Someone explain to me how the Hezbollah/Israeli conflict began.
I will not justify Lebanese extremists, but at least they kept their military strengths as exactly that - military ones. Targeting a civilian airport is another thing entirely. Two other Lebanese friends of mine (different family) had to actually stay in Lebanon a lot longer in the summer of 2006 as a result. You would be amazed what facts there are to be learned from people who were actually there. Similarly, ask a parent who lost a child to the war in Iraq what they think about the military industrial complex.
Matt... if you ask 90+% of Christian Lebanese they will deny being Arabs. Some bullshit about France and the mountains but I digress.
Lebanese all hate the Jews, however. And I'm fucking warning you to not say this statement or bring it up around any older Lebanese person or they will talk your ear right the fuck off your head. "Lebanon was the Paris of the middle east before the Jews came and kicked the Palestinians out of Israel" is what they will all say. The Palestinian refugees (and ultimately Hezbolla (sp?)) ended up ruining Lebanon and the Lebanese hold the Jews responsible for it. Most Christian Lebanese, I know, believe the Jews are entitled to the land. They just wish it had been done with less violence and in a way that didn't destroy Lebanon.
Like I said though.. unless you're really prepared for a long, long, long... long speech don't bring it up. My ears still fucking hurt from asking the same question, LOL! Also, don't ever ask an older Lebanese person who lived there during the Israeli takeover what was done to the Palestinians. Let's just say 'they learned from the best' and leave it at that.
