[lisa_spyder]

Rodeo,

That is hard stuff to read...therein lies the real face of war.

I think this gentleman's family are Moslem (his son is named Mohammed). From what I understand of the Moslem faith, one must bury the dead within 24 hours according to custom and religion. I believe this may be the Jewish way too...think about the anguish on both sides on this ghastly war when families cannot bury their loved ones according to their faith. Horrible.

We still have some extended family in Lebanon; in the mountains and in Beirut. They won't leave...I don't understand it, but I am not there and therefore can't make a judgment call on their decisions. Some of these people have survived 30 years of on again off again war - I can't imagine anyone living through that.

After the last trip in '68 Dad made a decision not to return. He could see what lay ahead and wanted to remember his birth country as it was...the jewel of the middle east. So much was destroyed or damaged even before this latest outbreak. Temples and ruins of great significance. This is the land of the Phoenicians (my mum's family have traced their ancestry back and swear they are of royal Phoenician blood...mmmmm?!). It is steeped in ancient history and it's being destroyed. Sad times...