Where’d the Love Go in Lebanon?
Grace Massoud
6/9/2023 4:15:03 PM
Grace Massoud wrote this article in MTV Website:
The Inhumane misfortune of Karam Bou Chaaya and his friends in Baalbek, and the senseless attack on a young British woman while jogging on the Beirut Waterfront, were just two out of many incidents that have left me wondering: Where’d the love go?
Karam was driving back from a funeral with his buddies last Friday when suddenly he found himself under fire. The scene was right out of an action movie and it was terrifying to say the least. The poor guy took a bullet to the neck and fell into a coma. A lot of people passed by the scene and no one stopped. Hospitals refused to take him in and treat the patient claiming not being equipped. Adding insult to serious injury.
Last March, a British journalist suffered an attack and attempted rape on the Beirut Waterfront, a popular spot for joggers. It was 30 mins after the fact that the police finally came to the rescue and caught the Syrian perpetrator. It is horrifying to think that at any moment and any place, no matter how crowded, in broad daylight, we could be the victim of such an attack. And no one will come to our rescue. They will just stand by and watch.
The poor youngsters and journalist could’ve been any member of my family or yours devastatingly affected by the turmoil that shakes Lebanon. Where is the humanity? Why would no one stop and attempt to come to the aid of a fellow human in distress? Why would hospitals turn away a patient between life and death? This is shocking, saddening, and making me lose faith in human nature. Most people have become numbed and self-absorbed after the crisis and Covid. The hits we’ve been taking haven’t been easy that’s for sure. But what will become of us if we stop caring about each other and just keep on driving when we see a fellow human bleeding to death on the side of the road, or keep on walking while a helpless woman is being viciously attacked and raped. The Lebanese have always been famous for their generosity, hospitality, warmth and empathy. If we lose the will to care for others, we lose what makes us special and what draws other cultures to us. We lose a big piece of our soul along with it.
Moreover, the feeling of coming to the aid of another person brings joy to us. Being of service to others is something to always seek out because not only are we helping them but we’re helping ourselves to a happier, more gratifying experience of Life. It’s a proven fact that it’s a recipe for happiness and for shaking off the numbness and general dissatisfaction.
The Inhumane misfortune of Karam Bou Chaaya and his friends in Baalbek, and the senseless attack on a young British woman while jogging on the Beirut Waterfront, were just two out of many incidents that have left me wondering: Where’d the love go?
Karam was driving back from a funeral with his buddies last Friday when suddenly he found himself under fire. The scene was right out of an action movie and it was terrifying to say the least. The poor guy took a bullet to the neck and fell into a coma. A lot of people passed by the scene and no one stopped. Hospitals refused to take him in and treat the patient claiming not being equipped. Adding insult to serious injury.
Last March, a British journalist suffered an attack and attempted rape on the Beirut Waterfront, a popular spot for joggers. It was 30 mins after the fact that the police finally came to the rescue and caught the Syrian perpetrator. It is horrifying to think that at any moment and any place, no matter how crowded, in broad daylight, we could be the victim of such an attack. And no one will come to our rescue. They will just stand by and watch.
The poor youngsters and journalist could’ve been any member of my family or yours devastatingly affected by the turmoil that shakes Lebanon. Where is the humanity? Why would no one stop and attempt to come to the aid of a fellow human in distress? Why would hospitals turn away a patient between life and death? This is shocking, saddening, and making me lose faith in human nature. Most people have become numbed and self-absorbed after the crisis and Covid. The hits we’ve been taking haven’t been easy that’s for sure. But what will become of us if we stop caring about each other and just keep on driving when we see a fellow human bleeding to death on the side of the road, or keep on walking while a helpless woman is being viciously attacked and raped. The Lebanese have always been famous for their generosity, hospitality, warmth and empathy. If we lose the will to care for others, we lose what makes us special and what draws other cultures to us. We lose a big piece of our soul along with it.
Moreover, the feeling of coming to the aid of another person brings joy to us. Being of service to others is something to always seek out because not only are we helping them but we’re helping ourselves to a happier, more gratifying experience of Life. It’s a proven fact that it’s a recipe for happiness and for shaking off the numbness and general dissatisfaction.