Trinity says "beautiful."
i wonder if we can do that too.
if there is one thing i have learned this past month, it is that life is so precious. in one second, your whole life could change. one day i was taking artwork down from a gallery about to send the paintings to their new respective owners... the next morning, our airport was bombed and we were at war. just like that.
my life had been so hectic at the start of the year... i was busy preparing for my first solo exhibit in Lebanon to take place in May. i was working hard in my studio every day. simultaneously, i was organizing an exhibit to take place in June. it was a big one. 21 artists and a whole month of events to go with it. i put so many things in my life on hold. i kept saying to myself and everyone else around me (including my husband) " in July, i will take a vacation. in July i will have my old life back. we will hang out in July. we will go to the beach in July. yeah, maybe i might even finally decide to get pregnant! i just can't do anything until July..."
and look what happened in July.... and i certainly don't think i will get to go to the beach again for a long long time. several years, at least.
life is so so precious.
everything changes this weekend.
things are supposed to come to some kind of end. one way or another.
on the eve of ceasefire, i have mixed emotions.
i am grateful that things are coming to and end.
however, the real work now lies ahead of us. its not just about rebuilding.. lives, country and moral. but, it's also about moving forward positively on all sides.
war instils hatred in people. we as human beings have to make sure that we don't fall into the vicious cycle of hate.
we have to rise above the politics and speak as citizens of beautiful Mother Earth.
i don't believe that we are born to hate. i believe that it is conditioned through things like fear, violence, oppression and misunderstanding.
one should not have to live in fear. one should not have to be subjected to violence.
it seems these days that violence and fear govern our lives. it is all over the tv and in the news... but we should not let it. it is a disguise people use for their own selfish gains. the reality of life is love not fear. we have to remember that.
life is beautiful... it is like the never ending possibilities of youth... it is like the first kiss...
remember that scene in The Matrix (the 3rd one), right at the end, when Neo and Trinity enter the Machine World... they are flying their plane, holding hands... love is guiding them through the war zone. then they shoot up into the sky, cutting away from the darkness, into the electric clouds... fighting for their life... then suddenly they get through it and they see Earth for what it really is: beautiful clear skies... and then Trinity says "beautiful."
i wonder if we can do that too.
if there is one thing i have learned this past month, it is that life is so precious. in one second, your whole life could change. one day i was taking artwork down from a gallery about to send the paintings to their new respective owners... the next morning, our airport was bombed and we were at war. just like that.
my life had been so hectic at the start of the year... i was busy preparing for my first solo exhibit in Lebanon to take place in May. i was working hard in my studio every day. simultaneously, i was organizing an exhibit to take place in June. it was a big one. 21 artists and a whole month of events to go with it. i put so many things in my life on hold. i kept saying to myself and everyone else around me (including my husband) " in July, i will take a vacation. in July i will have my old life back. we will hang out in July. we will go to the beach in July. yeah, maybe i might even finally decide to get pregnant! i just can't do anything until July..."
and look what happened in July.... and i certainly don't think i will get to go to the beach again for a long long time. several years, at least.
life is so so precious.
posted by zena at 2:44 AM
87 Comments:
Dear Zena,
Hope this stop in the war is really going to happen. I was watching Fox News this afternoon and they broke into the program to show the march in SanFrancisco in Support of Lebanon. They showed a video and looked like many people were marching. Mentioned that one was taking place in LosAngeles at the same time. The newscaster sounded very surprised. Didn't even know that a march was planned and surprised to see how many in support for your country. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I knew about the march even before I read about it on your blog and I'm not political....just a retired nurse from the mid-west trying to understand. Know that there were other marches across the US and hope they all were well attended.
Bless you and your country and hoping for peaceful days ahead.
Dear Zena
I am Happy for u and for all my brothers and sisters in lebanon.
And my Deepest Condolences for all those who died in this vicious war.
I just wanted to remind u of what I wrote in ur Post "While i was building dreams, they were preparing my destruction" This Paragraph was Copy/Past...Go ahead with your plans, go on building your dreams every one deserves to have a dream, your married? Congratulation, you bought a house? Mabrouk and as we say in Kuwait منزل مبارك , you paint?! I did not know that you’re an artist! Well not exactly cuz I heard you talking to CNN on Sunday July 30, 2006 I would love to see your paintings next summer when I visit Lebanon (Inshaa’a Allah) and that’s a promise. (I passed your Blog several times since the begging of these savage attacks, and I was happy hearing you on CNN).
You made plans with people? Well, I hope you can find me place in your schedule?
You invested time, emotions, money, ideas, love…into Lebanon? Well Zena all that is not wasted because you owe it to your country and I know Lebanon will not disappoint you, just wait and see.
Keep on building bridges…I hope one of your bridges is Beirut / Kuwait :)
It’s nice to have new friends because friends are the ones who stand by us in our crises and can ease our pains.
Keep your promises and your commitments …the crises will end soon.
Zena, children are a gift from God and they are the candles that brights our lives…believe me, I have a son and I know the feeling, if you see how my parents are spoiling him, they don’t have No in their dictionary when it comes to him! I can see the happiness in there eyes when he’s around, let your parents experience that happiness by seeing their grandchildren, and as we say in Arabic (ما أعز من الولد ألا ولد الولد).
Its true Beirut is unlike any other city in the world and still it is in spite of what it’s going through these days.
**** I LOVE BEIRUT ****
See u next Summer,
Rula from Q8 :D
God bless, Zena.
Zena,
it has come to pass and peace shall reign!
it pains me to tell you this but Hizbullah has said that they will not disarm south of the Litani! this after accepting the resolution in Parliament. apparently the instruction has come from Iran!
lets hope and pray that Hizbullah can be forced to accept what they have already accepted.
know that we in Canada support our brethren in Lebanon.
Greg a Leb/Can
Zena,
i cannot stop thinking of an old song done by Tommy James and the Shondells called "crystal blue persuasion". the lyrics can give anyone hope! this song is about thirty years old, maybe older.
take the time to listen. i find it very relaxing.
Greg
Shukur alhamdulillah Dear Zena,
I do not know wheter you can read the above
Hezbollah is not the terrorist organization. Hezbollah is Lebanon National Force to protect Lebanon and the people from the invasion of Terrorist state of Israel supported by Bush & Blair.
I hope some American will agree with me. This war, politically organized by Bush & Blair.
From Singapore
Long Live Lebanon
Shukur alhamdulillah
A lot of Americans do! what "Merkova" says is NOT true!
Hope for some peaceful days now.. Hope you are fine..
all love
Bette Anderson
dearest zena,
you have been sharing your deepest feelings with us for what seems like months now. i feel it is time to share, with you, the feelings this blog entry brought to me.
upon reading the first few sentences, I was overjoyed with happiness. Cease-fire! Finally! (hard to put this feeling into words....)
and then, the part about the Matrix. I laughed out loud....for a good 30 seconds or so. then, I made my love stop what he was doing and listen to me laugh more before reading him the entire matrix paragraph....of course, using the same excitement and emotion i imagine you would use. first time i have felt this way reading you blog....absolutely lovely.
then, after that, you brought me back to now. such passion....war.....love.....sadness....hope....above all....appreciation.
i wish to you....zena, all your loved ones we have come to know, and all of lebanon....peace, happiness and, most of all, quiet. please stay well. please stay in touch. we will not stop working to support you....to support Lebanon....to support peace......to support life....
with love, gratitude and sorrow,
m
I do so hope with you that the war will end on Monday at 7AM. But it seems to me that the resolution doesn't resolve anything & relies on good faith for both parties to maintain it. I think both sides are way beyond having any good faith in the other (we can argue about whether that's a legitimate or valid view, but that's another discussion).
The resolution doesn't preclude Israel fr. conducting military operations (though they're supposed to be defensive in nature). And Hezbollah hasn't even signed on to the resolution at all. So it's compliance is again almost unenforceable.
I don't mean to rain on yr parade. I hope Hezbollah & Israel get a humanity I've found them both (but especially Israel) lacking for the past few wks. Give peace a chance & all. But permit me a healthy does of skepticism.
Oh & don't pay any attention to Merkova. Such pro-Israel partisans would have you believe that they represent American public opinion. Many Americans & many American Jews (of which I am one) do not support this war. I'm not saying that we support Hezbollah either. But this war is a moral abomination for which I'm ashamed to say my government provided the munitions.
To Merkova:
More than 5.6 million Americans are in prison or have served time there, according the Justice Department. That's 1 in 37 adults living in the United States, the highest incarceration level in the world!!!! looks like you have escaped and got your sick mind on spreading hatred. I wish you would get some help to heal your sick mind. you do not bother us by writing here instead I feel a pity for you....get help
To the friends of Zena, NEVER CLICK ON HIS NAME, IGNORE IGNORE
I hope this is an end to the killing,I really do.
TO Merkova,
first: do not lie, you pay NO Tax
second: take some english lessons if you have any money
third: you are one sick bastard
"Merkova" You are strange and considerably f**ed up in your head. You are mean as hell and have no conscience whatsoever. You are as stupid as you are evil. Sadism is your cup of tea.
You are one sick bastard.
Marwan Abado is a Palestinian singer, composer and oud player. (The oud is an oriental, short-necked lute.)
you can listen to his music here or click on the link above
http://www.marwan-abado.net/
I wish I could understand what Marwan Abado is singing,
I understand that the title is
" Son of the South "
I found him on this other blog (http://meiroun.blogspot.com/)where "Merkova" also visits and writes same nasty note,
To Merkova, don't believe everything you're told. Have you never heard of 'false flag' attacks, where the state perpetrates an attack and then blames it on an enemy for strategic purposes? It's one of the oldest tricks in the book.
There are big holes in much the evidence against the Muslims you think are so against the West, and recently an intelligence agent was outed in Canada for trying to incite a group of Muslims into terrorist activity. They realised what was going on and outed him; the agent finally admitted he was workign for Canadian Intelligence. This is just one occasion where the truth came out, but how much more of it is going on?
Everything isn't always what it seems - do a bit more thinking and a little less reacting and you might be able to start understanding something.
I agree with Sarah,
Look up under google video files you will see some chilling facts about 911
I usually don’t sit in front of my computer screen crying, but these past weeks this has happened to me many times – out of despair, seeing and reading about all the violence and suffering, and also out of love, because there are voices that go beyond and touch our hearts. You are definitely one of them and I wish to say “Thank you. Thank you so much.” There is definitely hope for humanity as long as there are people like you! Yes, we can do that: rise above hate and move forward.
You are so right: “…life is so so precious …”
to those who are responding to Merkova ... by responding to his rants you give him reason to respond. i know it is hard to ignore people with such narrow minds but when we do they generally go away. remember that this trait is usually inherited fron their young enviroment. it is also from a lack of intelligence, education or self education. we see it in the way he attempts to articulate himself.
Zena,
Peace should start soon and we all pray for you all.
Greg
love will win.. god bless u... LOVE LIFE
Dear, dear Zena!!
I thank you so much for being a voice for peace and understanding, against hate and war! Your words make me feel as if you are speaking right out of my heart! You are a wonderful person! Please let us, that is me, my family and friends, know how we can support you to rebuild your wonderful country!
I believe that it is everyones responsibility to fight a peaceful fight for getting also peaceful political leaders. So let's try together, everyone in his/her home country that war is not to happen again!
Greetings from
a non arabic European who doesn't hate muslims, jews or anyone else!
Merkova I am afraid cannot be ignored. He
rains on the Mother Earth Parade with his
addiction to war, the promise to be back. It
is easy to dismiss him as uneducated but we
do so at our own peril. The intellectual class
and supine media and political elite and so-called
international community have showed about as
much sensitivity in deed if not in crude rhetoric
to Merkova. Peace lovers must understand what
they are up against. the moral/intellectual whoredom of an era. He is our civilizational burden.
can we humanize him?
beautiful post!! I feel the same...
I agree with not being able to ignore merkova.
as an american, I can not sit quiet and let this closed minded,
uneducated puppet who listens to everything he hears on fox news as "the truth" speak for me!
I would like to say that, as an american, zena, I am embarrased to say that yes, there are some of us who are walking puppets such as merkova, but please believe that the most of us, can think for ourselves and make our own conclusions. I believe that the world will be a better place and that the peace loving people will overcome and there will be no more violence when people like "merkova" start thinking for themselves and stop the hatred.
we are all humans first!
peace and love will rule!!
Dear Zena and friends of blog,
I read and see that you are an artist and not a politician.
Just to remind you that you are dealing with very conning enemy.
Under no condition give your address or friends even to those who offer help (sending this and that). There are plenty of charity organizations.
I wonder how Israel is finding the targets and has been pounding Beirut today (worst than ever), does not want to waste a minute to cause as muck harm as possible. They want to paralyze your for a long time. Please be careful
dearest russian jew merkova
beware when you write next time ill be waiting your log and pray i do not access your line cauz youll regret it for long time
Hey Zena,
This is good news! I truly hope that this will put an end to the senseless destruction of your country and people. I hope that they get those UN troops in place quickly and effectively. I'm so happy that something is finally being done to help your people. It's about time.
To nm..."feeding the troll"...love that! Without feeding the troll, I must just say this...Not everyone here in the US supports Israel %110. In fact some of us do not support them at all and as a taxpayer...I have no desire to supply them with amunitions and am sick about the fact that we gave them any to begin with. No troll food just facts.
Again Zena I am so happy that this is almost over. It's nice to read your happy words. Continue to keep yourselves safe until this stops for good. Still thinking about you!!
Peace
Keri
search guantanamo under video by google and see some interesting ...
I am watiching a chilling documentary on swedish TV on Guantanamo and will let you know if I find more details where to watch it. Bush Rumsfeld condi rice need to come to justice
this so called "Merkova" and sometimes anonymous who goes around in the web and posts the same offensive lies, you see in this other blog:
http://meiroun.blogspot.com/
2006/07/qana.html
Please do not dignify him with an answer and he will get lost
-------------------------------
and to "Merkova": write your link/blog/site and I for sure have a lot of questions for you, I have told you this before and if you want some free lessons write your email
I am an Lebanese-American and can tell you most definitely that the US does NOT support Israel 110% like the idiot above stated. With Bush approval ratings at about 30% and falling daily you can bet that the majority of the US is not in support of Israel!
We love you and we think of you
Well said, Zena. I wish that other people could face tragedy more like you (and less like President Bush has since 9/11). I hope that when we feel the reverberations of this atrocity here in the U.S., I can do my part to break the cycle of hate, the way you are now.
From Ohio, I wish you the best, and apologize for the cruelty and indifference of my country's politicians and their misguided followers.
we were counting the hours to the cease fire....
Thank god for this ceasefire - and lets hope and pray that it lasts. My mum, a Jewish refugee from Vienna,went to an anti-war meeting last night in London; she sat in a row with a laspsed Muslim, an imam, several women wearing the hijab, a few other Muslim women in high heels and half a dozen anti-war orthodox Jewish rabbis.
Lasting peace will come one day to your beleagured region, of that I have no doubt.
And all power to your for your loving attitide throughout these terrible last few weeks! Please stay safe.
You are a beautiful human being, so hopeful and resiliant and on the side of love, not hate, despite the horrific attacks on your people, society, environment. I wish all of Lebanon the same strength and beauty of heart that you show. With love from New Zealand.
Dear Zena.
I´m happy for you and your country. I hope the ceasefire will last and that you´ll be able to rebuild your lives soon!!
Zena,
A journalist from Cyprus wants to publish your letters. She found me from a mailing list last day. I transleted your last e-mail into Turkish and sent some of mailing lists.
I said: Many international newspapers published Zena's letter, In my opinion it will be not a problem for Zena.
I hope it will not. Your letters will be in "Africa" (a magazine) and a newspaper from Cyprus.
Ezgi
İstabul/Turkiye
Dear Zena,
I admire such thoughts given the situation u r in! I cannot even try to imagine what u and so many others around the world go through in a war...may God keep you and all your loved ones safe! Whenever you are tempted by hate, remember that first kiss...
Lots of Love from Porto, Portugal
I am an elderly man. I am a German.
I know what you are talking about.
I “overlived” the end of the II. WW and the total destruction of the city of Berlin as a 6 year old child. Terrible pictures are engraved in my brain and still haunt me some nights. The 2 year old daughter of my sister died in the winter of 1944/45 because there was no medicine to treat her diphtheria on their flight from the Russian soldiers, my brother in law, much older than I, was killed two days later.
All that horror happened because the German people accepted the devil in their midth. His name was Hitler! And his troops were called SA and SS. Most of the German people were afraid and looked away from the terror and the horrible Holocaust these mass murders brought over the world. But also many Germans hailed Hitler. And 1945 the allies made an end to the Nazis, with millions of German men, women and children dead.
But I don’t hate. I did not hate as a child, half starved to death, nor as a man.
Do You want to know why?
Because my parents did not teach me to hate and take revenge!
As a young man I asked my father: What did you do against that terror? Always came the same stereotype answer: What could we few people do……!
Now try to think without emotional stress!
Would Israel bomb the Lebanon if there was no Hisbolla in the Lebanon?
How comes that the Hisbolla is withstanding the Troops from Israel for so long with so heavy weapons?
How could they bring them into the Lebanon?
Did the Lebanon people not see the danger?
I ask you the same question I asked my father: What did you do against the Hisbolla, their camps, their weapons?
What did your government do?
Or does the Lebanon stand behind the Hisbolla?
I don’t know! Can you tell me? Or are you afraid to talk about it?
I don’t approve of the bombing of the Lebanon by Israel neither do I approve of the rocket attacks by the Hisbolla. The victims are mostly innocent people!
By the way,I honestly declare, that I never compare the Hisbolla with the Nazis! But the way it began in the Lebanon reminds me of Germany.
And if someone now wants to drain a bucket of hate over me. Go ahead ! He who hates will always loose.
I wish you and your family all the luck in the world.
Here in New Zealand and in Australia, the only media coverage of the Lebanon attacks are those re-published from US news services. The Lebanon blog sites are the only way we here can get a try picture of life in Lebanon. Based on New Zealands one sided news coverage, a group of New Zealand web designers have developed a website that will allow victims of Israeli aggression to post a marker on a Lebanon satellite map describing what has happened. www.mmsEyewitness.com/input.php We hope it will help show the world the personal perspective of this tragedy.
Dear Zena,
Take care and take some time to just breathe. I wish you the best, and may peace be with you.
Fiona
P.S.: I agree with the others, Merkova is just a lonely troll whose only means of getting attention is to cause mayhem. The more you listen to it, the more you feed it's need.
Your comment was very heartfelt and meaningful. Your years and experience have given you much wisdom. I am not an Arab. I am not a Jew. I am not Muslim. I do not support Israel. I do not support Hezbollah. I am an American supporting the peaceful residents of both countries. I know your history is long with many reasons for hatred. The unfair decisions made by other countries have torn your lands apart. The bell can not be unrung.
Please stop the killing, violence and hatred. You are only destroying yourselves.
Zena, I am glad the bombing has stopped and the countries can start putting themselves back together again.
Most importantly (to me) I wish the best for the trees, farmlands and ocean lives that have been so totally abused during this fiasco. If I had the price of a ticket I would go over there to plant trees and clean up beaches myself. As it is I will make what donations I can and hope for the best.
People do of course enter into the picture as well and I wish you and yours, Lebanon, Israel and Palestine the best of luck as well.
Zena,
It's Rashi Khilnani -- we went to AIS together -- I'm a journalist in London. Please get in touch with me by e-mail. Mine is rashi.khilnani@mail.mcgill.ca
dear German elderly man,
(from a young Israely woman)
thank you for your words, it is wise and learning to read.
i am sorry too many Israelies support the acts against Lebanon. we will all suffer from it in the future, as we pick the fruits of the hatered we so spontaniously put in the ground.
i am under the impresion that Germany in general has learned its lesson and is trying to make up for the tragedies it coused in history, however impossible to forgive, it is the neccesary act of a country- to make a heart search, if it wants a future for its children.
unfortunatly, i am sceptic if Israel would ever be grown up enough to make a heart search and try to make up for the crimes it did and is still busy doing to the palestinian people and, to the people of Lebanon.
it is only comparable in that the country is violent and opresive to other peoples, not in other ways.
in hope for a long lasting peace.
naomi
check this out the latest research
from a US journalist Seymour Hersh....
how painful to read about the refugees comming back to there homes, if there are any....
Olmert and his gang should be put in front of an int. war tribunal
now, when the fighting is over, it would be a good time to see from all the supporters around the world, who would actually do something and come to Lebanon to help with the rehabilitation of the country.
Or where there just words, not real acts?
Dear Zena,
I hope that you are ok. We haven't heard from you for a few days.
Love,
Arlene
Dear Zena
I hope you and your family and beloved ones are safe, I would like to share with you these rules
Rules of the Western Media in
dealing with the Middle East :
Rule 1: In the Middle East, it is always
the Arabs that attack first, and it's always
Israel who defends itself. This is called
"retaliation".
Rule 2: The Arabs, whether Palestinians
or Lebanese, are not allowed to kill
Israelis. This is called "terrorism".
Rule 3: Israel has the right to kill Arab
civilians; this is called "self-defense", or
these days "collateral damage".
Rule 4: When Israel kills too many civilians.
The Western world calls for restraint. This is
called the "reaction of the international
community".
Rule 5: Palestinians and Lebanese do not
have the right to capture Israeli military,
not even a limited number, not even 1 or 2.
Rule 6: Israel has the right to capture as
many Palestinians as they want (Palestinians:
around 10000 to date, 300 of which are
children, Lebanese: 1000s to date, being held
without trial). There is no limit; there is no
need for proof of guilt or trial. All that is
needed is the magic word: "terrorism"
Rule 7: When you say "Hezbollah", always
be sure to add "supported by Syria and Iran"
Rule 8: When you say "Israel", never say
"supported by the USA, the UK and other
European countries", for people (God
forbid) might believe this is not an equal
conflict.
Rule 9: When it comes to Israel, don't
mention the words "occupied territories",
"UN resolutions", "Geneva conventions".
This could distress the audience of Fox.
Rule 10: Israelis speak better English than
Arabs. This is why we let them speak out
as much as possible, so that they can explain
rules 1 through 9. This is called "neutral
journalism".
Rule 11: If you don't agree with these rules
or if you favor the Arab side over the Israeli
side, you must be a very dangerous
anti-Semite. You may even have to make a
public apology if you express your honest
opinion (isn't democracy wonderful ?).
Source : http://fr.groups.yahoo.com/group/assawra
That’s it, very good! Keep the fire going. Keep the hate going. Show us who are the aggressors in this conflict. Show us how the Lebanon people have “kind, peace loving soul”.
It's time to open your eyes
By Riad Ali
In February 2005, former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri was assassinated. He was among the leading opponents of Syria and its tentacles in Lebanon, including Hezbollah. Hariri was a multimillionaire and served as prime minister for many years. Unlike any other Arab or Muslim leader, Hariri offered his fellow Lebanese a secular alternative. Under his baton, a different Lebanon arose among the ruins that were left behind by the civil war and the war with Israel. A different, colorful, vibrant, ambitious and politically and culturally pluralistic Lebanon was resurrected. A Lebanon whose daughters could paddle in bathing suits at Beirut's beaches. A Lebanon where the media spoke openly about corruption, incest and homosexuality. A Lebanon that encouraged open creativity, self-criticism and freedom of thought and expression.
And then came the assassination, which more than murdering an individual wanted to slay the alternative he had offered to his people. The assassination, to the grief and dismay of the assassins, brought hundreds of thousands of Lebanese hungry for life into the streets, and at the end of the day, they expelled the Syrian army from their country.
I know that many people in the Arab and Muslim world, including Arab citizens of Israel, believe with every fiber of their being in the conspiracy theory. According to them, the hand of Israel and the West is everywhere. Israel is the mother of all evil and the root of all the problems in our region. I am not among those who say that Israel and the West are as pure as the driven snow, but I ask "the blind by choice" in the Muslim world: Who had an interest in destroying Hariri's vision? Who was threatened by the rays of light that came from Lebanon? Who did not want Lebanon to be an oasis in the heart of the dictatorships, most of which had begun to be moldy and malodorous? Israel, the United States, France, Britain? Or rather Syria, Iran and Hezbollah?
It takes intellectual and moral courage to point to the thick line connecting the assassination of Hariri to the war in southern Lebanon. I know that the fact of the word "Israel" is enough to cloud the analytical abilities of many in the Arab and Muslim world. To them, I suggest trying to take the Israeli factor out of the arena and examining the situation in Lebanon on the eve of Hariri's assassination.
A vehement debate was going on at the time in the country between Syria's opponents and supporters. It was clear as day to many Lebanese that after Israel's withdrawal from the south in May 2000 - apart from the Shaba Farms, assuming they do belong to Lebanon - the time had come to eject the Syrian occupier from there. Yes, it is necessary to call a spade a spade: "the Syrian occupier." Hariri's assassination engendered the expulsion of the Syrian army from Lebanon, but not Syrian influence. Within this puzzle, Hezbollah supported Syria and "the covenant of February 14, 2005," and Hariri's supporters demanded the dismissal of President Emile Lahoud, a supporter of Syria, and the disarming of the Hezbollah. They wanted to continue on Hariri's secular path and build a Lebanon free of foreign influence, a Lebanon in which there is freedom of religion but which is free of the cult of religion and parochialism. In short, a democratic, liberal and enlightened Lebanon.
In the eyes of "the blind by choice," Israel is always to blame. If they were to open their eyes for just a moment, they would discover that in the eyes of Iran, Syria and Hezbollah, the democracy that Hariri proposed is the mother of all evil, and not Israel. As far as they are concerned, it is better that Lebanon be bombarded with thousands of smart bombs rather than be bombed by one smart bomb of democracy. It does not take especially sensitive eyes and ears to determine that the first bullet that was fired in this war was fired on February 14, 2005, the day of Hariri's assassination.
The time has come to admit that the mother of all ills in the Arab world is the absence of a secular alternative that has the power to offer people a different way of thinking. An option that is an alternative to the one offered by political Islam. It is not the Israeli occupation that needs to be ended, but rather the fanatic religious occupation of the Arab-Muslim intellect, which is blocking the masses from the pleasure of thinking.
This is an occupation that makes astonishingly effective use of the term "Israel" as a wonder nostrum to neutralize the capacity for critical vision among the many who have frozen the clock of history at the picture of Kfar Kana, and pointed without thinking in the direction of Israel. The cancerous tumor from which the Islamic world is suffering must be initially sought in the bunkers of Al Qaeda and Hezbollah, and not in the maw of the cannon on the Israeli tank. And no - I'm still not saying that Israel is as pure as the driven snow.
In one of his brilliant comments, Ra'am-Ta'al MK Ahmed Tibi said that Israel is a country that is "democratic for its Jews and Jewish for it Arabs." You know what? My life's dream is to see one Arab country that is at least "democratic for its Muslims, and Muslim toward its minorities." Amen.
Dear Zena..
I hope you are ok!!
all possible love
amina, Norway
it would be very good if those who prefer a nationalistic aproach analysis to inform themselves about the importance of the "gay" sub-culture in the nazi germany, in the academic circles ... among artists, pop-culture ... and try to see events from a different view - but, this is also so much known to those who really want to help the world not to would go completely astray, that an abusive victimization isn't to ignore - let's see through "reasons" and "causes" of a politicl crisis - anyone!!
gay and techno (xtc) culture didn't undermine merely Lebanon, but introduced the circumstances to the ME .. interesting: Israel and Lebanon combating!! one could have laughed about it as well .. beside! who doesn't s\recognize a population issue in the whole situation!? who these days except in USA and the least advanced society families have more than 3 children??! only those who cannot count obviosly, thus the enemies of the Arab culture: CONSERVATIVES NO MATTER IF CHRISTIAN OR MUSLIM OR ... ARE GUILTY, but just due to a discrmininating permisiveness when constructing political attitudes - in this case, gay culture stands too much on the other side of a possible radical criticism, which suits only to a a facistic ideology!! Hariri made himslef an easy target like this - a stupid budgeter.
I have just discovered your blog and find it great. Bravo!
http://an-owl-in-beirut.blogspot.com/
I hope you're okay .... I was wondering, would you consider using comment moderation and only releasing those comments that work within the framework of the aims and beliefs of you and your blog.
It sickens me to come here and read what those who have no idea of what it is to be a normal everyday citizen caught up in a war of egos and countries ...
I moderate on my site and it works superbly. You forget the hatred they spew as soon as they are deleted ... it's refreshing.
Stay strong.
Re: "I moderate on my site and it works superbly. You forget the hatred they spew as soon as they are deleted ... it's refreshing."
What a fine example of tolerance, open mind to the other and a fair balanced dialog.
when ever someone is not like you, delete it.
So much like Hassan Nasrallah’s speech.
Dear Zena,
You wrote a beautiful post about love, not hatred. I appreciated every word.
XOX
The troll is giving Israel a horrendous name -- I wonder if he/she (It's a feminine Russian name) realizes this? Foisted by his/her own petard, no?
Zena, where are you? Please post something...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
something was wroing with blogger...
As we felt your afraids, freads and dissapointmens this last weeks, we feel your happiness now.
We hope you r ok!!!
DEAR ZENA! WE ARE WITH YOU and YOUR PEOPLE!
"No God But ALLAH"
Zena, Where are you? Are you Okay? Whats going on over there?
Zena,
after several days without any new blog of yours I feel somewhat concerned about you!
Please, leave to all of your friends a few lines showing that you are okay and safe.
Best wishes!
i have strange mixed feelings as well, but a message was deleted by the "author", so, somebody moderates the blog, yet i would find it fair if people's request is responded .. Zena, people love you and we also know that there were sunday bombings at the southern Beirut heavier then ever ...
I believe the person who writes the comment is the "author", not Zena. Also believe that it would be good for Zena to moderate. Zena is writing as a peaceful citizen of Beirut, not a politician, and has asked that the comments not be political. Zena, please let us hear from you. We are so worried. Peace!
Hello Zena,
I am a Belgian cartoonist and journalist.
I draw a lot these days in favour of your country and to criticize the military policy of Israel. If you want to use some of my cartoons, feel free to copy/paste from my Blog. I would be honoured. You might need to have a look in the last month archive...
Your Blog is great, thank you.
Cheers.Ben
PS : Another great Lebanese Blog : www.colddesert.blogspot.com
Zena, I'm not sure if you can even read all of these, but I am about to finish up 2 and a half years of service in the Peace Corps in March and I was wondering if you are connected to any agency or organization that sponsors volunteers to help with aid, reconstruction, cleanup. I would love to come and help out in any way I can when I get done here. You can email me at ericd.lin@gmail.com, and I'll gove you a better email address to use, I hate posting my email publicly. If you know of anything that'd be great. If not I will keep trying to go some other way. Thanks. Eric
if a person doesn't accept every chance to have fought for peace, the peace might be not deserved or earned ... crying and shouting don't help, and also many peace activists don't know more than to just confort children / do you imagine that Greenpeace, the organization connected to this bloog indirectly, doesn't wash the dirty laundry, but also create some of their own? please, stop being naive, we are grwon ups and try to learn what "politics" in fact is .. maybe, you are an outsider, it doesn't appear as Zena would be and be linked to these.
good mornig, citiznes of Earth!
I am glad to see that the cease fire is holding, and hope your region is able to find peace.
Zena
I respect your silence. Hope that you have started to get out and about. I wish you many beautiful paintings. I wish you a wonderfull life full of nice promises.
Hope your love for peace will bring you back always hope and love.
MERKOVA,
you are one sick bastard,
you are the lowest of the low
there is no word to describe you
you are so sick that I see no hope for you
FO
Be It Resolved: You Can Impeach the President
Official State Impeachment Text
Impeachment Text for Cities & Towns
Impeachment Text for County Democratic Committees
Impeachment Text for State Assemblies and/or Legislatures
Jefferson's Manual, Section LIII, 603
You Can Impeach the President
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OFFICIAL IMPEACHMENT TEXT
WHEREAS, Jefferson's Manual section LIII, 603, states that impeachment may be set in motion by charges transmitted from the legislature of a State; and
WHEREAS, George W. Bush has intentionally misled the Congress and the public regarding the threat from Iraq in order to justify a war against Iraq, in violation of Title 18 United States Code, Section 1001 and intentionally conspired with others to defraud the United States in connection with the war against Iraq in violation of Title 18 United States Code, Section 371; and
WHEREAS, George W. Bush has admitted to ordering the National Security Agency to conduct electronic surveillance of American civilians without seeking warrants from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review, duly constituted by Congress in 1978, in violation of Title 50 United States Code, Section 1805; and
WHEREAS, George W. Bush has conspired to commit the torture of prisoners in violation of the UN Torture Convention and the Geneva Convention, which under Article VI of the Constitution are part of the "supreme Law of the Land"; and
WHEREAS, George W. Bush has acted to strip Americans of their constitutional rights by ordering indefinite detention of citizens, without access to legal counsel, without charge and without opportunity to appear before a civil judicial officer to challenge the detention, based solely on the discretionary designation by the President of a U.S. citizen as an "enemy combatant", all in subversion of law; and
WHEREAS, In all of this George W. Bush has acted in a manner contrary to his trust as President, subversive of constitutional government to the great prejudice of the cause of law and justice, and to the manifest injury of the people of the State of ___________ and of the United States.
Be it resolved that George W. Bush, by such conduct, warrants impeachment and trial, and removal from office and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust or profit under the United States.
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1) This ending is for use by Cities and Towns.
WHEREAS, it is the uniform practice of the US House of Representative to receive petitions or resolutions from primary assemblies of the people;
Be it resolved that George W. Bush and Richard Cheney, by such conduct, warrant impeachment and trial, and removal from office and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust or profit under the United States;
Be it resolved further by the City of _________ , That our senators and representatives in the United States Congress be, and they are hereby, requested to cause to be instituted in the Congress of the United States proper proceedings for the investigation of the activities of the President George W. Bush, to the end that he may be impeached and removed from such office.
Be it resolved further, That the Clerk of the City of _________ be, and is hereby, instructed to certify to the Clerk of the House of Representatives, under the seal of the City of _____________, a copy of this resolution and its adoption by the City of _________, and that this resolution be entered in the United States Congressional Journal. The copies shall be marked with the word "Petition" at the top of the document and contain the authorizing signature of the _________.
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2) This ending is for use by County Democratic Committees.
WHEREAS, Jefferson's Manual section LIII, 603, states that impeachment may be set in motion by charges transmitted from the legislature of a State;
Be it resolved that George W. Bush and Richard Cheney, by such conduct, warrant impeachment and trial, and removal from office and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust or profit under the United States;
Be it resolved further that the _______ County Democratic Committee requests that the State Legislature submit these charges to the U.S. House of Representatives under Jefferson's Manual section LIII, 603 as grounds for impeachment.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3) This ending is for use by State Legislatures. Please make appropriate changes for your state, which may have an Assembly instead of a House of Representatives.
WHEREAS, Jefferson's Manual section LIII, 603, states that impeachment may be set in motion by charges transmitted from the legislature of a State;
Be it resolved that George W. Bush and Richard Cheney, by such conduct, warrant impeachment and trial, and removal from office and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust or profit under the United States;
Be it resolved further by the House of Representatives of the State of _________ (the senate concurring), That our senators and representatives in the United States Congress be, and they are hereby, requested to cause to be instituted in the Congress of the United States proper proceedings for the investigation of the activities of the President George W. Bush and Richard Cheney, to the end that they may be impeached and removed from such office.
Be it resolved further, That the Secretary of State of the State of ________ be, and is hereby, instructed to certify to each Senator and Representative in the Congress of the United States, and the Clerk of the House of Representatives, under the great seal of the State of _____________, a copy of this resolution and its unanimous adoption by the legislature of the State of _____________, and that this resolution be entered in the United States Congressional Journal. The copies shall be marked with the word "Petition" at the top of the document and contain the authorizing signature of the Secretary of State.
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You Can Impeach the President
By Dan DeWalt
In mid January of this year, in a moment of quixotic zeal, I wrote a five point resolution calling for the impeachment of G W Bush. With 5% of the towns registered voters signing on, it went to the selectboard and was included in the warning for Newfane Town Meeting on March 7.
By the end of Town Meeting day, five towns across Vermont had overwhelmingly adopted this resolution. My phone started ringing within an hour or two, and a day and a half later, I had given more than 30 interviews to media outlets, from FOX and CNN radio to several Boston and local Vermont radio stations, from a Massachusetts ABC-affiliate to Bloomberg News, the Washington Times (snake in the grass), Boston Globe and Reuters.
I soon found out that Vermonters had already been hard at work drafting the “Rutland Resolution," which is an impeachment resolution to be passed by the state legislature, and forces the federal House of Representatives to forward it to the Judiciary Committee. We are continuing our efforts and are making headway, with over half of the state's Democratic County Committees passing it. The state Democratic Committee will be considering this on April 10. Several legislators have expressed a willingness to go along, if not to lead.
I also discovered that all across the country, this call for accountability is being received with welcome and relief. People who have identified themselves as Republicans, evangelicals, many veterans, many elder Americans, contacted me or Newfane to say that they are supporting us and appreciate our speaking out.
Those who support this effort can bring it to their home towns. Whether you have Town Meeting, town council, county supervisors, or any other local political structure, you can petition them to adopt a resolution. Gathering signatures to persuade them may be easier than you would imagine. Support for this president’s actions is very thin. As more revelations dribble out from the mainstream press, more Americans are willing to reconsider their willingness to be unquestionably led by this malignant administration.
Already efforts are underway in California, Hawaii, Indiana, Arizona, Utah, as well as more in VT, just to name some locations where initiatives have sprung up in response to our Town Meeting actions.
If you want to read a concise primer on how to take on an initiative in your town, go here
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/3/29/193445/904
Dan DeWalt is a woodworker and selectboard member in the town of Newfane, Vermont, and the author of a successful town resolution calling for the impeachment of President Bush.
Where are you? Its been a week....are you safe?
Zena, are you OK?
Merkova
How about joining us, the Peacekeeping Forces in the South? We are really tough guys. You'd enjoy our company, Pussycat. We have many things to teach you to be even tougher than you are now. Raring to meet you in person. You'd dig it the most, Honeypie.
a distant friend of yours, you stupid s........t.
you, soldier, behave yourself as you are a part of UN peace forces accordingly with all conventions that obligate you excluding personal emotional affections otherwise you may happen to be expelled from UN forces.
people have difficulties with reality, yes. merkova is sur-realistic, if anybody minds to use the artistic identification. by the nature of all crafts used in a war any war is always sur-realistic. the sur-realistic art has been hardly comprehended, but Zena is though an artist.? i presume Merkova as well.
yet, regarding Zena, i think she has many friends and fmily, who could have acknowledged the audience affected by the silence of hers.
what is fair, must be fair. there is that called professional and academic ethics existing that presumes public faces to behave adequately.
every fame survives merely with the supporters.
"No God But ALLAH"
oh, yes, let's not exclude the religious ethics, but Allah is definitely not submitted to the mankind pursuing the mercy, generousity, wealth, health ... of thy
how could, how might?
Allah-u-Akhbar
Zena, I'm getting worried too. Are you okay? Please post as soon as you get the chance.
Zena, I'm getting worried too. Are you okay? Please post as soon as you get the chance.
Good Morning Zena
My Family prayers are with and yours.
And to your country. I posted on the others in the begining.
There is a slight upbeat in your writting and it sets my mind at ease. We live in Upstate, as I wrote before.No matter what you hear there 100's of 1000's of good people in this country who care. And its sad the people who really care have no way to let people know, except threw this blog.
Your blog has helped everyone voice how they feel.Kind regards to you and your family and everyone else in your country
.Stay in touch with all of us please.
Sincerely
Chris Hemmer Upstate New York
Dear Zena,
I don't know how to start...
Thank god, the war is now over. Let me tell you I kept being with you lebaneese people all the time. In fact, I had to leave Lebanon on july 21st...I arrived in France the 23th...but today, my heart is still in Lebanon were I was for some kind of summer camp with caritas france and lebanon.
When I came back to France, some anonymous (of course...) people sent me letters of insukt because I support Lebanon and that I was interviewed in a newspaper where I said I was devastated to have left my Lebabeese friends, and because of the situation...
I know these people are sad people because they will never know how extraordinary people you are and how strong you guys are.
Thank you Zena for this blog and receive all my love.
You are a small state but the greatest one in terms of strengh and love.
Liban je t'aime/Libanais je vous adore
Excuse my english but I didn't use my brain to write, I used my heart***SALAM
I just love this post. Thank you, Zena, you are a kindred spirit.
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