Saturday, May 20, 2006

War memories

I used to think that I had few war memories, and none tragic…But it is striking how little events and reaction stay etched in one’s mind, just waiting to resurface. For example till this day every time I hear jet airplane flying over me ( the Israeli air force still pay us visit every couple of weeks) a large grin transform my face and I immediately think “youppi! No school tomorrow!!”
I know this sound strange, but I spent my childhood and adolescence in a school adjacent to the biggest Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon (Ain El Heloueh) consequently every week or so Israeli raided the camp and we took a day off, in short I have a Pavlovian reaction to the sound of jet airplanes.

Another memory that I was reminded of recently (last year with all the explosions rocking our poor country) is the special state of mind people get into when fear grabs them that affect all their actions. I used to look out of my window and immediately know that something happened by the way people drove or walked.

Finally some scars lie hidden deep inside ones mind… One of mine just surfaced weeks ago when I watched a film about the Lebanese war called “Zozo”.
The memory is about the priceless handbag mum kept ready by the door with all the irreplaceable papers: passports, house deed, bank paper…
I used to have nightmare about that bag, forgetting it and then having to go back, under the shells and smoke to search for it…

Unfortunately, on the fateful day mum forgot the bag…

Thursday, May 11, 2006

A Meme game with a twist

With Lebanon's current political polarization, with each party taking a color as its symbol I think it would be interesting to see how people would react to a Meme game about what color they DISLIKE the most…

As to me at the moment I am torn between yellow and orange, but if I have to choose one I would say orange…

For our friends that have not been keeping up with this war of colors, a glossary is needed so her it is (in alphabetical order, with their political position in regard to Syria)
Black: Bob (in other words my color, secular, free, Lebanese…)
Blue: Future movement (Hariri's supporters, Anti Syrians)
Green: Amal Movement ( Nabih Berry, Pro Syrians)
Orange: Lebanon Free Patriotic Movement ( Aoun's supporters, go ask him about Syria and if you understand his position please do tell me)
Red: Communists (almost instinct, Pro Syrians)
White and red: the 14th of March Movement or/and Geagea Lebanese Forces (Anti Syrians)
Yellow: Hezbollah (Pro Syrians)

Please tell me if I forgot anyone…

Saturday, May 06, 2006

Our day shall come and on that day gods shall fall…


It is a two part quote, the first one “our day shall come” I read in some Sci-Fi novel, the second is from me. I truly feel that religion, believe in god and all that are the cause of most of humanity’s ails…

So it is a quote in hope of the day when we will set ourselves free from all gods and tyrants, and embrace our humanity.

Friday, May 05, 2006

Fanaticism

Fanaticism is always the sign of repressed doubt!

-A quote i do not rmeeber where i read...