The CORE Insider’s co-editor-in-chief, Daniel (me), has cousins in Lebanon around his age. One of them, Ibrahim Slim (last name pronounced “Sleem”), a 15-year-old living in Beirut, wrote the following letter at Daniel’s request to help describe his situation and what life has been like for a teenager there. The letter was written to share a personal perspective on the conflict between Lebanon and Israel, in the broader context of the ongoing Israeli-Iranian war, with the students of CORE Butte. The Insider is grateful to Ibrahim for taking the time to share his experience despite his situation. Please note that the letter was originally written in Arabic and has been translated into English. You can read the original, untouched letter here.

To Core Butte,

My name is Ibrahim.

I am writing this letter because the Lebanon you see in the news is not the Lebanon I know. You see explosions, maps, or politics on the news, but for me, it is the change we feel in the atmosphere. One day, we are planning a weekend at the beach or in the mountains, and the next day, we find ourselves silenced, just waiting to see what foreign powers will decide about our lives.

Before these events, I lived a normal student life. I was planning my future and spending time with my friends. At that time, I did not realize the value of a quiet life, and that is the biggest regret I feel now.

Lebanon is a small country in size but it is very big in its heart and history. We are a people who love life, my people who are resilient, strong, and creative. But because of our location and what is happening with Israel and the region, we have found ourselves in the middle of a conflict we did not choose. My country has become a “mailbox” for political messages between powerful countries, and the price is paid by ordinary people like my family and me.

My life has changed completely. All of a sudden, I had to grow up before my time and instead of following games, I now follow news about airplanes and politics. I cannot sleep deeply because I am always thinking about the safety of my family, and because of the momentary sounds of the rockets striking and jets flying by.

My school is no longer what it used to be. We cannot focus on lessons, we wait for the situation to calm down, and schools are turning into shelters for displaced people instead of places for learning. At the time of this letter, we are taking school online.

All my plans for the future have become unclear because it is very difficult to dream when you do not know what will happen tomorrow. I am not living a normal life anymore so I am trying to protect my dreams in the middle of all this destruction.

We are just young people, and all we want is to live our youth in peace and safety in our homeland.

Ibrahim