This lady pretends to be multi-cultural, fair and open minded, etc., and yet she has the exact xenophobic perspective of the Lebanese fascists, which is what I suspect she probably is.
She is bemoaning the fact that Muslims became a majority in Lebanon. NOT THEIR FAULT. Muslims don't share the Christian nationalist perspective? No, certainly not. Muslims want a re-count on political representation in Lebanon? You bet. In the long drawn out agony of Lebanon, were Muslims ever the aggressors? Sometimes. Did Muslims start the war? No. And is "Muslims" as used by this lady synonymous with "Palestinians?" No. She is trashing the Muslim Lebanese, not the Palestinians. The Palestinians knew discretion was the better part of valor and tried hard to stay out of it. It was a Lebanese internal problem.
And if you think atrocities committed by Christians were any lighter than those committed by Muslims, think again bud.
I will try to post something eventually showing the objective facts of the Lebanese civil war, in the telling of which no one is going to be shown innocent, believe me.
My life during the war was not nearly as bad, but then I did not live in the south. When I did travel there, I understand a lot of what and why she fells as strongly as she does.
I also remember when the christians escaped being massacres by going in to the only direction there was, south. They were welcomed, jobs, homes and support organizations were found for them to assimilate. I know some have converted their faith (though not required), learned the language and gained citizenship. Christians too have become citizens. Even with peace treaties they would have a hard time returning.
No, when people, not soldiers, need to survive in extreme circumstances they will do just about anything.
The militant groups would change allegiances as quickly as they would begin a new pack of cigarettes. It was all part of survival. Today's friend could be tomorrows enemy, vs.
There were innocents, but no, most people share some guilt about something during the war. That much fear can leads to wishing harm or death on others. They might be silent, or supportive, or active in some way. It was a civil war, and war against those outsiders trying to take over the country, it was sectarian, it was tribal/feudal, it was political, it was international, it pitted family members against each other, it was anything but clean. We all have been slashed by blood in some way. I had some of the same experiences, from time to time. I also had to move around frequently and had both passes and protection to get out of areas that were too dangerous at that time. I understand brigitte and what she went through. Christian or muslim, anyone living through the war can empathize with her suffering even if not the intensity of her opinions.
I personally have blood on my hand from a wicked crack on the head of a would be kidnapper with my fathers rifle. I almost shot him but he blinked so I an an opening. Police took him away. The point is that we all do what at the time is necessary to protect our loved ones and to survive. Laws don't really apply in a civil war. Niceties like that are hard to care about.
