The present situation is unsettling. I always considered myself to be one of those open-minded people who can tolerate a conversation with a person from a totally different background.

A couple of days ago, I had to ask my special friend (From a different religion and who supports a different political party) not to ever discuss politics with me. I even made him promise. It seemed to me that at a certain point, when he fails to convince me with his point of view and vice versa, it will have a grave effect on our relationship. I know that it bothers him as much as it bothers me that we both support different parties and are forced to avoid speaking about the present situation in Beirut to avoid a messy fight.

My sister no longer speaks to three of her best friends. It seems that they had an argument over dinner in Dubai and since then she stopped calling and blocked them on msn messenger. She showed me one of the guy's nickname and it read "Aoun and Nassrallah F*uck one another" in Arabic.

I find this very offensive and I am sure that if one of my friends used this language in front of me, I too would avoid ever speaking to him/her again.

Since when did we become so sensitive about these things? We do not even live in Lebanon anymore and are no longer involved in politics as our parents and friends are.

I know one thing for a fact, Lebanon is a UNIQUE country. So many differences easily concealed and easily unveiled and when that happens civil war is at hand! It seems that they have been trying to control it for too long, trying to live in supposed harmony, but this is no longer possible.
- posted by Shermin @ 9:44 PM