Crosses Befriend Crescents

Crosses Befriend Crescents

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Although Southern Lebanon is famous for its Shiite population, there are many Christians living there. We paid a visit to the chritian area of Tyre where the charming sunset over the turquoise of the Mediterranean sea, turned the baking heat and humidity of the town into the tranquility of the waves. People were enjoying their last minutes of swimming and sunbathing of the day. We walked through narrow alleys spotted by colorful windows and walls, passed by a house whose door was open to everyone-- even random Muslim strangers like us. Without knowing who we were or where we came from, they invited us in. The yard was full of flowers and a few crosses hanged at different corners. Looking through the bushes and softness of the petals, my eyes captured the view of a small statue of Saint Mary. Happy and cheering as we the four girls were, the lady was surprised to hear two of us were actually Iranian- the nationality which reminded them of "Oppressed women", "weeping people" and "closed-mindedness." Unlike the outlets of the propaganda machines of CNN, Fox, BBC, etc these two Iranian girls were modern and happy.

We were then offered the typical Jallab drink, a refreshing soft drink made of dates, normally served in Ramadan. The hospitality and welcoming smiles of the christian ladies there made me wonder where all the sectarian conflicts of the contemporary history of Lebanon came from. But the UN check points, arms and bases talk a lot, you know.