Thomson on Lebanon
WM Thomson, who traveled extensively in Bible lands over 100
years ago and wrote his impressions in "The Land and the Book", had the
following to say about Lebanon:
"The various religions and sects live together, and practice
their conflicting superstitions in close proximity, but the people do not
coalesce into one homogeneous community, nor do they regard each other with
fraternal feelings. The Sunnites excommunicate the Shiites -- and both hate the
Druse. The Maronites have no particular love for anybody, and, in turn, are
disliked by all. The Greeks cannot endure the Greek Catholics -- all despise the
Jews... There is no common bond of union. They can never form one united people,
never combine for any important religious or political purposes; and will
therefore remain weak, incapable of self-government, and exposed to the
invasions and oppressions of foreigners. Thus it has been, is now, and must long
continue to be... That omnipotent Spirit that brooded over primeval chaos can
alone bring order out of such confusion, and reduce these conflicting elements
to peace and concord."
