Have you heard of Mr. Austin Tice? He is an American freelance journalist who has been kidnapped in Syria 12 years ago. Can you imagine the extent of his ordeal and the endless pain of his family back home?
Bambi discovered Mr. Austin Tice’s sad story through a moving message of his mother translated into Arabic and delivered on a radio internet from out of Beirut. Her heart was deeply moved by his mom (et al. through her). In her message filled with love, she mentioned how much she is eager to hug her son in her arms. She begged those who know any piece of information about him to kindly share it with her.
Day after day, in a recorded message delivered just before the start of the Lebanese news on this station, Bambi listened to Ms. Tice’s heart-wrenching words. After googling the Tices (son and mother), she found a website called “The Family of Austin Tice” (https://shorturl.at/Devqp). She immediately extended her support to the Tices through a humble donation to support the cause of their beloved Austin’s return home. In solidarity, she wishes them to remain strong while praying for their inner peace despite the suffering.
During the past months and weeks, Bambi reconnected with the Lebanese local radio media as she was concerned about her family in Beirut. She took the time to listen to the news, at least twice per day and sometimes even more intensely. Her family there even teased her, wondering whether she was living with them to be that up-to-date.
Did Bambi use the term “up-to-date“? Sure she had been until shortly after the current ceasefire. Yet with enough geographical, along with both involuntarily and voluntarily emotional distance to preserve her sanity (facilitated by geography), she adds the following: it is easy for her to see the entire full picture of the ugliness of war in the doomed Middle East since Day 1. For her, Day 1 starts with the horrible massacre of October 7, 2023, and ALL what followed it, with more tragedies for innocent people on all sides and fronts, including both the destroyed Gaza and the devastated Lebanon. No matter how you look at matters, it is a human tragedy, surely not “a divine victory“, as some keep claiming. How could we talk about victories when innocent people are harmed (displaced, injured, or killed) and countries are destroyed?
This being said, she will go back in time now to the start of the Syrian war. Back then, a dear friend from this neighbouring (and occupying) country of Lebanon asked her: “With whom are you, Bambi”? Which side the regime (dictatorship of one party) or the rebellion (Islamist mainly, even if not only). Her answer was fast: “I am with the people“.
Indeed, since her childhood she remains with the (innocent) people caught in the middle of fire. Always choosing the side of humanity when it comes to all conflicts or wars comes to her naturally. This includes the latest war that hit close to home. She does not know about you, but she refuses to be blinded by fear, anger, or hate. Indeed, she can lucidly see ALL the innocent people on ALL sides of ALL borders. They all deserve dignity, safety, healing, peace… and hopefully love.
Thanks to courageous journalists like, Mr. Austin Tice, who risk their lives abroad to bring us the latest information about very troubled parts of our world. May he return home safely, as his mother seems to be hopeful today. May both (or any one of) Mr. Biden and Mr. Trump succeed in lightening Ms. Tice’s heavy heart. Bambi was happy to read in the L’Orient Le Jour that this inspiring mother is positive that her son is “doing well” (https://shorturl.at/V6ySx). May we hear the joyful news of his return back home ASAP!
