When a friend told me past midnight to check the news about Paris, I had no idea that I would be looking at a map of a city I love, delineating locations undergoing terrorist attacks simultaneously. I zoomed in on that map closer; one of the locations was right to where I had stayed when I was there in 2013, down that same boulevard.
The more I read, the higher the number of fatalities went. It was horrible; it was dehumanizing; it was utterly and irrevocably hopeless: 2015 was ending the way it started – with terrorists attacks occuring in Lebanon and France almost at the same time, in the same context of demented creatures spreading hate and fear and death wherever they went.
I woke up this morning to two broken cities. My friends in Paris who only yesterday were asking what was happening in Beirut were now on the opposite side of the line. Both our capitals were broken and scarred, old news to us perhaps but foreign territory to them.
Today, 128 innocent civilians in Paris are no longer with us. Yesterday, 45 innocent civilians in Beirut were no longer with us. The death tolls keep rising, but we never seem to learn.
Amid the chaos and tragedy of it all, one nagging thought wouldn’t leave my head. It’s the same thought that echoes inside my skull at every single one of these events, which are becoming sadly very recurrent: we don’t really matter.
When my people were blown to pieces on the streets of Beirut on November 12th, the headlines read: explosion in Hezbollah stronghold, as if delineating the political background of a heavily urban area somehow placed the terrorism in context.
When my people died on the streets of Beirut on November 12th, world leaders did not rise in condemnation. There were no statements expressing sympathy with the Lebanese people. There was no global outrage that innocent people whose only fault was being somewhere at the wrong place and time should never have to go that way or that their families should never be broken that way or that someone’s sect or political background should never be a hyphen before feeling horrified at how their corpses burned on cement. Obama did not issue a statement about how their death was a crime against humanity; after all what is humanity but a subjective term delineating the worth of the human being meant by it?
What happened instead was an American senator wannabe proclaiming how happy he was that my people died, that my country’s capital was being shattered, that innocents were losing their lives and that the casualties included people of all kinds of kinds.
When my people died, no country bothered to lit up its landmarks in the colors of their flag. Even Facebook didn’t bother with making sure my people were marked safe, trivial as it may be. So here’s your Facebook safety check: we’ve, as of now, survived all of Beirut’s terrorist attacks.
When my people died, they did not send the world in mourning. Their death was but an irrelevant fleck along the international news cycle, something that happens in those parts of the world.
And you know what, I’m fine with all of it. Over the past year or so, I’ve come to terms with being one of those whose lives don’t matter. I’ve come to accept it and live with it.
Expect the next few days to exhibit yet another rise of Islamophobia around the world. Expect pieces about how extremism has no religion and about how the members of ISIS are not true Muslims, and they sure are not, because no person with any inkling of morality would do such things. ISIS plans for Islamophobic backlashes so it can use the backlash to point its hellish finger and tell any susceptible mind that listens: look, they hate you.
And few are those who are able to rise above.
Expect the next few days to have Europe try and cope with a growing popular backlash against the refugees flowing into its lands, pointing its fingers at them and accusing them of causing the night of November 13th in Paris. If only Europe knew, though, that the night of November 13 in Paris has been every single night of the life of those refugees for the past two years. But sleepless nights only matter when your country can get the whole world to light up in its flag color.
The more horrifying part of the reaction to the Paris terrorist attacks, however, is that some Arabs and Lebanese were more saddened by what was taking place there than what took place yesterday or the day before in their own backyards. Even among my people, there is a sense that we are not as important, that our lives are not as worthy and that, even as little as it may be, we do not deserve to have our dead collectively mourned and prayed for.
It makes sense, perhaps, in the grand sense of a Lebanese population that’s more likely to visit Paris than Dahyeh to care more about the former than about the latter, but many of the people I know who are utterly devastated by the Parisian mayhem couldn’t give a rat’s ass about what took place at a location 15 minutes away from where they lived, to people they probably encountered one day as they walked down familiar streets.
We can ask for the world to think Beirut is as important as Paris, or for Facebook to add a “safety check” button for us to use daily, or for people to care about us. But the truth of the matter is, we are a people that doesn’t care about itself to begin. We call it habituation, but it’s really not. We call it the new normal, but if this normality then let it go to hell.
In the world that doesn’t care about Arab lives, Arabs lead the front lines.
A Separate State of Mind | A Blog by Elie Fares 
Hi: I am from Taiwan. Actually, some of my friends notice the tragic bombing of your country. And we feel that the world’s media ignore your suffering. It must be hard to endure the feeling of being forsaken. But we notice it. One of my friends even changed his Facebook profile into your country’s flag to show his concerns for your suffering. You are not forgotten. Bless you.
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Believe me we in the UK know what you people have suffered. I don t blame you for being angry about certain factions im the West which are it seems only interested in oil and profit. We Know that and condemn the mindless barbarities that have been committed in our name. Let s try and resolve the issues peacefully whilst there is still time
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I’m sorry that this is commonplace in your country, and that good, innocent people die there. I cannot imagine what that must be like. However, that does not lesson the tragedy that occurred in Paris, where this is not commonplace. I’m sorry your people suffer. I’m sorry that countries like France, where the people are used to peace, were compassionate and opened up their borders to provide refuge for thousands, and put their own safety at risk by doing so. Just because your country knows no peace, does not mean that other countries are bad, or undeserving of the peace that they have fought to protect.
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Rich: I wantled to comment on what you wrote about there being a lack of respect. Mind you I am not commenting on the entire post that you wrote, but rather only on the places were you speak about people having respect towards one another. I would say that what you wrote was on track, except that you your self lack respect. Perhaps you should practice what you preach, if you expect others to value what your saying.
You say “there is a lack of empathy, no doubt on all sides. But more importantly, there is a lack of respect for fellow human beings”!!
You also stated ” can we perhaps aim for respect? Respect one man’s views without having them emposed on you. Respect a person because they are a human being”.
At the beginning of your post you showed Anna zero respect for her views, when she was sending her thoughts and prayers to these people. She wasn’t imposing her prayers on you, yet you took offense to her praying for these people.
I believe your words were ” Really,?? More religion…? …enough with the praying already. Nows not the time to pass platitudes in the name of any god. ( Btw: It’s God not god and there is only one true God!! No ma
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What’s your point after all? is this Michelle Obama pissing in her gold plated washroom?
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Which one true god are you defending right now? The one that makes you a second class citizen because of your sex at birth? The one who’s origins are thrice rehashed from ‘pagan’ religions of yore? The one that had his own son killed to send a message? …. There is no super powered being up there waiting for us to get our shit together. Get out of your own head and take a look around the ‘world’
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Bro every single life is important. In fact every strand of hair on our heads are counted by God. But the people in Middle East need to ask this important question – Why do you put up with such hypocroitic govts?. Why do you need anyone else to bring you democracy but the people of the respective countries and in this case, Lebanon themselves? If you answer that then you will know what is the difference between Paris and Beirut.. Are you people in Beirut prepared to rise up against your fellow Muslims who are misguided? You and for that matter me, don’t need people’s sympathies.and in particular the politicians of the US and others who have personal agendas. We need to first right the wrongs in our own countries and then we can stand up against the tyrants.
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I care about Lebanon and I care about you. My heart breaks that your country suffers so.
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I join my voice to yours; million thanks for your sympathy for mankind’s human cause.
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Well it’s a long and a sad story too but the west familiarises itself with victims from within it based on religious, cultural, and colour bases. It’s something that we all do… since you hardly see any westerner or a middle easterner shedding tears over black suffering in Africa. We learnt to draw borders to where our humanity and empathy stretches and here in Europe our sympathies don’t reach further beyond the Christian, white, and EU borders. Even more sickening is what you mentioned about the pigs who rejoice at violence in Lebanon because they’re zionists, in simpler terms extremist Jews or far right Christians (not generalising but it’s a visible trait). To add to this, there’s the element of, if it happens in the Middle East, it’s unlikely to happen here… whereas, when it hits home, it gets more attention and social media networks thrive in the light of such event as everyone joins the masquerade of Facebook/Twitter sympathy sharing, which is largely another attempt to bring about attention to oneself. It’s a world that’s struck by many illnesses and hypocrisy is just one of them. However, I understand from all of this is that sympathy and empathy towards Paris or Lebanon won’t bring back the dead or heal the injured, rather it will make the unharmed and irrelevant feel better… so it’s another form of self-centred view. My apologies if I sound harsh.
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I am from the United States, specifically Texas. It is not that Arab lives don’t matter to us, it is that our media did not even publicize the attacks in Lebanon. I did not use the facebook app to change my picture–there were too many deaths in too many countries for me to choose ONE flag. My prayers are with you, and we pray for your safety every day.
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Beautiful comment. Beautiful soul.
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I care that massive numbers of refugees, mostly men between 16-40, would flee leaving women, children, and the old behind rather than face the evil among them.
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According to my information for many are women and children then families. Please don’t spread the word unless you have the correct information.
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I care. I am of Indian origin. Brought up in Kuwait. And now loving in the UK. And I wanted you to know I care. I care that lives of your countrymen are lost…I mourn their deaths and stand with you in your loss.
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I was so sad when I heard of a terrorist attack in Beirut. I have dear friends there that I have known for 43 years, that I have welcomed in my home in the midst of the lebanese civil war to offer them some relief from the bombings and shellings… Ever since the war ended, each time these is some turmoil in Beirut I fear for the peace there. It was such a relief to visit Beirut again some 9 years ago and witness its renewal… the livelyness of its renovated center , the dynamism of its youths.
But I can’t forget my first impression in April 1975 : We were received in several families, invited to several public events, and I told my husband that I had the strange feeling that lebanese were dancing over a volcano…
Now, why do the terrorist attacks on Paris have had a greater effect worldwide than the one in Beirut? First because the number of casualties is greater. Second because it is unusual in France ( France is not recovering from a civil war, (and religion wars have been over for 400 years) and last but not least ever since the french revolution France has been a SYMBOL for Liberty. You can note that each time some peoples in the world have fought against a form of oppression their people have sung “la Marseillaise”, from the Hungarians in 1956 to the students of the Tien an Men Platz in Beijing, or the Tchecoslovaquians in 1968.
Of course because of the fear generated by these attacks there may be a backlash of racism, xenophobia, from the part of some, emphasized by extreme right parties. But I would not call it islamophobia. The great majority of french people make a clear difference between the ordinary muslim people with whom they work and live and the fundamentalits (salfists, wahabits, etc. ) who deep down hate our society, our values, our freedom and way of life and try to question it constantly by asking for special measures (such as separate hours in public swimming pools for men and women etc etc..) This is a very long term struggle, it started as early as 1988 when some “preachers” from the Gulf countries began offering financial help to north african families who would accept to send their daughters to school with a scarf on their heads…
Things are not simple, and events have many roots…So you see there is no point in feeling left over. Each life is sacred and unique and it is a crime to destroy it and each mother grieves her lost child the same way.
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I care about you…i care that your people suffer…I care that all people suffer but I also remember that in your country, people celebrated in the streets at the horrific death of over 3000 innocent lives on 9/11. In your country, peacekeeper Us Marines were brutally murdered by the same thugs that hold legitimacy in your government and send indiscriminate rockets into Israeli homes and villages then claim to be victims in the media when Israel retaliates, Your country is broken. In your country, I would not be safe to walk the streets for fear that someone would kidnap me, kill me in my sleep or at a meal in my hotel for no other reason than I am a US citizen, a westerner…a non-believer. In your country, an enemy is anyone that doesn’t believe or pray as you. In your country, I don’t have value as a human being. So, until your countrymen change and join in rejecting violence against all people, break bread and respect your neighbors, find common ground with those who choose to worship differently than you and protect the rights of all who live within your borders, you will be isolated in your grief from the rest of the world. News outlets around the world devote so much time an effort covering the turmoil of your world. The Paris terrorist acts take stage front and center because the good people of France have provided a safe haven for those in your world who had no place to go…those that had a second chance at a good life…those that lacked a voice….those that had been victimized. The French do not deserve to be the victims of your world. So, pardon the Western media while we grieve for those that valued diversity, welcomed strangers into their homes and lives and offered shelter to the downtrodden. The weekly bloodbath of your world will not be front page news for this week…. extremist views of how people in your world would like the rest of us to live will not be given the attention it normally does for this week. Fix your broken world.
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I read your France/Lebanon piece with sympathy and empathy. I would like – if permitted – to include the whole piece minus any photos – in my. Own blog as I have been thinking of putting up well considered opinions and views and constructing a response myself after some thought and deliberation. I don’t feel up to it just yet and it may not even transpire but I did appreciate and accept your views as very humane.
I bong to a community still divided by sectarianism and soon there is a deal to be brought before us – in time for Christmas. One outcome I anticipate is they will drop ‘the petition of concern’ which allows one ‘Party’ to veto the primacy of a others proposed policy or objection to a policy. Among other things it will mean there will no longer be blocking of Civil Partnerships which are available everywhere throughout the UK except here. There may even be extended rights to Abortions which again seems to be blocked by a minority though some suggest the majority is against free access to abortion here. Many travel to England for abortions as was the case now revised in the Republic of Ireland.
Wishing you peace and safety and good health.
John
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I’m French and Parisian, but living in Montreal and was well aware of the bombing in south Beyrouth, my wife is from Beyrouth. A sunnite attack in a Chiite quarter is, as you say, less worthy and unfortunately you are right. Because people don’t understand this complicated religious situation that is the bread and butter in Lebanon for so many years. Like we say a murder in our street makes more noise than a earthquake across the world. While you are totally right to be angry about the coverage, you have to understand that for western countries Paris is like home, its like Berlin, London, Sydney, Rome, New York, LA, Madrid, Bruxelles… its easier to relate, its the same ”street’, the same way of living, they’ve been there, they might know people living there, while Beyrouth is under siege for so many years people from western countries don’t relate to it ! Especially when 2 different muslim factions are at war and attack each other…. it’s the sad truth about it ! I sincerely pray for the victims of the last attacks in Beyrouth and hope this madness can aim to a end ! I have posted all the info on my wall and I’m often reading l’Orient le jour ! God bless all of us !
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For me, as a German, there is no difference between the people suffer in Europe, Middle East or Africa due to violence. Unfortunately, people are mainly interested in news of the neighborhood and forget very quickly. Thousands of children die every day in Africa (!) and most people do not care. A lack of interest in public does not mean that people in Beirut or elsewhere are less value. Building new frontiers helps anyone.
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Hello Elie,
i hope i`m able to get my thoughts here right in english. I read about you in a german newspaper. I`m so sad that you are thinking your life or the life of people from the arabian world is worth less. I thought over it and i wanted to explain it to myself why it`s paris that make me fear and sad in the first moment. Because its nearer. Because i can imagine life in Paris more like living in the arabian word. I could be there, my district is like the distric in paris, the style of the dead young people it`s the same style like my neighbours have. Tomorrow i will go singing in a club, same size like Bataclan. I think people a more touched when it`s the same living world. Because we can imagine more that this could happening even to us. About your world i don`t know much. Or only the things we knew over media. It`s seems to be so far away from me. But it doesn`t mean it don`t matter, what is happening to you. I searched for photos from the terror act in beirut and it make me very sad, too. Living with this fear every day.. it`s something i can`t imagine. Living in Syria, or all the countries where IS an terror trys to make the free people to their slaves. We have the same enemy. We all want to live in peace and freedom, no matter where we live. My thoughts are with you. Salam…
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Thank you so much for sharing. We matter.
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The portion of the title “In a World That Doesn’t Care About Arab Lives” really made me cringe. I’m not doubting its veracity, but it has led me to wonder why that is true. It is certainly not true of everyone, please believe that. A friend of mine rightly pointed out that where there is no heart connection, it is difficult to muster empathy. Do you think maybe the way forward would be in constructing a bridge among people, which would make it impossible to ignore events like these wherever they occur? Personally, I do.
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Thanks to someone posting your blog article on one of the major german news websites ( http://www.sueddeutsche.de/digital/blogeintrag-zu-terroropfern-sind-arabische-leben-weniger-wert-1.2739151 ), I came to read your thoughts on the different kind of international treatment and behavior concerning the two attacks, in Beirut and Paris. Not to mention other attacks happening all over the world almost everyday. It made me want to reply to you, as I’m having the same impression as you for qhite a while now and I consider it a shame for our western media and politicians to show such a different behavior, or even lack of condolescence / detailed coverage, depending just on where this awful terror happens.
And I understand that through this, for some people, like in your or other arabic countries, the impression may arise that you or your country seems to be less important than others. This is unexcuseable and even very dangerous in my opinion, as it might make people who have this impression become attracted to hateful or, at worst, even terroristic ideas as well in the end.
Because I don’t think everyone is as reasonable and deliberate on that subject as you obviously are.
That’s why I agree with almost everything you mention in your article and hope that many more people around the world will read it, understand and reflect on it. I think the main problem is that, depending on where in the world you grow up, you simply “learn” to care more about things that happen close to or around you. And media oftentimes (and unfortunately) supports this way of “learning”. Not to mention political interests playing their part, too. 😦
Rest assured though that, at least here in Germany, I’d say our media still at least tries to cover more or less well on all events happening in the world, not just the Western world. Beirut was in our news as well. How politicians and media may react to and emphasize on such events in particular may be another story, you’re right about that. Definetly there’s a lot of improvement to be done and neccessary. But, like me, there are people who notice you, too, and who feel sorry for all innocent victims of such insane terror attacks, no matter where they happen. You are important as anyone else who makes an effort to improve things in society and show compassion to those in need. We all share the same blue planet to live on. So although we don’t know each other, feel free to feel mattered at least to me, and for sure still to a lot of other people on Earth, too, even if it’s not shown in media.
But see? Thanks to media and a little luck, I read your thoughts today which I would probably not have otherwise. So there’s hope in that, along with dialog and listening to one another.
Best wishes from Germany, and may all these attacks be over one day.
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I am a Nigerian, and I felt the same way when I heard of the Paris attack and also saw a lot of people (Nigerians) following the “pray for Paris” trend and using the Facebook feature to change DPs to the France flag , when they hardly show any concern to the reoccuring bombings going on in the Northern part of the country. I understand that all lives are important and I sympathize with the country but it should be returned and the endless carnage that our country is facing should be recognized
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Eu sou brasileira e sinto, profundamente, que as coisas se passem dessa maneira. Lamento muitíssimo pelo que houve no seu país. Somos todos irmãos. Uma morte já é muita coisa, aconteça onde acontecer. Compreendo o que diz, como se sente e isso me deixa triste….Gostaria que as coisas mudassem, que o mundo fosse um bom lugar para todos.
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The author is only partly right. Here is an article on even a completely not relevant language that expresses that ISIS has more arabic casualties than others and Paris was “just” one piece in a chain. http://kettosmerce.blog.hu/2015/11/14/parizs_bagdad_bejrut
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Not sure if this is being read, but I felt the need to reply.
First of all my sincere condolences to your fellow countrymen and -women.
The roots of the problem are very complex, involving climate change, oppression, and.. well, in short, a lack of opportunity and prospect, resulting in war.
We in the West, should take full responsibility and not hide from our mistakes we have made in the past decades. And what started as joyful rebellion for freedom and equality, became the face of the darkest side nature of the human nature.
We in the West, we have experienced this before. And I think there is a lack of historical understanding from your perspective to this. And perhaps a lack of empathy towards you. But you have to understand that these are our direct neighbors, where we have family, friends and other relationships. After WW2, our connection is irreversibly intertwined.
The way you make it sound, like we are to blame for our media’s ignorance. But this is simply not true. The Europeans are loosing control, and these action stretch this even further. What we once preached as a nice democratic system has brought us great mischief, especially in times of crisis. I would suggest at least 50% of our European demographic does not feel adequately represented by our government nor the media. Do not forget that.
It’s not us, you should be looking at. You should look at your own neighbors, and ask for solidarity. We don’t need to be greatest friends to show respect. I would not treat you any different than any other person, based on whatever your believe or nature; nor is this reply directed at you personally, but anyone in general of who identifies with your thoughts, to those I would like to say: don’t get in that pitfall.
We are all human, and we all want 3 basic simple things: job, family and a future.
Just let us do it our way. Then we let you do yours.
We do care, but human nature shows – just as we can see anywhere – when people are clueless and shocked, they become paralyzed. You should not blame us, for being human. Because the truth is, we have NO CLUE how to help you. How can MY ‘awareness’ help YOU? But it can help my friends in Paris, you see? From a Military perspective we can bomb your cities, burn your houses and simply hope we get ONLY the bad guys. But this doesn’t work. We have tried this in the past, and its not what we want for you.
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Arabs are divided into Sunni and Shia and they fight each other on the basis of religion. We from the west, who are neither cannot choose to help one side or the other. We don’t understand the difference between these two sects. We don’t have to. That’s your business. We feel saddened that innocents have died but we cannot relate to the religious nonsense. Are Sunnis good and Shia’s bad or is it the other way around? There are a lot of atheists in the west, myself included. I despise all demonstration of religion (any religion). It only underlines what is different about people instead of underlining what is the same – the fact that we all bleed and often live in pain. How am I to get involved in your religious debates and wars? That’s for you to figure out on your own. When Paris was attacked, our entire way of western life was attacked. We can relate to that. Those people in the restaurants were not either Sunni or Shia – they were having dinner in a country that is not essentially Muslim. Why did they lose their lives? Because they are infidels? Is that not a description used by both Sunnis and Shias (radical Muslims) for us in the west? Don’t take it personally. We don’t understand your conflict, at least not as you do – we don’t have to. We just know that there is a lot of violence in your part of the world and it’s crazy and sad to us, but we can’t exactly relate to your reasons. How do you not see that? But we relate really well to the people of Paris who are not waging a religious war – who are just having dinner.
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no one asked you to understand or relate to lebanese people because of religion. the point is exactly the opposite of that: being able to show some compassion to all the people in the world and not only westerns because you are western but because you are human at the first place and me as an arab muslim and you as atheist western share the fact that we experience happiness pain sadness in the same way. see it’s not about sunni or shia conflict which is more a political conflict than a religous one, but it’s us trying to understand each other not our respective faiths regardless of our backgrounds because at the end of the day the pain that will experience the lebaneese mum and french who lost their children on those attacks willl be exaclky the same. it’s not you seeing us as really culturally geographically far people but as human being like you. it’s not about the west against the east. and don’t forget what media says is often not reliable if there is a lot of violence in our world you should know that we also have enough love to compatise with paris beirut palestine bagdad ankara new york and so on
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there is some true facts in what you are saying but on the other hand you also seem to forget or ignore facts of the arab muslim world. of course, at the end no one can blame you for not paying as much attention to the arab world, however you should know that if the arab world is in chaos today, if most of those cuntries have to deal with conflicts, it’s due to western policy in this region .
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Hisbollah is killing jews around the world and now whines when IS gives the Hisbollah a taste of their own medicine? That gives me a good laugh. Hisbollah created suicide attacks in the 80s and now hisbollah members are on the reciving end.
i support any attack agaist the facist antisemitic hisbollah terror gang.
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yeah and the people who died innocently? what kind of mindset is that? go hide yourself…
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We think about you all the time. We think of Irak, Iran, of Libia and Syria, and we are utterly tired and feel hopeless. Momentarely I read a documentary book about the arabic ‘spring’, about how it all began and about the following events in the middle east. And it strikes me: we can not help, for when we help, we are accused of meddling in things we do not understand, and more bloodshed follows. When we do not help, we are accused ofd doing nothing, of not caring, as you and other critics say. You know, we often wish that your middle east countries would show the flagcolours of those arabic countries suffering from terror themselves every time, as we do for our neighbouring countries, and fort our wounded and dead relatives in Europe. That is the day I and many over here hope to see: all the middle east monuments in mournful colours for the bloodshed in arabic countries. We will follow, I promise you! For that will be the day that leaders of the middle east will know: enough is enough! But that does not happen, the middle east spring in Egypt has gone, and other arabic nations keep fighting religious and none religious tribewars and kill their own people. They rather fight and surpress people than take care of them.That is maybe why so many arabic fugitives seek safety in our countries. And do not be afraid: we WILL take care of them, a vast majority of us will protect them. For many of them tell us what they have gone threw in their now ruined cities, and grieve for their families. We look at the news, and understand.
Yours sincerely
Dutch citizen
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I totally agree with the article and the opinions shared by so many of us. I’d just like to add something to emphasize something after having witnessed so much this past weekend. Growing up surrounded by Lebanese people who went through so many hardships and wars, endlessly listening to my parents’ stories about our family living through 12 years of terrorism in Algeria, and embracing the French culture of way of living for over 10 years now, I’ve come to see and share different perspectives. Unfortunately, the Lebanese people, and the Arab world in general, have been going through such atrocities and barbarism for decades now, long before social media took such an important place in our lives. I’ve always admired how the Lebanese in particular, similarly in a way to other Arabs of the Levant region, always stood up to those challenges, continuing to simply enjoy the life we so much cherish. The French are known for their “joie de vivre” around the world, especially the youth nowadays, and in particular the ones who go out every night in the districts that were targeted last Friday. They are now going through the phase of mourning, feeling anxious, scared, outraged,… But I also sense that the majority now get what’s so important and what probably was lacking before: togetherness, unity, solidarity, defiance, love, life,… Just a month ago, I marched in a demonstration in solidarity with the refugees who are fleeing the same barbarism that wrecked havoc on Paris. Similar to what happened in January, the majority of the population chose to respond wisely this time too, rather than react impulsively. The Arab youth probably paved the way for such response, long ago to probably to even realize that nowadays. The media generally choose to portray us in all the negative ways possible, but the people we know, whether of our generation or the past ones, have always had that joy of life to rise to such challenges. All we can do is stand united. Sharing that “joie de vivre”.
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Thanks Moufdy, let us share this joyful togetherness. Let us try to promote our common joie de vivre. But my heart often bleed for Beirut… I have known a Beirut where you could feel so free, where you could buy any book that was published in the world… I cańt Forget that Beirut is a mosaic of creeds, of peoples , some friends there consider themselves as phenicians and not Arabs…
Religions when they become associated with the quest for power, can be a nuisance. They should stay only in the sphere of spirituality and of privacy, to my mind … But I am afraid we still are a long way from that.
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I totally agree with the article and the opinions shared by so many of us. I’d just like to add something to emphasize something after having witnessed so much this past weekend. Growing up surrounded by Lebanese people who went through so many hardships and wars, endlessly listening to my parents’ stories about our family living through 12 years of terrorism in Algeria, and embracing the French culture and way of living for over 10 years now, I’ve come to see and share different perspectives. Unfortunately, the Lebanese people, and the Arab world in general, have been going through such atrocities and barbarism for decades now, long before social media took such an important place in our lives. I’ve always admired how the Lebanese in particular, similarly in a way to other Arabs of the Levant region, always stood up to those challenges, continuing to simply enjoy the life we so much cherish. The French are known for their “joie de vivre” around the world, especially the youth nowadays, and in particular the ones who go out every night in the districts that were targeted last Friday. They are now going through the phase of mourning, feeling anxious, scared, outraged,… But I also sense that the majority now get what’s so important and what probably was lacking before: togetherness, unity, solidarity, defiance, love, life,… Just a month ago, I marched in a demonstration in solidarity with the refugees who are fleeing the same barbarism that wrecked havoc on Paris. Similar to what happened in January, the majority of the population chose to respond wisely this time too, rather than react impulsively. The Arab youth probably paved the way for such response, long ago to probably even realize that nowadays. The media generally choose to portray us in all the negative ways possible, but the people we know, whether of our generation or the past ones, have always had that joy of life to rise to such challenges. All we can do is stand united. Sharing that “joie de vivre”.
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Sometimes a state of “not caring” exists because it reciprocates some others’ already-expressed feelings.
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I feel your pain. As an american Beirut Lebanon is a long way away from my home. And you seem to live in a world with a lot of physical war. It is hard to appreciate the difficulty that it sounds like your experience is. But as a person who lives in a country where i feel physically safe for mine, my family, and my friends lives, and I have a general love for my fellow man…i wish you that safety and love in your life as well.
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Hello. I just wanted to tell you that you and all the peolple of your country are not forgotten! We pray for you everyday and try to help the people who arrive in Europe as much as we can. I know this might be not enough but we try to change some peoples minds. Much love and prayers from Europe!
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I know so many people who do care about arab lives and those of other refugees. After work I give language lessons and so many people do. We must not give up to stand against those who speak of war and revenge. Your blog is very moving. All the best!
Peter
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The past few days I have been catching up on my reading. It started with Paris, and many people pointed out that with all our flagging and outburst of disbelief we “forgot” that Beirut suffered just one day earlier. And to be honest, I didn’t know. I didn’t see any Facebook notices, and I didn’t hear anything. I know a lot of people all over the world are hurting, dying, fighting, and it makes me sad. It alsof makes me sad that you think, and your people think, that you don’t really matter. I’m not politic, so I won’t throw myself in a discussion I am not well enough informed for.
But I am human, I have family, friends. I have feelings of compassion, and every time I see images and read stories about these senseless killings I cry my heart out.
So I am sorry. I am sorry that your people think they are less worthy, that you think you don’t matter. I am sorry that we are giving you these ideas, cause it isn’t right.
Every innocent life counts, every human is a human, nothing more and nothing less.
They to are mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, children, family, friends, loved ones, and I do really mean it when I say that they do matter.
I wish the people who are doing these senseless killings would just paus for a moment, and would look in the eyes of the people they are about to kill, hurt, damage for life. I wish that they would see what is so obvious and so important: we are all people, and people shouldn’t be hurting or killing people….
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http://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/dec/05/wikileaks-cables-saudi-terrorist-funding
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