Beirut has been a byword for chaos, war and destruction since the civil war [BBC]. However the Lebanese blogger Jad through his blog is on a mission to change that and is sending out “Looks like Beirut” certificates hoping people will stop using it.
I thought at first it was a one time thing but Jad’s been doing it consistently and is even getting responses from the people receiving their certificates. Last one to reply was Monona County Sheriff’s Deputy Roger Krohn who promised not to use this cliche anymore and nailed it on his wall as a reminder. [Link]
Great job Jad and it’s quite astonishing that after 20 years since the war has ended people still think of Beirut in terms of ruins and ashes while it’s a beautiful city.
Dude when i turn on the TV and see bearded men yelling and threatening all our lives in the west..or war and destruction…Just a few incidents since your civil war you say.
Our TV screens saw:
Feb 14,2005: Total devastation and dozens killed including and ex PM.
Feb 14, 2005-2009:
*Assassinations of MPs
*Explosions and killings
*A devastating war with Israel
*Two year squatting downtown Beirut
*Nahr el Bared for months
*2008 May 7th
Shall I stop? or shall I continue and ask you; why your country cannot form a government of one “color”??
When you turn on your TV, switch to MTV 🙂
Thanks for the support Najib! We’ll just have to push for change one certificate at a time.
A very good initiative Jad, to change the image of Beirut in west, although we have had destructive and devastating incidents since the end of the civil war that lasted for 15 years!