Live from Beirut
by The Editors on June 27, 2008 in Features
Sharad Venkat blogs about his experience living and working in Lebanon this summer. (Photo Credit: Sharad Venkat)
The Rebirth of Conflict
by Sharad Venkat on June 27, 2008 in Blog, Live from Beirut
Today, while walking near downtown Beirut, I came across the Hariri memorial, a large tent-like structure that serves as a tomb as well as memorial to those who died in the bomb blast that killed former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. I decided to take time out and explore the memorial.
Rafik Hariri was the former Prime Minister of Lebanon. He served from 1992 to 1998 and again from 2000 until 2004. Hariri was loved by many and hated by many, which is a sure sign of political success here in Lebanon. Hariri was hated by the Syrians and by the pro-Hizbullah contingent, and he openly demanded the withdrawal of the Syrian presence. He was also incredibly rich, amassing billions of dollars thru business ventures, most prominently in Lebanon and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. During his tenure Hariri’s accomplishments were a mixed bag, but he was praised for his role in reconstructing Beirut after the long and destructive civil war of the 1970’s and 80’s.
The Power of Fear
by Sharad Venkat on June 25, 2008 in Blog, Live from Beirut
I had a genuinely frightening experience earlier today. I was walking home from Achrafiyya in East Beirut back to my room in Hamra, West Beirut, and crossed past a few checkpoints on the road. These guys always look at me funny but don’t often give me trouble. But at about the third checkpoint the soldier walks up to me and starts speaking in quick Arabic. I have a general idea that he wants to search my bag but I’m a little bit annoyed with his attitude so I pretend not to understand. He eventually starts using his hands and grabbing at my bag so I concede and give it to him.
This is no big deal- I’ve had my bag searched a number of times on the street by soldiers. I’m watching this guy and quietly appreciating how meticulous he is. Usually they’ll look in one or two pockets and call it a day. But this one went through every pocket, looked in every corner, took out and examined every object. I have a little squeeze blower that I use to clean my camera. He stared at it and then asked me what it was, so I squeezed it for him and he was satisfied.
Then he asked for my passport. I felt in my pocket and knew it wasn’t there…it was sitting in my desk drawer in the hotel room. I explained this to him. Then I did what I did once before at a checkpoint- I handed him my visa atm card. He looked over it, bending it, turning it, just like the soldier had done at the other checkpoint. But instead of laughing and giving it back, he laughed and said something in Arabic that I interpreted to be ‘do you really think you’re getting off with this?’ Read more
