Happy Valentine’s Day–from the Levant…

Today in Beirut, classes were cancelled at the university, and many people stayed home from work–but not because of Valentine’s Day. February 14th marks the anniversary of the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri in 2005. To commemorate his memory, his son (former Prime Minister Saad Hariri) gave a speech this evening from abroad to emphasize political “moderation,” and confront Lebanese involvement in Syria. In his speech, he rejected domestic and international attempts to drag Lebanon into a sectarian “inferno.” Tonight, many of my friends in Beirut–fearful of an attack on this highly charged day of remembrance–decided to play it safe, and spend Valentine’s Day at home. Others, however, were planning an exciting night out on the town…