Once again, it is truly amazing how blogs resist the usual media spin. While warbloggers during the Iraq war gave us deep insights, bypassing the darkest phase of press coverage, euphemistically called "embedded journalism", this time bloggers from the Near- and Middle East surprise us with their capability for dialogue. A glimpse (Please read the whole discussions, they’re worth it):

Bob’s Blog, Lebanon:

From the article:
So I cannot accept to stand by and only blame Israel, because this will not end the killing. Of course Israel is to blame and no killing is acceptable! But so is Hezbollah! And if we do not accept this fact then we will never end the violence! In two or three years it will start all over again! I do not accept to endure all this destruction and death just so that in a couple of years it will start again! I will not accept it! Not for the sack of religion, Arabism or any other obsolete concept!
I believe in a strong, democratic and pluralistic and most importantly peaceful Lebanon. And this can only happen if we decide all together to forsake violence forever!

Responses:
At 18 July, 2006 21:03, Regards from Jerusalem, Israel said…
I wish you and Lebanese that think like you the best of luck in succeeding to accomplish your stated goals.
Keep the peace.

At 19 July, 2006 07:37, Anonymous said…
Hi, I’m an israeli, feeling your pain and hearing your distress. If only there was a way convincing u that people here really care about u. No one want that Lebanese will get heart, we all hoping for peace and wishing u will hold on and wont suffer. I’m hoping for a day which I can hold your hand with trust, deep respect and love.

Wish u all well and keep safe

Rampurple, Lebanon:

From the article:
News were posted few minutes ago on naharnet.com.

An Israeli officer tells Radio Sawa that Israel has decided to launch  a full-scale military campaign against the South.

As much as i want Hizbullah to be disarmed once and for all, but i am having a bad feeling about this. I feel bad for the villages stuck between Israelies and Hizbullah.

 May God Protect Them.

Responses:
Erik says: A very sad time indeed. May god be with the innocents. Terrorists deserve to die, wether it be israeli soldiers or Hizbullah madmen. My thoughts go out to this country i would like to have visited, which for the time being seems to be out of the question now. Targetting powerplants, bridges, roads and harbours will not help the israeli cause at all.

adi says: i’m very concerned about the developments. i’m from israel and i worry that more innocent people will get heart from both sides. hoping that our military will do it best not to harm civilians in lebanon, and wishing that you will find the way to keep safe. waiting for days of peace and friendship, still believe it’s possible, it’s the only thing that can encourage me right now. wishing u all the best, hold on and dont lose hope

Arch.Memory, U.S. (in full, ‘cause it’s excellent):

The Making of a Terrorist

When I was a teenager I lost my faith in God. This week I lost my faith in humanity. And they both don’t care.

The shift in me this week even takes me by surprise. Because wearing black in a heatwave isn’t enough, I started peeling my burned skin last night, maybe that way I can share some of their pain. I used to think of myself as "as peaceful as they come". Now the anger in me is boiling over to a rage that’s even more bitter than my deep-seated sorrow.

I come from a Shi’ite family from the southern suburbs of Beirut, also known as Dahyeh. You know, the one bombed to rubble this week? Well, other than that, I am your typical Latte-Drinking, Sushi-Eating, Volvo-Driving (well, it’s a Nissan; Volvos are actually asociated for me with Hezbolla, though now I can see a Volvo in my future–but I am getting ahead of myself here), New York Times-Reading (not any longer, actually; I find their pro-Israeli bias revolting)… ultra-liberal. Well, so maybe not all the stereotypes fit me well, but I am a highly-educated professional (read an architect with a masters degree), with enough awards and accolades to put a country (other than shameless Israel) to shame. I am agnostic, I write poetry and go to readings. I am gay and live with my boyfriend in a major US city (though it hardly feels like one. Now Beirut, that was a major city…). But I digress again; I digress so much these days, do forgive me. So, when I was Lebanon just over a month ago, I was stark furious at Hezbollah. I would have arguments with members of my family that support them (and it seems that there was more of them than ever). I would drive by Hezbollah’s fundraising booths with a haughty look of scorn on my face because they were backing up traffic. I was angry at the huge banner with Nasrallah’s face (Hezbollah’s leader) that showed up for the first time on our street in the name of all the youth of the street (half of whom were outside Lebanon like me anyhow). I was annoyed by the Hezbollah schools multiplying on our street, jamming traffic, and blaring melancholy Islamic chants at noon while we were trying to down our lunch…

But now, I am so angry I want to go back and stop at each booth I pass and empty my pockets (ok, not such a feat given my finances). I want to print banners for them, teach at their schools, hell, I’d even sing for them if my voice were any better (now, there’s an idea! I’ll go sing and the Israeli army would run for their lives!) Now I understand the desperation and anger that would drive someone to strap themselves with explosives and push that button. Now I even share it. What I don’t share is the courage… Maybe it’s no courage. Maybe it’s sheer desperation and anger. Maybe it’s just a matter of time. And it makes me wonder, if Israel’s massacre of my country has managed to turn me this militant, how many militants is it creating over all? How stupid of a scheme is this? Or is it only vicious? Is it sheer indulgence in death? Excuse me, but I still can’t understand the pleasure of grilling children to tar.

Go ahead, call me a terrorist all you want. I am not bombing orphanages and ambulances. I am not brandishing forbidden chemical weapons on civilians. And yet I have trouble sleeping at night, just looking at the pictures. Do they see them? Whoever is pressing the button, do they see what they’ve done? Do they believe it’s self-defense and justified? And Condi is waiting… How can they sleep at night? If anyone knows, please send me the name of that drug, I’d like some, too. And some for my sister as well, so she would stop sending me these messages when she can’t sleep from the bombing in the middle of the night. And some for my aunt, since you’re at it, so she would stop crying for God’s sake and stop caring whether her 16-year-old son is back with her or if he’s safe at all in the south.

And the world is standing by waiting for the situation to "simmer"… Do they realize it’s human flesh that’s simmering, and that it smells foul?

Responses:
At Wednesday, July 19, 2006 8:11:38 PM, Shirley said…

Ashraf,
Sadly, life is filled with sorrow. I am so sorry that the sorrow is yours today…yesterday it was someone else’s and tomorrow it will pass again to someone else. In the meantime, please don’t become what it is that you hate. In order to hate you must make that the most important thing in your life and as it was once said, we must be the change that we wish to see in the world. I can’t begin to imagine what you are feeling but hate breeds hate. You, of all people, know that. I don’t know what else I can say but if you have any love or light at all in your life, hold it tightly and hang in there somehow.

  At Wednesday, July 19, 2006 11:41:07 PM, arch.memory said…

Shirley, that is such a beautiful and sagacious comment. It is difficult at times like these, but you are so true… I just want it to stop. I just it to be 10 days ago…

Kadmous, Lebanon:

The Evil Circle

While the sound of peace seems to be the weakest, or even forgotten, the gladiator’s arena is full of sounds: kill, kill, kill… the walls are full of blood, specially the innocent one… everyone’s blood… fire, rockets, destruction in every way, equivalent or not… and the circle of evil continue saying: kill, kill… they are away, high, looking from their seats while relaxing… why? Just to choose and honor the best killer… or just for the fun of cards game… kill, kill, kill…
Before entering the arena, a devil said to the first fighter: fight the devil that will come outside now, fight for your God… fight for your good… let us see a good game and you will be honored in the end…
On the other door, the same devil said the same thing to the other fighter…
For everyone he gave a type of arms… specially the most destructive ones…
Fight, kill… kill for your God…
The war started, while all devils are laughing… sure they are happy… who will be happy if the hate fills the earth… the unfair win… children die… every human power and evolution is destructed…
Yes kill… kill… kill…
What do you think all they will say more…?
Their kingdom is improving, while the human age is coming to be over…
Kill more and more…
They love to see our blood on the soil… whoever we think we are and from which human degree we consider ourselves…
Anyway, whatever we are, we are dead… and that what they want…
But their loud sounds were and still filling the arena… it is very exiting… what you are thinking to be the God circle clacking hands and shouting for you, are just a devil’s one… the problem is that you are in a factious scene…
Do you know what they like more?
To prolong the game they do anything… they like it more when eternal…

Where is God in all this…?
He was drying everyone tears… healing the wounds… telling every one of fighters: they are using you against my name… I don’t need someone to fight in my name… I have already armies of angels if I want to make wars… stop killing each other… I’m not a warrior and I don’t agree on wars… peace… peace… peace… peace…
While the sounds in the arena were increasing kill… kill… kill…
The two fighters moved God away, so away… while saying: You are not God… our God is the one who told us to fight on his name… keep away…
And the war never stops… the devils continue laughing and supporting each one against the other…
The war never stops, because no one knew or even wanted to know who God and what he really wants from us… starting with the least of his interest toward every human being: stop suffering for nothing…

Hello Libanon - Hello Israel, Israel (extensive post, trying to work as a board for both sides)

hi from Lebanon,
i’m one of millions who r sad because of this current situation. we r fed up with this war for nothing. its just manipulation of our right to live peacefuly. it’s good that there is this internet to keep in touch with people on the other side of the border and know that they too want peace, not only us. but too bad there r some minorities who can get us into this vicious situation again and again. hope it won’t be long this time and that they will all come t o their senses soon. thnx for the blog.

Need for peace

smadari  unveil(’%3B%06%09%2F%27%4B%00%14%37%42%54%5B%59%49%17%57%58%59′,’[דואל]’);[דואל]  בתאריך 7/15/2006 8:48:40 AM

young people

you must arise and go out to the streets
you are the young in your country you need to make a revolution
be brave
look at other revolutionary groops all over the world along our history-you have to create a new one for your own contry and for your children`s future
you must have the courage and change things