I feel like just another passive observer when it comes to the problems Lebanon is facing today, and I think a lot of Arabs are feeling that way. The region’s conflict portfolio has grown tremendously in the past few years. In fact, it’s hard to believe that three, yes three whole years have passed since Hariri was assassinated, and Hizballah commander, Imad Mughniyeh’s recent assassination seems to be very timely. But I won’t spin conspiracy theories. Suffice to say, ever since that fateful day three years ago, the pieces have been positioned in a way that has pushed, encouraged and fanned the flames of an internal Lebanese crisis and it’s interesting to see the extent to which foreign powers value the internal issues of the small country. Even in Jordan, there don’t seem to be many people who don’t predict another civil war, God forbid. It’s a situation that has caused even Arabs not involved directly in the conflict to take sides, and form camps: pro and anti-Hizballah. The situation in Lebanon only exemplifies my feeling about the region, and how just when you think things can’t get worse, the universe finds a way.
So on this day, of all days, I offer simply a prayer to our Lebanese brothers in hopes that God can guide them through these dark times before all the lights go out.
It seems you are the only one who offered what Lebanon needs the most today: A Prayer…
I got really nervous reading around the news and some blogs and all we really need is a simple prayer..
Thank you 🙂
sigh…Might as well pray. It seems there is little else that can be done.
Its seems that the only POV that would unite Lebanese about putting Mughni down is the belief –despite all the more likely suspects e.g. Iran, Syria, Hariri supporters, Al-Qaeda, and Hezbollah itself– that it was Israel who killed him.
In a rational world, Lebanese would be fighting for the honor of having taken out this beast who made the word “Lebanon” a synonym for “abduction” and “carbomb” in the 1980s and who has been busily doing the same for the word “Muslim” ever since. He (and his Party of God) are the murderers of peacekeepers and NGO workers and a whole host of other innocents who intended nothing but good for the Lebanonese people.
I shall pray for God to peform a rationality transplant on the Lebanese people.
It’s a situation that has caused even Arabs not involved directly in the conflict to take sides, and form camps: pro and anti-Hizballah.
To most of the world, that statement reads “pro and anti-murder”.
I guess when Muslims no longer have these internal debates on whether or not they support terrorism, the war on terror will be over.
To most of the world, that statement reads “pro and anti-murderâ€.
maybe. but even if that’s right, that isn’t necessarily what arabs mean when they engage in the debate.
after all, to a lot of people in the world the debate between people who are pro- or anti-iraq war in the u.s. is a debate between people who are pro- or anti-murder. does that mean everyone who is for the war is a killer? i don’t think it’s fair to say that.
you can’t really evaluate someone’s beliefs unless you have some inkling of what they actually mean.
“To most of the world, that statement reads “pro and anti-murder—
Oversimplifying and deamonizing, typical American style!
This is only because the US has assumed the monopoly of defining who is a murderer and who is a hero, and Hizballah, as a very successful resistance movement against Israeli crimes in Lebanon, conflicts with American interests.
Well, my profanity got caught in the moderation filter so I’ll try again.
Oversimplifying and deamonizing, typical American style!
I had no idea that only Americans understood what the word “murder” means. If it’s true that Islam doens’t recognize the concept of “murder”, then Islam is nothing more than a death cult. And if teh problem is Arabs and not Islam, then the world needs to band together and put a boot on the neck of Arabs until they become civilized enough to co-exist peacefully with the rest of the world.
This is only because the US has assumed the monopoly of defining who is a murderer and who is a hero, and Hizballah, as a very successful resistance movement
There is no cultural or religious context for politically motivated mass murder of the innocent. Making that argument is, in itself, offensive. Hezbollah is not a “resistance” movement. It is a TERRORIST GROUP. This is nothing to do with the US and Israel, or with anyone else. Arabs and Iranians created that monster, and if you don’t destroy it, we will.
I find it difficult to believe there is a decent human being on this earth who would characterize Hezbollah’s activities of the last 25 years as “resistance”.
Mohammad, by the way can you give me the verse in the Quran where it says it is OK for Islamists to murder the innocent?
upyernoz,
after all, to a lot of people in the world the debate between people who are pro- or anti-iraq war in the u.s. is a debate between people who are pro- or anti-murder.
A lot of people in the world are mentally handicapped?
Maybe Muslims would understand terrorism better if Westerners started kidnapping and murdering Muslims, just for being Muslim. Started hijacking planes and killing the Muslim passengers, just for being Muslim. Started bombing Mosques, just to kill Muslims. Started bombing Islamic schools, just to kill Muslims. Is that really what it would take, before Muslims understand what the words “terrorism” and “murder” mean?
Do we have to do that to all Muslims? Or just Arabs? I’d include Iranians but Iranians seem hesitant to actually commit terrorist acts themselves… they seem to prefer finding Arab proxies to do their dirty work for them. Like, Hezbollah. And the Mahdi Army. Speaking of which, Iraqis seem to have a clear understanding or what terrorism and murder are, these days. Don’t they? And they aren’t pointing their fingers at the US and Israel. Are they?
wow craig, you really are filled with bile.
my point was simply that you don’t seem to have any clue why hezbollah’s supporters support hezbollah. so that means that when you talk about what they think, you come across as simple-minded and ignorant. just as someone who reduced anyone who was pro-iraq war into a heartless killer appears to you to be “mentally handicapped” that’s exactly how you’re presenting yourself here.
just to be clear, i do not support hezbollah. nor do i support the iraq war. but that doesn’t mean i don’t have a clue that not everyone thinks exactly like me, that people come to different conclusions because of their different life experiences and that calling other people stupid (or if you prefer “mentally handicapped”) is just another way of telling us all that you’re not following the argument anymore.
As long as there is Anglo Saxon and Zionist Occupation in Iraq and Palestine we will keep on resisting ,it’s the natural and the most civilised way to get ride of the foreign occupation.
Do people here believe the Mossad was the culprit?
If Israel was responsible for the death of Mughniyeh they would take credit. Don’t you think?
Obviously Hezbollah is not going to have any trouble convincing people Israel is the guilty party with no (or contradictory) evidence but I’m interested to hear what people are thinking.
zi
I apologize to readers of the blog that I even honored Craig’s comments with a response in the first place. A lesson to learn, arguing with people with so much hatred and prejudice does not help. They will always refuse to acknoledge the possibilty of a different perpective of things than theirs.
Mohammad,,,,you don’t have to apologize to anybody, Graig is well known for his childlish and rather racist comment on the blogosphere.
Wow! Every time I think I met the ultimate arrogant and self-absorbed racist Zionist, I find out that yet another one exists, with an obnoxious mentality that transcends any realm of comprehension.
Needless to say, ignorance might be the best approach.
A supporter of Resistance,
Diala
FYI: All things are subject to interpretation, and the degree in which one interpretation prevails over the other at a certain time is a function of POWER and not TRUTH (Nietzsche)… hence is the concept of the so-called “war on terror”…and civilization…
Upyernoz,
wow craig, you really are filled with bile.
For would be murderers? I have a lot more than bile for anyone who supports Hezbollah.
my point was simply that you don’t seem to have any clue why hezbollah’s supporters support hezbollah.
I don’t give a flying f#% why they support Hezbollah. I wouldn’t shed a tear if every supporter of Hezbollah on the planet stepped on a cluster bomb tonight. I seriously wouldn’t. That includes you, Diala. Die if you want to, just don’t take anyone else with you. Just put a gun to your head and pull the trigger already. Take yourself out of everyone else’s misery.
Mohammad,
A lesson to learn, arguing with people with so much hatred and prejudice does not help.
How much hatred do you have, that you support a terrorist group that has victimized thousands of Americans just because they were Americans? What is that, love and affection? BS. You can wander off someplace and die too. You aren’t worthy of continuing to live on this planet with civilized human beings.
They will always refuse to acknoledge the possibilty of a different perpective of things than theirs.
There is no other perspective, when it comes to murder. If you support the deliberate murder of innocents just because you think you will benefit form it, you’re an evil human being Mohammad. Period.
long live hezbollah 😀
Anyone got the Quranic verse for me that says it’s OK to murder innocents, by the way? I’d like to have that handy for future reference.
long live hezbollah 😀
All hail Napalm 😛
You better pray that the US never sends troops into Lebanon to root you rats out. We don’t play nice like the Israelis do.
اسمØولي اكتب بالعربي لانو بهل ايام ما عاد Øدا Ùهم على Øدا بالعربي Ùما بالكوم بالانكليزي؟بكل الاØوال لبنان الان ساØØ© صراع بين Ù…Øور اسرائيلي امريكي عربي (معتدل) وبين بعض الشرÙاء المناضلين يلي بيمثلوا اخر قلاع الكرامة العربية. لقد درجت ÙÙŠ الاونة الاخيرة مصطلØات مضØكة عن ثقاÙØ© Øياة مقابل ثقاÙØ© موت ÙˆØصلت Øادثة طريÙØ© عنها ÙÙŠ بيروت اذ وزع انصار الØريري الابن الا٠الاعلانات (المدÙوعة الاجر) ÙÙŠ كاÙØ© انØاء بيروت ومكتوب عليها (بدنا نعيش ) بخط أنيق وكبير Ùما كان من بعض الشباب إلا أن زادوا على كل لوØØ© كلمة واØدة بقلم التخطيط وهي كلمة ( بكرامة )!!! هذا هو الÙرق بين Øزب الله الشري٠الذي يطلب Øياة العز وبين من يريد Ùقط أن يعيش وهو شعار ظاهره منطقي وباطنه شرير خبيث
craig,
you want an example of bile, try this:
isn’t it funny how you slam me for allegedly having sympathy for “murderers” and then, in the very same comment proceed to threaten another commentator with murder?
i stand by my earlier comment. it seems to me that you’re either not interested or not capable of rational debate. reading your comments just makes you seem like a confused angry kid. take a deep breath, reread what i wrote, and then maybe we can have a coherent conversation.