Check out my new 'World Reflections" Section
Interesting stories and anecdotes that reach into insights I have gained abroad.
Healing Grief, On-line Course, by Terry Douglas.
You are invited to participate in an 8-
week, on-line course, entitled
Healing Grief Page that captures a journey of healing following deep loss.
Beirut and Safe Houses
Posted on Thursday, January 20th, 2011
Safe-houses are places where spies meet their agents. While they could be in houses, more often they are in apartments located in buildings where traffic in and out would not attract the attention of the other tenants, or worse the local authorities.
There are not many rules in selecting such a meeting venue, but there is one that is a cardinal rule – a safe-house must have an escape route other than the main entrance. This cardinal rule is sometimes overlooked, especially during a civil war when little is safe. So it was in Beirut in the mid 1970’s, when the Christian militias were battling the Palestinians and the Muslim population of Lebanon, and Israel was poised to invade.
I was scheduled to meet an agent in an apartment on the third floor of a building with an elevator in West Beirut, some blocks from the fighting. There was no escape route except through the apartment door and the building main entrance to the street. The drain pipe from the roof of this five story building to the basement below would not hold my weight. From the rear window I could see the French Embassy about two hundred yards in the distance, protected by Lebanese paramilitary troops in red berets. So I decided, if ever there was an emergency at the front door, I would fire off a few rounds in the direction of the embassy trusting that a few of those stalwart red berets would investigate.
And so it was for this particular scheduled meeting with an agent, who did not appear. This was not our first meeting. He was usually arrived promptly. When he didn’t appear in five or ten minutes – in the environment allowing added time was routine, given the mayhem on the streets, I became concerned.
This was not a city where it was unusual for someone to be snatched off the street because he was affiliated with the wrong faction. Alert to the possible danger, all my senses were keen, and even after [...]
Eight Questions
Posted on Friday, August 13th, 2010
What is happening to our nation where everyone has answers, but few have questions?
Where talking heads preach, politicians agitate, and religious leaders are befuddled?
Where people rage in fear as they chase shadows?
Where strength is measured in sales and wealth — not character and courage?
Where listening is a forgotten art and interruption routine?
Where curiosity is overwhelmed by ignorance?
Where welcome was once extended boldly to the beleaguered?
Where thanks were offered in community solemnly for our blessings and the liberty earned, shared and tested?
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