I was just in chat on MSN messenger with an online girlfriend from Beirut...
Here is the edited text. Her screen name has been changed to "R:"
Alex says:
Hey...your still alive.
R:Yessssssssssss
Alex says:
I was just about to send you an SMS, and now I see you online
Alex says:
How is it for you?
I am watching whats happening, day and night
R:... says:
me too when ever we have electricity
Alex says:
at least you still have internet
Alex says:
what part of the city are you in?
R:.. says:
i left beirut now
it was really dangereous
Alex says:
where are you?
R... says:
i went to the north of lebanon
until we discovered that it's not better here
Alex says:
yea, it could get bad everywhere
R:... says:
we didn't sleep all night
israelis airplanes flew over our heads all night
it is scary
Alex says:
Do you have mobile service their?
R:... says:
yes
Alex says:
If anything I can do for you, send an SMS
R: yes u can
R:... says:
tell everyone u know that the lebanese people have no power what so ever to deffend themselves
small children are dying old people
SOS LEBANON
WE NEED HELP
THEY SHOULD STOP THESE ATTACS
WE CAN'T STAND IT ANY LONGER
R: listen not everything u hear on cnn is true
they are americans don't forget that
Alex says:
I never listen to CNN..They are garbage
R:... says:
they don't show the real truth
Alex says:
CNN is as anti American as they come\
R:... says:
u have no idea what it's like in here
they blew off all the bridges
we can't go anywere
we can't even get help
Alex says:
are you near the coast?
R:... says:
it's like hitler has arisen
Alex says:
Alex says:
maybe you can get out on boat
R:... says:
are u kidding?
we can see the israelis boats from our balcony
Alex says:
I understand...You are caught in the middle of a war that has lasted for 50 years
R:... says:
what it's like to be stolen all the time
we have the right as a nation to arise and be succesful
we have extremely high intellegent people here
they are courageous
they can do wonders.
Connection Lost
I feel sorry for your friend...but this situation was inevitable. Lebanon has been hurt so bad by having terrorists in its bosom, but has not had the power to keep them out. First they got bit by the PLO, and now it's the Hizbolah. Neither group has done that country any real favors...
It is very hard not to sympathize with "R" How can we get it to stop though when one side simply will not stop no matter how many concessions the other side has made.
Thanks for the post. Very interesting.