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My Heart Is Heavy; Sickening Display in Lebanon
Hezbollah released the remains of the two Israelis ambushed, which triggered the Israeli war against Hezbollah two years ago. They had never indicated whether the Israelis were alive or not, and Israel held out hope. In return, Israel release remains and several prisoners (including a notorious one).
But, it was the report on NPR this morning from the Lebanon side that disgusted me beyond belief.
<<<Hezbollah supporters set up a makeshift stage in the coastal town of Naqoura, where a brass band awaited the returning prisoners. On the platform stood a large photograph of a weeping Israeli woman. A nearby sign read, "ISRAEL IS SHEDDING TEARS OF PAIN."
"LEBANON IS SHEDDING TEARS OF JOY," read another.>>>
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92578250 (emphasis added)
Unfortunately, those disgusting signs tell us too much about what the terrorists' believe plays well with too many Arabs - the Muslims in Lebanon, the Palestinians, and the Arab world; you would NEVER see such a sickening display in Israel - even with the greater degree of freedom to dissent there.
My heart is heavy.
It is truly going to take efforts such as The Parents' Circle, to bring us to a point where NOONE would tolerate such disgusting crowing about the pain of another.
Comments (2)
I have an interesting update. Shortly after I posted this (here and on Backstreets.com), NPR deleted the references to the signs in the article.* (The audio of the reporter describing them on Morning Edition remained, but, not quite the same.)
All Things Considered (NPR's afternoon show) then posted a new Ivan Watson story (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92586233), and it included a slightly different description of the signs/banner (simply states "Pain in Israel, Joy in Lebanon"). I am trying to answer the questions that their editing has raised (in my mind, anyway), and am curious why I haven't seen any pictures or video of the signs/banner. I certainly feel they're newsworthy, even as they sicken my stomach.
If any of you can find an image, please let me know.
*By the way, I am not implying that my post prompted NPR to edit the story; I'm only noting that for chronology purposes.
July 16, 2008 5:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
OK, I finally found one image of the sickening Hezbollah banner(s) - it is a few seconds into this quickie report on Ha'aretz TV. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1002659.html. Although the image is of the shortened, "Tears of Pain... Tears of Joy" version, the reporter, and enough other reports confirm that there was the longer version referenced in the first NPR report.
So, it does/they do exist.
My disgust (stomach) can now focus on the utter lack of humanity in crowing about swapping remains for prisoners (including at least one cold-blooded toddler-killer).
My journalistic instincts (head) can now focus on decrying the lack of attention to the visuals of the sickening banners.
My emotions (heart) can now focus on grieving with the families of the Israelis who were kept in limbo for two years by cynical, heartless terrorists who would not disclose their condition and would not allow the Red Cross to confirm (we now know why).
And, we can all now wonder what impact this sequence of events portend for future terrorist actions.
July 16, 2008 6:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
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