Election Sunday

It is Sunday. We hear church bells and the call to prayer. I like the call to prayer from the Shiite mosque near our new apartment. it is more melodic, softer somehow, and reminds me of Gregorian chant.

We were advised not to travel today and there is no hike. Instead we walk (40 minutes!) to St. Joseph Catholic Church, where K has heard there is a service tailored to migrant domestic workers. Indeed, we arrive to find 100 - 200 mostly Filipino women waiting for the priest to begin the service. He is at the back of the church, counseling individuals one by one. He does much for this community, Father McDermott. The mass has a lot of standing, sitting, kneeling (Tom irreverently whispers "stand up, sit down, fight fight fight"), incense waving, the occasional bell, blessing of the pope and invoking innumerable saints, and lots of crossing onesself. It is all in English. the priest is a white haired American, and another priest (?) arrives in time to help officiate the communion--he looks to be nearly 80. The offering plates fill with 1,000 lira notes--the smallest available, worth 67 cents. These are hard working women who earn maybe $300 a month and have to pay back their travel and work permit fees.

On the way to the church we happened to pass by one of the polling places--a school. The army is deployed at every polling place in the country. So far (5 pm) there have only been a few "minor scuffles". Not far from the polling place we pass is a group of yellow T-shirt clad Hezbollah supporters near a group of blue T-shirt wearing Hariri (government) supporters in front of the Hariri-owned Future TV station.

There are 2,500 journalists here covering the election!
One very important point that is not well known outside the country is that Hezbollah only has 11 seats out of the 128 , and won't have any more whatever the election result. While often referred to as "the Hezbollah-led coalition" they "lead" it by virtue of their military might. Their army, which rivals--is stronger than, actually--the national Lebanese Army.

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Must share a sign on an establishment we passed on the way home from the church: "Drink and Sing, Karaoke Pub"