I received two disturbing comments via my blog this morning. One in particular was from a Lebanese named Rima who wrote:
Motherfuckers!!!!!!! You must go from the middel east you dont belong there. You are the most hating people in the world.
We hate you we hate we hate..
the war against you will start all over again.
Jude+ terroristen!!!!!!!!!Website: Libanon
IP: 82.134.247.160
I replied to this person with this:
Very nice, Rima. I don’t support the Israeli invasion of Lebanon nor do I support the Israeli Occupation of the Palestinians. I’ve been denouncing Israeli actions in Lebanon & the killing of innocent civilians since the beginning of the war. Don’t you bother to read before you spew curses??
I start out with these assumptions: that this person is Lebanese (though the IP address appears located in Rotterdam). And I assume that it is an authentic message and not a hoax.
If both assumptions are true I find myself deeply distressed at this attitude. Yes, I certainly understand the deep pain that Lebanese are suffering. I empathize with that pain. I know that pain, if strong enough, can warp one’s judgment. It can make you see the world as your enemy. It can make you see possible allies as the enemy.
This blog has no sympathy for the Israeli invasion of Lebanon and says so in practically every post published here for over a week. Why would a Lebanese come to this site, pay almost no attention to what was written here, and then post hateful remarks that assume I hold views which I do not?
Just because people like Rima are victims does not remove them from normal obligations of human interaction. Do you automatically view every Jew as the enemy? Or do you stop to understand someone’s views before you decide whether they are friend or foe? If Israel’s invasion has so poisoned the atmosphere that such discernment is no longer possible or desirable for some of my Lebanese friends, then I mourn that day.
An American Muslim published this comment which contained a link to a website containing graphic images of Lebanese suffering:
Check this and tell me about your katyousha’s!!!
At least this person didn’t insult me or my religion. Nevertheless, he/she again didn’t bother to read anything written here to know that I’m opposed to the mayhem Israel is hurling at the Lebanese. I left a reply at the website and again have received no reply. It’s amazing that if you hate enough making mistakes is not something you need be concerned about. Venting your pain and anger is all that matters even if you vent it at the wrong person.
I posted Rima’s comment in full at Blogging the Middle East, another Lebanese blog. I asked Anarchristian, the author, if he’d care to comment on Rima’s thoughts. Admittedly, there is foul language in her comment and I also include her IP address. Maybe he objected to one or both of those elements being published at his blog. At any rate, I can no longer find Rima’s comment at his blog and fear he may’ve deleted it. I’ve written Anarchristian a second time asking if he has any comment. No answer so far. And Rima has not responed either–though given her hatred I did not expect her to do so. UPDATE: Anarchristian’s comment below clarifies that I was wrong in presuming he may’ve deleted the comment and I apologize for my assumption. His blog filter probably removed the comment because of the profanity. I’m deeply grateful to him for his understanding of my feelings in that comment.
I am used to Jews viewing me with suspicion since I am critical of Israeli policy toward the Palestinians. And I expect to be neither admired nor respected by Arab bloggers (though it would be nice if it happened). But I somehow expected more than this.
Hey Richard,
I am not sure when you posted it, I do not have any such comment on my blog. I receive e-mail notification when I get comments but I did not receive any alerting me that you have commented today (it’s 1 pm and I just woke up…). It could be that my blog has filtered out the comment and automaticlaly deleted because of the profanities, as I have a filter for spam.
At any rate, that comment is totally unrepresentative of what we the Lebanese feel. And of course, I condemn it 100%. People should stop portraying this as a Jew/Muslim or Jew/non-Jew conflict. It is not, despite the fact that the rhetoric is full of religious elements…
By the way, that person who commented is not from Lebanon. He/she is from the Netherlands…
The IP traces to cust-02-5286f7a0.adsl.scarlet.nl
You have a right to expect more Richard, but since when has war and violence been an instigator of understanding, tolerance or dialogue?
Unfortunately, as bombs and rockets fall and innocents are burried, we are gonna see more of this on both sides.
Thanks so very much to both Ramzi and Anarchristian for expressing their feelings about this type of reaction to the invasion. It is really heartening that despite the awful violence being perpetrated on Lebanon (& also northern Israel) that we can still find common ground & tolerant discussion. May we all find peace & an end to this madness very soon.
Anarchristian: That must be what happened. I published the comment at yr blog & it did appear on screen. But after that your filter must’ve removed the comment. Sorry I assumed that perhaps you did it. I’ll edit my post accordingly to reflect that.
I agree that the person isn’t in Lebanon. But she could be either a Lebanese living abroad or else an Arab who sees herself as in solidarity with the Lebanese.
Hi Richard,
I don’t think these two letters are worth any more time or thought. The Internet is full of people like this; if they’re not interested in discourse, they’re not worth anyone’s time.
dear richard,
my name is manuela,i’m 18 years old from lebanonand i just wanna tell u that i really respect your objective attitude toward what happened in lebanon………..
u know,as a muslim girl,i was never told to hate the jews……..when i was in the uk a few years ago,i befriended a great deal of jewish friends..they were so nice and we’re still in touch!!!!!so in brief,i just wanna say that i respect all the religions around the world…….the israeli reaction was indeed irrational………i just hope that a great num of jews join me and you in our peaceful movement so that the world would be a peaceful place……..after all,we’re all human beings!!!!!! peace,manuela*
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