Why cant we all just play nicely
its so tiring

Life's tough. Wear a helmet. That's what my DJ always says.

I agree Katie----I could not take my eyes off this image---despite its utterly depressing content also---it is one that I have just worked one more time than I wanted---except for the absence of women--it could be any street USA

My God!!!  Can't these people be left alone long enough to bury their dead?  They're being attacked and killed while trying to bury the ones already killed... is there no decency left in this world anymore?  God help them!

This picture just really sucks you in.  It's so shocking, yet you can't help but try and see what each person is doing.

Wow,Pat. I don't think a helmet would've stop a bullet if he got shot. Careless comment for such a gruesome event. I'm curious,did you say the same thing on 9/11 when people were jumping out of those buildings?, Or when the tsunami swept those people away in 2004?

It fills my heart with saddness to see these kinds of pictures. I just brought my son into the world two months ago and I hate the fact that he is going to grow up in a world filled with so much violence and hatred. Very sad photo.

This is proof of the futility of the human races' "eye for an eye" mentality.

I say again but this time from the tranquility of my home.

We are regressing to the subhuman


Sometimes humanity can be so beautiful.

Bayaga - I never noticed there were no women in the picture. Even though I looked at the picture very carefully, that fact never struck me.

Will they ever stop?

I don't remember what I said.

MT: I don't mean to pick on you. You just seem to provide many openings for me. "Will they ever stop?"

Just remember, when the Sunni are busy killing the Shia, and the Shia are focused on killing the Sunni, they are more likely to think less about killing us. Sometimes, if you look carefully, you will see the design in chaos.

Women are all at home making burial
shrouds and suicide bombs, participating in Lebanon's two major
growth industries.

I agree Katie, this image captures the pandemonium and chaos of the situation.  And, bayaga, I also noticed the absence of women almost right away - I admit that the trail of blood is what first caught my eye.  

JustSayin - that;s and incredibly cynical and negative outlook.

Wow, you can see the chaos and the panic happening.  Check out the guy on the left in the gray t-shirt.  He acts like he doesn't know where to go or what to do next.

While eating breakfast this morning, I thought about how lucky I was to be setting in my safe, warm home. I remember thinking, "at this time there is a child in a third world country starving, there is a woman being raped or abused and right now while I'm eating my eggs, somebody is being killed.  Thank you God for my life, as not perfect it is.

This picture sucks.

What I wonder is...What is the main difference between the Sunni's and the Shiites that makes them want to kill each other?...and you know what the real kicker is?... is that right now some sick son of a gun is probably thinking that it's because of us Americans...Go figure.

Just sayin,
It was more a rhetorical question than anything... One that didn't require an answer, but thanks for the history lesson.

An omnipresent surreal scene.


Tragic.  Yet, I cannot see one woman in the whole photo.

I need someone more intelligent and less politically correct to discuss this with. OhioBob, where are you???

Back in 1980, I had a petroleum engineer prof. from Beirut that had moved to the U.S.A. to escape the turmoil. He was only a few years older than myself and very easy to like. Ironically, he was killed by a drunk driver who was traveling the wrong way on U.S.77.I ended up with an A in that class but failed to complete my B.S. degree.Things in Beirut haven't changed much in the last 28 years.

I have a lot to learn before I fully understand the deep-rooted conflict between Sunni & Shiite factions of this religion, but what I understand today from current perspective is that it's a very "Hatfield & McCoy" mentality, where hatred for the other side is passed through the generations, and helps ensure the torch keeps burning.  Few of the children who inherit this hatred will question its origin.  When pride and passion and religion are 90% of who you are and you've "always hated them" there seems to be little room for compromise and reconciliation.

Americans instictively want to help when they see this kind of "senseless" killing, but, as we've seen in Iraq, it is short-sighted and arrogant to think we can step in and force them to stop...or take sides.

Uh, okay.  I thought this was a Theta Chi frat party at San Diego State.

Just,
Political correctness is something I'm rarely accused of. Glad to see you chose to bow out early. You gotta know when to hold em, and know when to fold em huh?
As for intelligence, well that may be relative, too. There is often a fine line between smart and smarta$$. Believe me, I know.

MT: I would never accuse the Great MT of being politically correct. =) That insinuation was directed at Mickey from Massachusetts. You didn't seem to want to argue the point (one that I thought you and I might finally agree on), so I turned to Bob.

Did you just call me a smarta$$? That is so funny. I am! I am an accomplished smarta$$! I practice regularly. It's actually quite fun!

Anyone: Was my point really that far off? Who would argue that the war between the Muslim sects helps keep their hatred directed inward? I would much rather watch buildings fall in Beirut than New York.

Unfortunately, they seem to have the capacity to strike against us and each other, equally. Hence, for lack of a better example, 9/11. It seems to me that Islamic extremists just enjoy fighting and killing. It's what they seem to live for. (no pun intended ;) ).

Just - I was not aiming for political correctness.  I just find the thought of "better they kill each other than us" to be very cynical.  I would prefer that they kill no one.  If that makes me too unintelligent or too PC for you, then so be it.

Mickey: I didn't mean to refer to you as unintelligent. You just criticized my comment without any stated justification for your own feelings. Criticism is all you gave. I agree, it is sad that they kill each other. What I am saying is, there doesn't seem to be much outcry from the world about it, especially us. My cynicism is based in reality.

JustSayin - no criticism was meant.  My post was simply an observation of the cynicism in the sentiment that better them than us was "the design in the chaos."  And you just agreed with me that you were being cynical.  

well not that my opinion is worth much---I agree with OHio-----

not only can you see that same hatred in Iraq----you can just sit with me on a street corner with one of my street kids and you will see that same hatred---I am just to old to handle all this sh*t anymore

There just really seems to be no real solution to the problem and I agree with AP that someone is getting ready to shift the blame to the US.  All the world expects us to rescue them, provide aid, do this, do that and them complain about it when we do, or don't, or can't.  Sometimes,I'm sick of the rest of the world and I do wish the US would take better care of it's own.

I'm with you too Bayaga about being to old .....  or maybe I'm just too used up.

Just Sayin,
If you re-read my post, you will see that I refer to smarta$$ from personal experience. I have my Masters is smarta$$; going for a doctorate.

Mickey: Remember, the people of Beirut danced in the streets when the twin towers fell. They forfeited any empathy they might receive from me on that day. I felt more sorry for the hippo being born into a zoo.

MT: You and I are polar opposites...and exactly the same. Now how the heck do you explain that? =)

Man... I wish my "dog" could get in on this conversation... he's extremely smart when it comes to politics and religion and world affairs... but sadly he can't type worth a flip!!!  LOL... he would love this conversation... I don't think I could type fast enought to keep up with his thoughts!!!  

Based on the brains smeared all over the asphalt it is easy to see which two were fatalities.

Sounds familiar, Just...

JustSayin - Ahh, but there are innocents everywhere

Oh--Oh--Oh---I can explain that one justsayin---you are both smartbutts with a degree????????-------I will hold on the line---so you can get all the information needed to send my prize

Katie-this picture is flirting w/ one of the warnings you editors post that says something like, "Contents of this picture may not be suitable to all viewers. Click play to show image."


The blood smeared on the street and pouring out of the man's head makes me nausiated, not the sight of the blood, but why the blood is there. Will this ever end?

Okay, if there's going to be a smarta$$ contest, I'm in.

JustSayin - I agree with you 100%.  It's much better they kill each other instead of us.  The truth of the matter is, with them, it's a religious war.  And as we all know, the only way to win that kind of war is when everyone on the other side is dead.  They've been killing each other since their religion was started and they'll continue to kill each other because they have nothing better to do.  Once again, this is a NO WIN scenario.

Brewers... makes you wonder, if there were a chance the man was alive, why in the world did they drag him so far (top right)!  If he wasn't already dead, after that, he sure was!!!  Looks like enuf men around that they could have picked his body up... dead or alive!  I don't know... it just baffles me!  I mean, even if they were trying to get him out of the way of that van!!!!  What a tragic scene.

Awful....

The thought of being caught in this chaos and finding a vantage point for a pictures really disturbs me. I suppose I'd make a better EMS than photographer.

I have to disagree with Stryder.  I've read the last chapter of The Book.  As a Christian, we win!

umm...well....sad....thats all....just sad...today i cried when i saw this photo.

I realize this is a tragic event, but at the same time I can’t help but look at this because of the strange repetition within the image. It almost feels like a computer generated graphic. Here we have walking guy with hands on his head. Cut paste.
Here we have guy with black shirt and blue jeans pointing. Cut paste. Cut paste.
Here we have car with hatchback open. Cut paste.
There is guy with purplish/blue stripped shirt and balding head stepping forward. Cut paste.
Then we have this streak of red that leads from the upper left corner car down through the shirts, red shoes, more shirts, the path of blood, around the stripe in the pants to end up in the frightening pool of blood from the man’s head and the red scooter.

cindysue - I agree with you (hey that rymes).  My comment about the No Win scenario refers to the different factions of muslims killing each other over minor differences of interpretation of their beliefs.  All they know is hate and war.  We need to try and stay as far away as possible and let them do their thing.  That includes getting out of Iraq and Afganistan as soon as possible.

I have learned one thing from blogging with you all.  There is a wierd older man in our town that walks his dogs several times a day.  He keeps a wooden spoon in his back pocket and when the dog(s) poos in somebody's yard, he flings the poo into the street with that wooden spoon.  Gross, I know.  I can only hope he doesn't wash it and use it for stirring dinner. Anyway, we have a city ordinance that states if your dog poos in somebody's yard and you don't clean it up, you can be fined for it.  This same guy drives a little red pickup truck and wears a football helmet when he drives.  Weather permitting he stands on the street corner of Main and Broadway and plays a harmonica or a guitar.  I still think he's strange, but have been able to accept him for who he is because his music is trying to help make people happy, not starting a war with somebody.  So thank you all for helping me to learn a very valuable lesson in acceptance.

im lebanese and it is very sad the two sects cant unite.  its happening everywhere around the world and its horrible.  in lebanon the difference btwn the two is most sunnis support the government who are backed by the U.S where as most shias support hizballah.  most lebanese automatically believe since U.S is involved, Isreal has its hand in it in some way. that is why the shias will not give up. the government began the attack and the shia felt the need to defend themselves.  will it ever end?? sad to say...absolutely not.

Have you thanked our men and women in uniform lately. They are why this does't happen in the U.S everyday!

Naz...thanks, this sheds a little light on the situation in Lebanon, but I still can't understand why the Sunni's and Shia's in Iraq and other places, who don't like America in any way, fight each other. We in the western world are not without religeous conflicts either. Just look at Ireland and the conlict between the Protestants and the Catholics. To me, Fighting over differences in religon is pure ignorance. Whether it be Christian against Christian, Muslim against Muslim or Muslim against Christian. I always show respect for another persons religeous beliefs.

it's amazing how everyone thinks they know the root of all that goes on in the world.  all i can do is laugh because i read 1/4 of the blog comments and people are actually going back and forth with eachother like they have THE ANSWER.  Truth is, you dont know $#!* about anything that goes on in the world because you only know what you are told.  It's called propaganda people.  And what's not propaganda is probably too complex and deep rooted, that we will never have a definite reason or explaination.  but whatever.  keep thinking that it's that simple.  keep thinking that it's just about religious conflit.  Think what you want, but unless you're willing to change the world, quit criticizing.

Nobody ever said it was about religious conflit.  I'm pretty sure about that.

CAN'T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG!?

Rashwnda...Twice in this particular picture I have asked if anyone knows why? Trying to understand what is the problem. Naz actually tried to answer my Question for me. I can respect that. What I got from you is a complete line of BS, that answers no-ones questions. How about coming back, without the hatefulness, and answer the question, why do these people kill each other? Try reading all the comments, not just a 1/4 of them.

Rashawnda is criticizing us for criticizing. Rashawnda is idironical.

All hail, the great Rashawnda has spoken.
Someone with all the answers. I feel smarter already!

MT and NEOSHO...We are probably talking to thin air...It's one of those One-Blog wonders, who lack the integrity to discuss anything in a rational and mature manner. The bad thing is, this is exactly why nothing will be done to stop the bloodshed. You can't try to solve the problem, when you are talking to a ghost whose only opinion he will listen to...is his own.

where's waldo i can't find him

Religion of peace...

Ok bloggers, let's get together and find the root of Rashawnda's problems. I got my boots on, anyone else?

Didn't Napoleon's brother, Chip, run off with Rawshawnda?

No wonder she's cranky.

Standing ovation for:
AP, Neosho and MTfromLA...one-blog wonder...hahaha! Good one!

Rashawhat?
Anyone that isn't smart enough to shorten their name after reading 1/4 of the posts has a plateau like learning curve.

AWESOME PHOTO! How can people look at this and say there is no God? He is the Creator of all.

ditto, don't you get tired of typing the same old thing all the time. Expand your horizons and try something different for a change.

Terry, I am not "ditto", but i'd love to expand my horizons towards a useful activity I can engage in when it comes to all the violence in the world (aside from bitching about it).  What on earth can I do? The only thing I can say I've done in that regard is host foreign exchange students to hopefully expand horizons for us as well as those students/families, raise my girls to the best of my ability and vote. All of which are good on their own, I think, but so narrowly focused. Any other ideas? On the other hand, maybe i'll just stick to paying the bills for now. Sighs.

Gawd, the photo is depressing and does not make me think of God's glory whatsoever.

ditto knows "control c" and "control v"... that's it!!!

Bikerlady, it sounds like you are doing a really fine job with your family and hosting, and now a days just managing to keep up with all the bills, can be a taxing exercise in expanding your horizons to make everything work out properly.

Thanks Terry...think I'll just 'keep on keeping on" as my daughter puts it.  Peace to you and yours.

This is so sad! Bring tear in my eyes....poor people....