h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

No sweetie, we are not going yet, not while the bombing continues.

Our family are ok. Trog spoke to his mum this morning. We had just moved them further up into the mountains (remember I went to Lebanon at half term? That was when we did it - providence, eh?). My parents are still in our village in the foothills just north of Beirut, facing the sea.

I just finally spoke to my father. He had not spoken to me since last Wednesday because he was too upset to come to the phone. I have been calling and speaking to my mum. In fact I think I caught him out, he answered the phone as she was not home. They are ok. They have managed to stock up on 6 weeks' worth of medication. They have food and water and today were able to get enough fuel for two weeks if they ration themselves. So far they don't need the fuel (for the generator) because the electricity is still on.

I am hoping the Israelis don't bomb Bsalim (the power substation just above my parents' village). The landlines are still working but the exchange is shut down so they can not make international calls. My father said they are fine, not to worry and that our job is to pray.

So, wait and see now...

My feelings in a nutshell:

Allow me to second that. Just saw the news videos online (we don't have TV) and spoke to some friends and relatives in the area... am trying to multiply my horror at the lost landmarks in Haifa into what you must be feeling over Lebanon.

thank you, Leo. I hope it is not all for nothing and this is the catalyst that finally brings peace to the Middle East.


W

Our local paper, in typical fashion, has moved the news from the Middle East to page 5.

I'm feeling frustrated and helpless so I can imagine how you and Leo are feeling. What a mess. My love to you both.

Our local paper isn't talking about it at all, except for the poor missionaries who were in Germany at a conference and are now agonizing about whether they should return to their "homes" in Beirut

I just got back from the local kebab shop - as you do after a swim... The guy who owns it was particularly unresponsive today. I know he comes from a Christian village in south Lebanon so felt something was up. I kept at him until he turned to me and said poker faced: we don't have bomb shelters in my village, we always go to the church for shelter. Today they bombed my village church.

At this moment deep down inside I am screaming with frustration and I cannot stop a tiny, tiny part of me from whispering: thank God it is not my village.

This is so ugly. How any of us are going to have any soul left after this, I don't know.

I am trying to keep myslf busy with relief efforts and the such. At the moment, I am looking for a sorting space for donations pouring into our church in London. We have found someone to ship it, and have scores of volunteers to sort. We just need space then we can specify what donations are needed and collect accordingly. Our garage is already stacked with black bin bags.

I have been looking for his village, can't find it but I can see where it must be:

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/wideangle/shows/lebanon/handbook.html

He said Rashaya, but there are two Rashayas (the other one's in the Bekaa....) I think there is a castle near there. Must go look again.

Israel does not have the excuse that their bombs are inaccurate. How dare they bomb a church? What on earth is their rationale? What infrastructure of the Hezbollah does that destroy?

It is ugly. War is always ugly.

Whoa.. Hold up there, hmh. We don't even have it confirmed yet I am still looking.

How is Trog coping?

I really feel guilty complaining about the heat and no water when I see film of conditions in Lebanon. I cannot fathom how horrible it must be for the people living there or for people who have family there. More s for you and yours.

No worries, Lady C Life *does* go on after all. I have complained plenty about the heat myself. Actually Trog did something rather astounding. He had a portable a/c delivered to the house

He came home unexpectedly during the day last week and walked in on me ironing - or rather melting all over the clothes I was trying to iron He just stood there staring for a moment and then said why are you ironing in this heat?



What? We go nekkid in the streets now? Who is going to iron these if I don't?

The kids are in heaven, we put it upstairs, it is not particularly powerful but it has brought the bedroom temps down from 29 to 24, which is infinitely sleepeasier temp.

I found nothing on church bombings in southern Rashaya. This guy must have heard a rumour. Poor man, I hope it was just a rumour

I hope it's a rumor too. There was speculation on the news here that maybe the U. N. should send a peace keeping force. Peace keeping??

I just hope the Lebanese government manages to keep it together... a pretty tall task when you consider that HizbAllah have two ministers in Parliament I also hope the army doesnot disintegrate - the lower ranks are majority Shia muslim It really is a case of wait and see who cracks first. The Lebanese people are used to this kind of madness. The last few years have been as a nirvana for us and we had such hopes but the cracks run too deep and we just wallpapered over them. It could not last. I pray this is the cataclysm that provides a lasting solution. Thank GOD the Israelis are so accurate - do you have any idea how many people *could* have died in this bombing? It is a source of wonder to me and many others. Bridges and roads can be rebuilt and God have mercy on the souls of those who have died - but thank the Lord more have not perished.

The latest news says that Israel may send ground troops into Lebanon... It's playing out just like the invasion of Iraq. First the precision bombing, then the troops on the ground. Then the endless long occupation by military forces while they carry out witch hunts.

I thought the Stratfor analysis was really interesting. I'm not sure I understand why Syria would want Israel to be distracted by Hezbollah... I'm not sure I understand anything about this conflict! I'm off to read it on their website, if I can get it to open up.

I thought it was Iran that wanted eveyrone distracted. Of course, things were quiet for too long anyway. Wilma may be hoping optimistically, but I'm still banging my gong of doom.

Israel wouldn't bomb a church for no good reason. And they always try to avoid civilians. They've lost soldiers that way.

I suppose it was good I never finished that entry on Haifa. Most of the landmarks are gone now. All the relatives and friends relatives are in Rechasim, on the next hill over, watching the fireworks. Are Lebenese hills wooded, or can you do that there too?

Well, enjoy the a/c. My own experience with portable units is that they don't compare to window units, but they're far better than nothing. We're also having an awful heatwave here. Thank goodness I spend most of the day near a swimming pool. Otherwise I'd have to spend it in upscale department stores. Now *those* have air conditioners.

Just another example of how our government serves us so well. My particular favorite in this article, aside from the idea that you must pay to be evacuated, is the statement by our gov. that the evacuation is being delayed to safeguard Americans. Lets see, it is so dangerous to be there that you need to be evacuated, but delay ?? Sigh.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2006/07/18/international/i152224D17.DTL