Beirut

Yes, I saw the videos. Just awful. Apparently it was old explosives for their government that was not properly disposed of. Israel has denied sabotage and offered to send assistance.

As I'm sure many other people have done, I gasped at how much the explosion resembled a miniature nuclear detonation. I'm only getting at how much devastation is conveyed in those few seconds.

I've been feeling the potential to start crying for several weeks, and I did tear up when I saw that photo via the Guardian of the maternity ward nurse with 3 infants, plus the BBC interview. Crisis on top of crisis. This is what the Great Unravelling looks like.

@coyote  I began to wail when I saw that picture of the nurse holding the 3 babies...and people just lying in the streets ...... I so want to hide and not come out for years right now!!!

Jawich said the nurse told him later that evening that she was in the maternity ward when the blast hit. She said she had been knocked unconscious, and when she came around "found herself carrying these three children," he told CNN Arabic.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/05/middleeast/beirut-nurse-newborns-hospital-intl/index.html

@lovendures, @coyote, @JourneyWithMe2, @laura-f

I am from Lebanon, and my entire extended family (on my dad's side) lives in the moutnains just outside of Beirut. To say the least, yesterday was devastating. My family is safe, though all suffered some property damage ranging from mild to severe. 

I also wept yesterday. And like you @coyote, I had felt something coming for a while, (I also had this feeling right before Covid hit - both times, I was obsessively checking the news for a few days/weeks, as if I knew something big was going to happen).

I lived in Beirut in the early 2000s when it was rising from the ashes of war. It has since been run into the ground by corrupt politicians and bankers (sound familiar?). This idiotic accident couldn't be happening at a worse time, when the Lebanese lira is almost worthless, the quarantine has wiped out the country's main source of income (tourism), and people are already starving. I wept for all that was and all that seems like it will never be. And I truly felt like "just when you think things can't get worse..."

But I also have to believe we're all here, on this earth, at this time, to witness this unraveling and rebirth, and this is (somehow) what we signed up for, and the story isn't over yet. If, somehow, this tragedy in Lebanon could end up with an overthrow of their corrupt government, . . .

I read a beautiful short op-ed that captured the beauty of the Lebanese people and reminded me that through tragedy we can love and uplift each other, and find the best in ourselves and those around us: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/05/world/middleeast/beirut-lebanon-explosion.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage#link-1fdae9ed

@lovendures

I was captivated by the photo of the nurse. In the midst of the photos of destruction, confusion, and despair, the nurse with the three newborns was so beautiful and full of hope.

@meliaamal My heart goes out to you.

@meliaamal

I am so sorry your family is dealing with such a tragic event, on top of existing hardships in Lebanon.    Thank you for sharing about your loved ones. My hope is that they will find their strength and live to see a more peaceful, happy and stable Lebanon in their lifetime.  I also hope you will be able to return for a visit and make new joy filled memories.  

Prayers for Lebanon. 

@lovendures, @grace

Thank you so much. You truly are light workers, and your empathy is astounding. 

Here is the link to the Lebanese Red Cross, if you wish to donate:

https://www.supportlrc.app/donate/donate.html