Mon 6 Feb 2006
So things have really gotten out of hand with regard to these Mohammed caricatures. Since my last post, the Danish embassies in both Damascus and Beirut were destroyed, or at least heavily damaged. I find it upsetting that some churches and other property in Achrafiyeh, a mostly Christian neighborhood where the embassy is located, were also vandalized. I think it is safe to say that Lebanon is in trouble- the level of sectarianism here is nauseating and sad. The fact that most of the violence yesterday in Beirut was committed by extremists (many not actually Lebanese, apparently) doesn’t really matter. There are plenty of extremists on both sides, and this is how all of the many sane, rational people – who want the best for the country and its people – get dragged in.
The photo above was taken this weekend in Aleppo – a Danish flag to stomp on. We did have a really nice weekend- lots of delicious food and wandering around. I will post more photos very soon.
February 6th, 2006 at 4:28 pm
Yes it is a shame…
But, in a dictatorship like syria, These very same ppl will take to the streets to attack opposition figures… it’s not about Denmark, and I doubt it’s about Islam!!
Danish embassy CAN and WILL be rebuilt again, but the damage to the Syrian image outside and to Syrians, that’ll take years to heal… that’s the worst part of this.. for me as a Syrian.
Again, it is a shame…
if u’re intersted u can check my blog for responses from the Syrian Blogsphere to such events… I find it my duty to help erase the trauma of this…
good day
February 6th, 2006 at 5:12 pm
I’m copying my comment from the other post. I’m talking about the riots in Beirut.
The “funny†thing is that the Danish Embassy is the only thing that didn’t burn in the building. It has special fire stopping doors and was located at the 4th floor. The “â€Protesters— set the fire at the first floor. The flames never got to the embassy. All other offices in the building and a bank were FUBAR.