Lebanon
Beirut’s Scarred Heritage — with Nadine Panayot
“As long as justice hasn't been done, I think these scars should be here and remain here to remind us of this horrific tragedy.”After the 2020 Beirut blast, a massive volunteer effort took place to save the city’s ancient heritage. Three years later, New Lines magazine's Lydia Wilson goes back to see the results of that task firsthand and to talk to museum curator Nadine Panayot about what it means for Lebanon’s uncertain future.
Anime and Arab Men
Shonen protagonists countered the toxic masculinity of the time, exposing us to ideals of manhood unheard-of to a bunch of Middle Eastern boys who watched older gentlemen in fine suits throw tantrums over honor and good name, then push their weight around with fists and guns.
The Hariri Assassination and the Revolution That Never Was
Lebanon’s Cedar Revolution was not a revolution. In the end, the ingredients just weren’t there. But it did change Lebanon forever — and taught those of us who took part a few important lessons about the promise, and the tragedy, of politics.
The Uncomfortable Embrace of a Return Visit to Lebanon
Despite rising inequality and three years of economic collapse, Lebanon still holds a singular allure amid the chaos. Returning is like a warm but slightly uncomfortable hug from a favorite relative you didn’t know you missed — smelly, cozy, warm and slightly suffocating unless you give in to the embrace.
Lessons in Diplomacy from Wartime Lebanon
When our car was reassembled, we were ordered (at gunpoint) back into the front seats and directed by two Syrian soldiers — seated behind us — to drive to the unit’s headquarters. As Tony drove, I ingested, as inconspicuously as possible, notes I had written on rice paper.
1950s U.S. Foreign Policy Looms Large in Lebanon
When a violent coup overthrew the British-backed Hashemite monarchy in Iraq on July 14, 1958, Lebanon’s President Camille Chamoun intensified his pleas for U.S. support against “international communism.” The U.S. was left with an unpalatable decision: prop up an unpopular ruler or undermine the Eisenhower Doctrine.
Beirut’s Pigeon Fanciers: a Mix of Thugs and Theorists
Pigeon fancying has always made sense in densely populated Beirut. On rooftops, enthusiasts can unleash their passion in the greatest public space available — the sky.