How Deep the Hole
I was internet chatting with a friend today in northern Lebanon. He was telling me that his cousin, a Lebanese soldier station in Tyre was killed the other day by a bomb. One moment he was manning his anti-aircraft post and the next minute "he was ash and bones" says Jamal.
Ahmed was taken from a wife and 2 children 3 and 5 years old. He was not Hezbollah. I asked Jamal what he will tell the children when they grow up. He said he will tell them that their father died a hero trying to protect their country from Israel and from Hezbollah who were acting like children themselves.
He will tell them that hatred is not the way to peace and salvation does not rest at the end of gun. He hopes they will hear him and understand as they grow and not be deceived by the forces that strive to tear his country apart...the forces that took their fathers life.
My friend Jamal is a smart man. Israel and Hezbollah would do well to hear his words but, alas, they are deaf. Too many bombs exploding around them have made them so.
Jamal says he will try to get his cousin's wife and the children north to safety. He says they will stay in Lebanon because they cannot afford to leave and he wants to stay and help build a safe Lebanon. My friend Jamal is a brave man too.
I asked him what I can do to help and he said I could pray for them. When I reminded his that I did not believe in God or Allah, Jamal said he wasn't sure he did either anymore.
Belief, however, is not required for me to do the small favor my friend asks of me. So I offer a prayer to the universe that cooler heads prevail and that my friend and his family survive this ordeal.
I don't know when I'll hear from Jamal again. Internet connections are a little sparce these days in Lebanon, especially where he says they are going.
Whenever I hear from him again, I hope to hear that he and his family are well and safe.
I urge the rest of you to make a donation of any amount to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to help the civilians in Lebanon. Please be sure to choose Lebanon in the Programme drop down box.
Thank you!
Raven
Ahmed was taken from a wife and 2 children 3 and 5 years old. He was not Hezbollah. I asked Jamal what he will tell the children when they grow up. He said he will tell them that their father died a hero trying to protect their country from Israel and from Hezbollah who were acting like children themselves.
He will tell them that hatred is not the way to peace and salvation does not rest at the end of gun. He hopes they will hear him and understand as they grow and not be deceived by the forces that strive to tear his country apart...the forces that took their fathers life.
My friend Jamal is a smart man. Israel and Hezbollah would do well to hear his words but, alas, they are deaf. Too many bombs exploding around them have made them so.
Jamal says he will try to get his cousin's wife and the children north to safety. He says they will stay in Lebanon because they cannot afford to leave and he wants to stay and help build a safe Lebanon. My friend Jamal is a brave man too.
I asked him what I can do to help and he said I could pray for them. When I reminded his that I did not believe in God or Allah, Jamal said he wasn't sure he did either anymore.
Belief, however, is not required for me to do the small favor my friend asks of me. So I offer a prayer to the universe that cooler heads prevail and that my friend and his family survive this ordeal.
I don't know when I'll hear from Jamal again. Internet connections are a little sparce these days in Lebanon, especially where he says they are going.
Whenever I hear from him again, I hope to hear that he and his family are well and safe.
I urge the rest of you to make a donation of any amount to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to help the civilians in Lebanon. Please be sure to choose Lebanon in the Programme drop down box.
Thank you!
Raven
posted by Anonymous @ Monday, August 07, 2006
<< Home