beirut

i don't know why "watching beirut die" by anthony bourdain - whom you may know from his no reservations food show (and his many anti-vegan rants) - is quite as poignant as it is. certainly there's lots more local stories, all poignant... but i recommend reading bourdain's piece, too. that said, i did get annoyed by it in places, like when he recounts the fact that as various "westerners" at the hotel where they were all taking refuge were able to arrange their escape, the americans' reaction was incredulity that "The Italians got out! The fucking Romanians got out! The French are gone!" - because, you know, that the Romanians would get to leave, of all people... oh, the outrage!! (of course, this is precisely the kind of attitude that others resent in americans. and bourdain seems to say it without irony.) even so, the story remains excellent - real, gripping, insightful.

some links taken from brooke & lian:
American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
Electronic Lebanon and Electronic Palestine
Gush Shalom Israeli Peace Bloc
Grassroots Palestinian Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign

and the latest word: U.S.: Israel OKs 48-Hour Air Activity Halt ...