A pair of ASU students returned to their home in Lebanon this summer, the first time since a war changed their lives forever.
During the 34-day conflict between Israel and Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah, known as the 2006 Lebanon War, Charles Choueiri, a journalism senior, and his sister Christina, a business sophomore, were caught in the middle while visiting their hometown of Beirut, Lebanon, for summer vacation.
One year later, the siblings returned for the first time to the city that still lay in shambles since their family had been evacuated to the United States as refugees.
"It was really difficult to go back," Charles said. "This was where I grew up, where all my memories were. [My friends] made me feel bad because every time they looked at me it was as if they were saying, 'look at us and what we've been through since you've been gone.'"
The conflict started when the political group Hezbollah — a named terrorist group by the United States — fired rockets at Israeli border towns, and ultimately goaded Israel into war.
Hezbollah is not affiliated with the Lebanese government, but is the "region's leading radical Islamic movement, determined to drive Israeli troops from Lebanon," according to BBC News.
Charles had attended ASU for one year and Christina was preparing for her freshman year at ASU during the summer of 2006. Once the fighting broke out, their immediate family decided to follow the siblings to Arizona.
Upon the Choueiris' return to Lebanon, both said that the city hardly resembled the place that they had left behind only a year before.
The most noticeable difference was the disappearance of the once proud attitude that characterized the Lebanese people, Christina said.
"People are definitely not as confident as they were before," she said. "But no matter what, they will be out and alive; they are party animals."
"[The Lebanese people], realize you have no choice but to live, and that's the beauty of the country and people's attitudes."
Despite the numerous car bombs continuing to occur in Beirut, Charles said he still felt increased security measures are helping protect the citizens of Lebanon better than before.
As a journalism student, Charles decided to record what was happening in the city.
While driving with his video camera, Charles said he was pulled over by Lebanese government agents and taken in for questioning.
"As a journalist I was kind of offended," he said. "However, as a civilian, I felt safer because when they found out that we weren't terrorists they were really nice about it and let us go."
The contrast in freedoms between the two countries is big, Charles said.
"Freedoms there aren't like freedoms here," he said. "People there have never really had freedoms, and when you are always afraid of death security feels good."
But Miriam Elman, an associate professor of political science, said that civilian opinions regarding Hezbollah have begun to change.
"People are now wondering if Hezbollah speaks as a nationalist Lebanese movement, just a proxy for Iran, or simply a proponent of Shi'a Lebanese society," said Elman.
Elman said the Lebanese civilians' fear during Israeli attacks in the summer of 2006 encouraged people to rally around Hezbollah as a means of protection. But a year later, civilians have noticed that the promises of the group have hardly been fulfilled.
"Hezbollah has not come through with rebuilding and aiding the refugee camps," Elman said. "I think that the Lebanese feel they are no better off while Israel's economy continues to rise."
Returning to school this semester, both siblings said they had a greater respect for their lives, and the safety that comes with being in Arizona.
"We are so lucky in the United States where you can go about your normal routine and not have to worry," Christina said. "There is a level of peace of mind here that there just doesn't exist."
Reach the reporter at kendall.wright@asu.edu.
