Serving Bread

If you are following the news, you may have seen hundreds of thousands of protesters gathered in Central Beirut, hoping to bring down the government. These pro-Syrian (and pro-Iranian) protesters aim to remain until Prime Minister Fouad Saniora’s government falls (which is more sympathetic to the west and against Syrian meddling in Lebanese politics). Saniora and his colleagues aim to remain in power as duly elected officials.

Hope in the midst of the chaos:

• The protests–though organized by the terrorist resistance organization, Hezbollah–have been surprisingly peaceful.
• The protesters come from various religious affiliations. Though the vast majority are Shiite Muslim, the demographics of the protesters are not exclusively Shiite–The group includes Christian, Druze and Sunni’s. (But very few Druze and Sunni, but a significant number of Christians) Lebanon is still mostly sectarian, but these protests show that perhaps it’s not as sectarian as it once was.
• The protest last week showing support for the government was also peaceful and the protesters there were diverse in their religious affliations.

Despair in the midst of the chaos:

• The protesters are trying to bring down a legally elected government.
• Yet another assassination in mid-November (of Pierre Gemayel) catalyzed these protests. Lebanon is still a fragile society, and assassination is normal. The anti-Syrian politicians are either living under intense security or they are living in hiding.
• Hezbollah is the only remaining armed militia group that is a remnant of the civil war. It has too much influence, and with its backing coming from Syria and Iran, it is well resourced to do what it wishes. (Remember the 34-day war in July/August ‘06)

Lebanon is a fragile society and living in fragile times. The next assassination could throw the country back into civil war. With Lebanon being the closest to a democracy in the Arab world, the fall of Lebanon would make it that much more difficult to bring reform in other parts of the Arab world.

Conclusion: Pray for Lebanon!

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