Lebanon Protests Unite Sects in Demanding New Government

Thank you for describing the pain of the Lebanese people in this beautiful article. It is difficult to describe how hard it is for Lebanese parents to have their dear educated and talented children emigrate in search of acceptable living conditions and work opportunities that match their skills. The message sent by the people is strong. The frustration is common between all sects and it has brought them all together. By coming together and peacefully protesting, these people have touched me and inspired me. My last comment is about the choice of pictures in this article. There are heartwarming pictures of women forming a protective line between the army and the protestors, of people dancing and singing under the slogan "the happiest depressed people you will ever see", of protestors voluntarily cleaning the streets and recycling trash, of people hugging the army thanking them for their loyalty and service, and much more. I think the world needs to see these pictures too.

I just returned from Lebanon yesterday, where I was with an American tour group. We had seen much of the country before the protests shut down the roads and forced businesses to close. I had never before been in a country in the midst of political turmoil, and not knowing what was going to happen was a bit scary. We saw roadblocks caused by burning tires and piles of rocks and garbage. We heard some people on the street say that this was a revolution. We saw areas in the west where the protesters and the Lebanese army were positioned right next to each other, with the army trying to keep the situation from degenerating into violence. Until this past week, one of the few bright spots in the Lebanese economy had been tourism. Tourists have long been attracted by Lebanon's thrilling ancient sites -- most importantly Baalbek, a huge and amazingly well-preserved Roman site that includes the Temple of Jupiter and the Temple of Bacchus, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While we were in Lebanon, we learned that tourists had been cancelling their trips to that country in droves due to the civil unrest. So my guess is that the Lebanese economy is going to get much worse before it gets any better. One protester told me that the economic situation is so dire that the negative effect on tourism won't make much of a difference, and that the people's desperation is so deep that they feel they must protest regardless of the consequences.

I visited Lebanon in June. The description of the trash was not an exaggeration. I thought: “what a bad report card for the government”

Beruit, Paris of the Mideast.

I'll say this about the Lebanese: they know how to throw a party and a protest. American protesters can learn a-thing-or-two.

Good luck to people all over the world reasserting their right to control their destiny in the face of corrupt elites!

Why not even include that their 1926 constitution - which enshrined sectarianism/identity politics - was written by the French? Why not include that Lebanon was hacked off from Syria by the imperialist French, who racistly wanted to separate Christians from Muslims? Seems pertinent for an article such as this....

I wish them the best, but worry for them as groups like Amal and Hezbollah, which thrive on lies, calamity, and conflict, will cling to power using any means necessary.

Could they use the Tunisian constitution as a model for Lebanon?

Better late than never NYTimes! I would have appreciated a better selection of photos more accurately depicting what is going on on the ground, which is truly astonishing and once-in-a-lifetime and what make these protests so monumental. Your pictures don't show the women on the front lines, the children, the elderly, the handicapped all protesting peacefully together and helping each other by serving food, doing free t-shirt printing, volunteering first-aid services, and cleaning up the rubbish after the protests. Your photos give the viewer the impression that the protest is mostly just men angry men burning tires, which just serves to further spread the stereotype the West has about Lebanon, and not the reality of what Lebanon is. Can we please get some more accurate pictures on here NYTimes?

My prayers go out to yet another Middle East country in turmoil. In the 1970's, Beirut and Lebanon were a joy. Great people, fun, history and more. May the younger generation keep their faith, but the fact they are shouting that they are Lebanese first and foremost brings hope. Perhaps Beirut can be the "Paris of the Levant" again.

Great feature! Uprising of Dignity...Indeed. People transcending sectarian divides to assert accountability from ruling thugs...its the stuff of inspirational climaxes of political sagas. Hopefully it sustains the momentum and stays non-violent till a positive outcome. Oh, may be wished for too much...

Good to finally see quality reporting by the Times on Lebanon. Since Shadid tragically died, unfortunately neither Barnard nor Hubbard have managed to report intelligently on the country. Vivian Lee has done a tremendous job and her analysis demonstrates an impeccable understanding of the complex dynamics at play in the country. Also impressive to see that she hasn't missed a beat - her documentation reflects what we, as Lebanese, have been seeing and sharing amongst ourselves. Particularly appreciated her documentation of Hezbollah/Amal attacks on peaceful protesters. Her predecessor Ben Hubbard lacked courage in that respect - I always wondered whether he was a Hezbollah sympathizer at heart. Kudos to your work, Vivian, and keep it up.

The photographs by Diego Ibarra Sanchez that accompanied this article are stunning!