Remember that scene in Return of the Jedi when Luke Skywalker asks Obi-Wan Kenobi why he said his father, Anakin Skywalker, was murdered by Darth Vader in Episode IV, when in fact Anakin and Vader were actually one and the same?

And what did Ben K. say? “What I told you was true, from a certain point-of-view.”

Ah, I love Jedi wisdom.

See, personal media is really an amazing thing. As chaos continues to erupt in the Middle East, I’ve been compelled to learn more about what ordinary human beings who are living through this nightmare, on both sides of the Lebanese-Israeli border, have to say about this tragic situation.

Check it.

Sarah Bronson, a.k.a. Chayyei Sarah, is “an Orthodox Jewish thirty-something living, playing, writing, and dating in Jerusalem.” In recent weeks, Sarah, who prides herself on being very fair and reasonable when it comes to issues affecting Israel (i.e., Gaza and the West Bank) has started writing about this very conflict. Her words are honest and beautiful.

An excerpt from Sarah’s blog:

I’M BACK

Just got back from Safed, and I’m fine.

Today was a quiet day, rocket-wise. The town was practically deserted, but those who remained behind emerged from their shelters and enjoyed the fresh air and opportunity to run errands. As my bus wound its way through town, I noticed that most food stores were open today, though nothing else was. Of course, everyone was hoping that things stay like this.

To give you an idea of how deserted is the town: A neighborhood I visited that usually has 1,000 children in its kindergartens alone, now has a total of about 20 children ages toddler-10 in the day camp they’ve made in a renovated shelter. They said there was another day camp nearby as well with similar numbers. That should give you a picture.

A grocery there had remained open every day throughout the war, the only source of food in town. But nearby was a fruit-and-vegetables store, on the ground floor of an apartment complex, locked up and reeking — because two weeks ago the owner closed shop in a panic, left town, and has not been back yet to deal with the mess.

And north of the border in Beirut…

Mazen Kerbaj is a Lebanese artist who started blogging in July, when the conflict erupted. His blog is filled with raw emotion — he’s angry, sad and frustrated. In one instance, Mazen draws a picture of a woman holding her dead child, and in another he writes a very simple entry about the deaths in Qana.

2000 years ago, in qana, jesus transformed water into wine.
today, in qana, the israeli air force transformed kids into ashes.
today, in beirut, i am not able to transform this page into a drawing.

Looking for other bloggers in the region? Be sure to check out Iraqi Bloggers Central. You can read interviews with more Lebanese and Israeli bloggers (including Sarah) who share their various points-of-view about the madness exploding in the Middle East.

Peace.