Monday, July 31, 2006

They Will Not Turn us into Monsters

Yesterday evening, as I wrapped one of the most grueling days in my life, one more to add to the growing list of late, I turned to the CNN website and watched one of the clips relating events in the aftermath of the Qana massacre. And this is what I saw. I saw a man of maybe fifty years, standing next to a line of bagged children who, yesterday, could not hide far enough into the ground, who today finally could, I saw him walk towards one of those long stemmed flowering plants, rip a branch with two blooming pink flowers, and throw it on the lifeless small bodies lying on the ground. And he spoke. And I felt ashamed, ashamed and soiled by all the hatred and anger that took me over, and made me into someone I could not recognize. He said: "Our children are dead. But this flower is my answer. They will not turn us into monsters".

No. They won't. Those children never died, and never will. But I, I thank you, today, for bringing me back to life.

15 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Poul,
While I can see how one outside the Lebanese culture (or even within it) could view it as propaganda, the Arab world grieves differently. Culturally it is considered important to grieve in a public manner, openly, and "dignity" for the dead is defined differently. For them dignity is showing the world what has happened to them. Yes, they are holding them up to say look what has happened to us, to them it is better than burying them as a secret for no one to see, it would go against their idea of respect for the dead. So, while it could be their propaganda aim, it might be something entirely different. Even in non-violent deaths it's common to stand around, cry loudly, tell stories and grieve loudly, etc.

11:37 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Many in the world noticed that! how arrogantly stupid. How about you change your name to Poll instead of Poul, Poul. We show our dead children to the world, and it's disrespectful, Israel KILLS them by the dozens, and it's self-defense! You disgust me. And don't give me this "staged by Hezbollah" bullshit! Prove to me that AT THE TIME OF THE ATTACK, there was a rocket launcher ACTUALLY FIRING its rockets from that spot. Prove it to me, and then we'll talk. Until then, shut the fuck up, and leave us alone.

DB

12:24 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Here is a film claiming that the launcher was hidden in a Qana house immediately after the launch.

http://www.nfc.co.il/uploadvideo/VV-861705958843232.wmv

Here is a partial summary of suspects that Qana story was fabricated.

http://israelmatzav.blogspot.com/2006/08/was-qana-massacre-hoax-truth-matters.html

3:22 AM  
Blogger Laila K said...

moron 3:22

please respect our intelligence and try to reference a url that does not end with '.il', or start with 'israel'.

its too early in the morning to feel nauseous.

6:25 AM  
Blogger inmotion said...

you still dream?

I envy you.

7:01 AM  
Blogger AM said...

:) Good one Fouad :) Welcome back ... or at least you're thinking about it ...

I know my last post was before Qana but it says almost the same thing, NO HATE, even though I was screaming of rage at one point before that ... The day the massacre of Qana took place, I was very much tempted to take it out but then decided against it and left it there ... it helped me in a way to keep it there ...

7:21 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Not giving in to hate when it is such a visceral reaction, when the reasons to hate are so obvious deserves respect.

Fouad, you are not being a dreamer. But you are certainly not chosing the easy way out.

For what it's worth, your post made my day in this ocean of hatred and violence.

7:24 AM  
Blogger Coco said...

Thank you, Fouad!
No they will not turn us into monsters and then say "see? it's them, not us!" Fashar bi ra2betoun.

10:01 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

please post:
America Should Stop the Bloodshed
WHAT: Silent candlelight vigil
WHEN: Thursday, August 3rd, 7:30pm
WHERE: South side of Union Square Park, New York City

1:11 PM  
Blogger Delirious said...

I hear you loud and clear, Fouad.
It's ok to be angry, but not to be blinded by your rage or hatred.
One thing is for sure, my friend: keep this in mind, and you'll never ever be turned into a monster. None of us will.

2:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Mr. Poul ( Pott) Those are Palestinians.We were not raised by the brain-washing machine. We saw your acts in real-time, and not thru Andreson Coopper.

6:23 PM  
Blogger Zee said...

For tonight I will not comment on specifics.
I just wish you a restful night, as good as it gets.
Amen, Lukas.

8:24 PM  
Blogger rouba said...

fouad the last comment (#55) on your previous post is freaky
(we come in great numbers..etc etc!!)
WHAT THE HELL?
we do not want to kill you so flee, if you don't flee we will kill you?
is this some sick horror movie we've been born into?

10:00 PM  
Blogger Fouad said...

It probably is, rubes. But you know what? they don't scare me. I wish we could a million people together and march peacefully onto the south. Let's see how many they are willing to kill. They will soon run out of options. We just have to be steadfast and patient, as we have always been.

12:04 AM  
Blogger BeeBee said...

Fouad... What u say is ture... I wrote about their hatred on my blog... We will never turn "inot monsters", we are caring, loving and giving people, we will fight for our rights and we will not surrender but we will never enjoy murder or promote it for the sake of showing off our power.. We are way much better that that...

12:49 AM  

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