Back to the South: Lessons to be learned

The moment the 60-day deadline for the ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel expired, as if the call of the land was stronger than any other voice, the South Lebanese rushed back to their longed-for lands. They did not wait for guarantees or safety plans, but returned with love of country and indescribable nostalgia, even though the reality was harsh and unprepared to receive them. They returned with their children in their arms and the elderly with their tired hearts, unconcerned about the danger of mines still hiding in the ground, the toxins of rockets that hung in the air, and the destroyed buildings that could collapse at any moment.

Was this impulse motivated by their urgent desire to return home and express a deep belief in the strength of the human spirit and its ability to overcome any challenge, regardless of the circumstances? So much so that the destroyed house remains a safe haven with its memories of the past and aspirations for the future? Perhaps this is the real motivation behind this brave impulse, but is homesickness stronger than all the dangers?

The most important question is this: How did they allow themselves to put their children and loved ones at the mercy of a potentially treacherous land?

The decision to return was a brave one, no doubt about it. But courage alone is not enough; life is more than just feelings. The war destroyed the house and the stone, but it could not destroy the spirit that inhabits the heart.

This is perhaps the most important lesson we can learn from this story: Love for the homeland is a great force capable of overcoming all odds, but this love must be coupled with wisdom and realism. The preservation of lives is a top priority, and the homeland remains steadfast as long as those who protect and build it remain in it.