Why I love Lebanon

For some reason, Lebanon seems to amaze me. It is a country the size of New Jersey that holds 3.2 million people, all holding 17 different religious beliefs. It is a country that has been destroyed countless times yet managed to rebuild itself over and over, be it the 2006 Israel/Lebanon war, the '75-'90 Lebanese Civil War, the '58 instability (where US President Dwight D Eisenhower sent Marines at the time), the social upheaval in the 1860s-1870s, and so forth. One of the few countries where you'll find the youth wearing a necklace like this:



Also a country where despite a war that is being fought against the Islamist Fatah al-Islam, the Lebanese people still manage to live life to its fullest and not live a life of fear.

Where, yes, girls like this (pictured below) tend to support Hezbollah (which throws the whole Islamic credential out of the water):



Where the women, even if they are gorgeous, are more politically active than women in America.

Where it holds itself as a testament to how an Arab country can succeed economically without the need to pick up arms and fight (excluding Hezbollah, of course)

Where despite religious differences, people can still manage to have a drink and relax (not that I condone drinking as a Muslim, but I tend to let people do their own thing and let God be the judge)

How I wish other countries in the region can follow suit. Despite the flaws Lebanon has, it's still a better country than others in the region.

Beautiful Lebanon, don't lose your unique character.