An American's Story
Doing helped me with the music you are listening to. My choice of music. His assistance in placing it here.
I read a story today of an American who refuses to leave Lebanon, and his reasons for staying. Some who do not know the rich culture of Lebanon would be surprised to learn of the myths attributed to its population. For one thing, though mainly a Muslim country, the majority of civilian Muslims living there are not fanatical. They do not share the same ideolgy of terrorist groups such as Hezbollah. The relationship between Christians, Muslims and Jews are friendly and cordial. This American's story should be an awaking to those whose only source of information is through the news media, which only shows the negatives of Lebanon, assoicated with terrorists and terrorism. In many ways Lebanon, particularly Beirut, is every bit like any major city in the United States.
By Faerlie Wilson
"I'm not crazy, and I harbor no death wish. This is simply the rational decision of someone who has built a life in Lebanon, who believes in this place and its ability to bounce back. I choose to bet on Beirut."
"Lebanese hospitality makes it easy to feel at home; it's a warm society that exudes and embodies a sense of interpersonal responsibility."
"So although I'm not Lebanese by blood, I have become Beiruti. There are plenty of us who fit that description, foreigners who fell in love with the place and its people."
"Lebanon offered many of the same attractions as Europe, but in an Arab setting: temperate climate, good shopping, plenty of tourist activities, and most important, heady nightlife and a liberal social atmosphere. Tourists partied till dawn, stormed the sales at Beirut's designer boutiques, and visited sites like Lebanon's ancient cedar groves and the Roman temples at Baalbeck."
"This summer started off strong, with concerts by major Western artists that allowed the Lebanese to hope their country was returning to the prewar days when everyone who was anyone—icons like Ella Fitzgerald, Marlon Brando, and Brigitte Bardot—made regular stops in the country. Ricky Martin and 50 Cent performed in May and June, respectively, Sean Paul was on deck for July, and negotiations were under way to bring Snoop Dogg later in the summer."
"The after-party for 50 Cent was typical over-the-top Beiruti, held at city's most decadent nightclub, Crystal. Lamborghinis and Ferraris crowded the parking lot; plasticated Lebanese girls in short skirts and spike heels danced on tables as waiters navigated the dance floor balancing trays laden with sparklers and magnums of champagne for high-rolling Saudi tourists, while Fiddy free-styled and openly smoked a joint."
"There is painfully little we, the ordinary people of Lebanon, can do to help the situation. So, instead, we do what we can to help each other by donating food and supplies, opening our doors to friends and strangers, and trying to maintain some semblance of normalcy. We aren't giving up."
"Lebanon has given me more than I ever could've asked: a home, a sense of belonging, an almost indecent number of happy memories. But aside from any debt to Lebanon, I won't leave because I know how miserable I would be watching the war ravage my country from the outside. As long as my feet are firmly planted on Lebanese soil, I somehow know the country will survive."
"People ask me if I'm scared, and I am—but for Lebanon more than for myself. This place and its people deserve far better than what they're getting."
- End quote
The Lebanese people are not all how they are portrayed in the media. The civilian population would like nothing better than to rid their country of religious fanatics and those who bring terror and shame to its people. We here in United States know Lebanon only from a media spectators point of view. Speak to people from Europe and Asia, and you will get a more thourough and complete picture and understanding of the local, peace-loving, Roman Catholics, Maronite Chatholics, Greek Orthodox, Greek Catholics, Protestants, Chaldean Catholics, Syrian Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, Nestorian Assyrians and Muslim people. The ordinary, civilian, man on the street.
With God's love
- Rasha
I read a story today of an American who refuses to leave Lebanon, and his reasons for staying. Some who do not know the rich culture of Lebanon would be surprised to learn of the myths attributed to its population. For one thing, though mainly a Muslim country, the majority of civilian Muslims living there are not fanatical. They do not share the same ideolgy of terrorist groups such as Hezbollah. The relationship between Christians, Muslims and Jews are friendly and cordial. This American's story should be an awaking to those whose only source of information is through the news media, which only shows the negatives of Lebanon, assoicated with terrorists and terrorism. In many ways Lebanon, particularly Beirut, is every bit like any major city in the United States.
By Faerlie Wilson
"I'm not crazy, and I harbor no death wish. This is simply the rational decision of someone who has built a life in Lebanon, who believes in this place and its ability to bounce back. I choose to bet on Beirut."
"Lebanese hospitality makes it easy to feel at home; it's a warm society that exudes and embodies a sense of interpersonal responsibility."
"So although I'm not Lebanese by blood, I have become Beiruti. There are plenty of us who fit that description, foreigners who fell in love with the place and its people."
"Lebanon offered many of the same attractions as Europe, but in an Arab setting: temperate climate, good shopping, plenty of tourist activities, and most important, heady nightlife and a liberal social atmosphere. Tourists partied till dawn, stormed the sales at Beirut's designer boutiques, and visited sites like Lebanon's ancient cedar groves and the Roman temples at Baalbeck."
"This summer started off strong, with concerts by major Western artists that allowed the Lebanese to hope their country was returning to the prewar days when everyone who was anyone—icons like Ella Fitzgerald, Marlon Brando, and Brigitte Bardot—made regular stops in the country. Ricky Martin and 50 Cent performed in May and June, respectively, Sean Paul was on deck for July, and negotiations were under way to bring Snoop Dogg later in the summer."
"The after-party for 50 Cent was typical over-the-top Beiruti, held at city's most decadent nightclub, Crystal. Lamborghinis and Ferraris crowded the parking lot; plasticated Lebanese girls in short skirts and spike heels danced on tables as waiters navigated the dance floor balancing trays laden with sparklers and magnums of champagne for high-rolling Saudi tourists, while Fiddy free-styled and openly smoked a joint."
"There is painfully little we, the ordinary people of Lebanon, can do to help the situation. So, instead, we do what we can to help each other by donating food and supplies, opening our doors to friends and strangers, and trying to maintain some semblance of normalcy. We aren't giving up."
"Lebanon has given me more than I ever could've asked: a home, a sense of belonging, an almost indecent number of happy memories. But aside from any debt to Lebanon, I won't leave because I know how miserable I would be watching the war ravage my country from the outside. As long as my feet are firmly planted on Lebanese soil, I somehow know the country will survive."
"People ask me if I'm scared, and I am—but for Lebanon more than for myself. This place and its people deserve far better than what they're getting."
- End quote
The Lebanese people are not all how they are portrayed in the media. The civilian population would like nothing better than to rid their country of religious fanatics and those who bring terror and shame to its people. We here in United States know Lebanon only from a media spectators point of view. Speak to people from Europe and Asia, and you will get a more thourough and complete picture and understanding of the local, peace-loving, Roman Catholics, Maronite Chatholics, Greek Orthodox, Greek Catholics, Protestants, Chaldean Catholics, Syrian Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, Nestorian Assyrians and Muslim people. The ordinary, civilian, man on the street.
With God's love
- Rasha
posted by Sexy Lebanese | 7:10 PM
16 Comments:
you're just another version of stevie posing as a woman.
i'm jewish living in the united states. i've traveled to europe, latin america, asia and the middleast. without a doubt the two places where i felt the most comfortable and welcomed where latin america and lebanon. there is a rich religious diversity which exists in lebanon which i can only compare to the united states. ironically, when i traveled to israel i did not feel the warmth i felt in beirut. if i were ever to relocate it would be to central or south america or to lebanon, after the current crisis is over of course. the american in your post is a brave soul and his sentiments are shared by many foreigners living there. it is something i witnessed first hand.
I guess it might be sort of hard for Israel to project a lot of warmth when they are getting rockets fired at them all the time and have suicide bombers running around blowing up buses and pizza parlors all the time. You think that might have something to do with it? Think you might be just a little tense living under those conditions? Nothing like Jewish solidarity, right? Go live among arabs, see how long they let you live.
The crude and debased comment directed at Sweetnpetite was deleted. There are other blogs for your sexually perverse comments.
all that you said is true. living among arabs is not the question. there are arabs and jews and christians living in complete harmony in lebanon and israel. i felt more comfortable in lebanon among arabs and jews and christians. it the same in the united states. there are places where blacks and jews live in harmony and in others places no so much. same with italians and blacks. it all depends on how long those conditions existed. 50 years of an all white neighborhood suddenly having another group move in might make for tensions to build. but if in those same 50 years there already existed that mixture then theres no problem. its the same anywhere else in the world.
dont know who you are sexy leb. dont care. but this is what the blogs should be be about. intelligent debates. not home for bashing. agree/disagree intelligently.
WOW! A blog with serious topics and discussion w/o the bashing and name calling?!? Is this possible?
Keep it up Rasha - You are doing a great job!
As for the American living in Beirut, I think it's a wonderful thing. It's amazing to finally find the place you belong. I hope their story makes others realize that there is more to what is going on than is displayed in our media.
tatiana if you were smart enough you would see there are other blogs with serious issues.
Tatiana, I asked a friend to give you my chat id. If you would, please message me when you have a moment.
tats busy packing she wont be on for a bit ... you can always pm me with any messege for her i talk to her on phone daily ...and anon yes there are but not everyone sits and reads them all
Tat... re: your comment... It is refreshing, isn't it?
too bad tat doesnt understand that sexy lebanese is stevie. dont go there tat, he will be wanting money from you.
Rasha,
Just a quick note to let you know that my yahoo id is the same as my blogger id - Tatiana313. You can pm me if you like, but I won't be on much for the next week or two...moving into my new house this weekend - yeah!
Thank you Tatiana. I will ask Doing to pm you with the screen id that I will pm you with. It is not safe to accept pm's from someone you are not sure of. Please do not accept a pm from anyone claiming to be me. You should know that as of today, Sunday July 30 1:20PM, I have not yet sent you a message. Doing will send you my screen id.
Can you tell me what that symbol represents? If you rather not say here, I will understand.
- Rasha
It's a celtic triquetra. The meaning changes depending on who's using it, but for me it represents the unity of the Maiden, Mother, and Crone into the Goddess. It's actually a little more complicated than that, but for general consumption it will do. If you would like more info on it, let me know and I'll send it to you.
I did a little research and found the Triquetra has it's origins in early Christianity and even prior to Christianity. I found many different versions of the Triquetra along with their particular meanings, depending on its original adoption. Thank you for showing me this.
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