Hope: Found around the world

Posted on Facebook Saturday, June 6, 2009 at 8:55am

Lebanon is much different than what anyone from the states could imagine. The people are friendly for the most part (i say for the most part because they cant drive worth a crap). The food is amazing, the atmosphere is pretty laid back. To the west is a beach, to the east is a mountain, both are within a 29 minute drive from pretty much anywehere in the country.

The one thing that I did not expect from the people is the political stances and engagement. What I mean by this is that in the USA, Hizbollah is depicted as a terrorist organization. That is not exactly the way they are viewed by the people of Lebanon. When Israel bombed Beirut, the Hizbollah went and paid for peoples rent, gave them food, rebuilt schools, and did a lot for the people that were innocently harmed. I guess it goes back to the age old saying that one mans terrorist is another mans hero. It just depends on the side fo the fence you stand I suppose.

The political engagement I have witnessed is in the youth. There is the Orange party (supported by the Hizbollah) and the Red party (Pro-american). Both sides have capitilized on the support of teenagers and young adults. They show their support by driving in convoys of cars 20 plus deep, waving their parties flag, playing music, chanting different things or honking their horns to two specific melodies. Vice-President Biden was here durign my first week in the country supporting the 14 (red party). The Hizbollah mocked him coming here. US policies in dealing with Lebanon will be shaped based on the outcome of the elections tomorrow. I'll be there with a camera. It should be interesting.

Of course we went out several times in the first couple days we were here. The clubs that we've gone to are more lounge/pub type settings. Groups of friends go out together and basically stick together the entire night. A few times we went with groups, a few times just the two of us. For the most part though, the bar and club scenes here are exactly what you'll find in the USA. Nothing really amazing. The people try to live classy, and the clubs reflect that.

Driving in this country literally makes me sick. The roads are all up and down, sharp left and sharp right, honking every 5 seconds, a relentless amount of pullution, stop and go traffic all across the streets (highways especially). Im used to driving an hour on a smooth wide open road. Here, you'll drive an hour and maybe travel 30 miles, and the entire time you're enclosed by buildings or seconds away from being in a wreck. Literally, I can recall seeing about 3 stop lights that work. This of course does not mean that the people obey them, because they don't. Street lines, maybe a dozen of the roads we've driven on have those. Again, even if they were all lined, the poeple would not obey them.

The police that I have witness stand around or sit on their motorcycles. Sometimes you'll see them at an intesection directing traffic. Maybe half of the people follow the police officers commands. The police force drives Dodge Chargers that were donated by the US government. Apparently we donated an extra 200 recently, and our government demanded that they be distributed this last week, along with a large ceremony. It's a political ploy to gain support from the Lebanese towards the Red party.



The reactions I get when talking politics are that we (the US) has a very bad reputation here because of Bush. The people here literally hate George Bush. President Obama gives them hope. They are sceptical, but realize that he is not like any other president we have had. They like him and say he seems like a good president and a nice man. "Down to earth" is actually one remark I heard. I have a renewed sense of hope for peace around this region of the world, with President Obama. He's new, fresh, different, articulate (which is very important), and he is a hell of a politition. I hope that he can find the happy medium that everyone wants. It is like he'll be walking a mile of tight rope 80 stories off the ground without a safety net. There is no room for mistake. If he offends one country, that could be it. If he takes sides with another country, it could upset a third country. Time will tell, but the report I'm getting from this part of the world is that there truly is hope.

I hope you all forgive me if this note was random ramblings. I just had a minute and thought that I should scratch my thoughts down.

Hope all is well back in the States,