Reply #21: Now that's quite a leap [View All]

[Onlooker]

My view stems from conversations with my Lebanese neighbor (who was visiting her family during the war and left by a circuitous route) and two Arab Muslim friends I have. My neighbor says most of the Lebanese want the militant wing of Hezbelloh out, and are somewhat sympathetic to what Israel is doing (though that sympathy is now waning). Of my Muslim friends, one is quite religious, but he's only bothered that I'm an atheist, not that I'm gay. He thinks groups like the Taliban and Hezbelloh or a danger to the reputation and image of Islam. The other friend is Baathist in the idealistic sense. I was merely commenting on the fact that the war seems to be a battle between reactionaries, so it's hard to take sides. Certainly, it's hard to sympathize with the Taliban or Hezbelloh who have reactionary stands when it comes to women and gays.