Wed: July 12 - Israel enters Lebanon

We're hearing reports that Israeli troops have entered into southern Lebanon. I'm surprised at how calm everyone here is. I guess it's just normal for them. I'm a little freaked out to be honest. The reports are coming in minute by minute. Hezbollah says that Israel started and Israel says Hezbollah started it. I honestly don't know how anyone gets work done here. There is literally no peace and quiet...Pardon the wording.....In this country. Yet, things go on as if nothing is happening. AHH! I'm not sure how to react. I just wanted to post to let everyone know that I'm ok. I just pray that this doesn't escalate into something worse. I'll be careful and stay close to home.


6:30pm...The news is the same. It seems that Israel and Lebanon do this all the time. It's just that the media is increasing coverage because there is little else to report. I called several of my friends in the area and their response was, "We're used to it, Don't worry." This is the life of young and old, men and women, boys and girls.

I experienced something amazing the other day. I went to the beach with a group of people in Haifa. We realized that we had forgotten cups for the soda. A young friend Samer (about 18) and I went to ask for cups from a local smoothie stand on the board walk. Samer is a tall lanky Arab Israeli with a warm smile and mischievous eyes. As soon as the attendant saw Samer his manner changed. I can't describe it but you could see how the attendant looked down at Samer. Samer is different..He's Arab. That's the feeling I got from the attendant. He refused to give us cups even though we offered to pay for them. We had to go to several places before someone would even listen to our request.

The situation here is simple. The Arabs of this country are treated like the blacks of early America. Discrimination is blatant. Within Nazareth, everyone is Arab so you don't see it. But when you travel outside, it's different. In Nazareth, Samer comes from a very rich, educated and prominent family. Outside, he is nothing but an Arab. Forgive me if I sound so very onesided but this is the reality of the situation. It's extremely depressing.

I met another young man in his early 20s who described what it's like to be an Arab man in Haifa (a beautiful port city on the Mediterranean). He talked about going to a club and meeting a girl, hitting it off, dancing...Really getting along. But something changes the moment the girl finds out his name. As soon as she finds out he is an Arab, it's over. This man no longer bothers to talk to girls. He says it's no use. His Muslim culture and religion also make it hard for him. It's like people here can't get a break. They are oppressed in one way or another.

Ugh, it's really all very sad.