Memorials and Martyrs in Modern Lebanon

Download or read book Memorials and Martyrs in Modern Lebanon written by Lucia Volk and published by Indiana University Press. This book was released on 2010-10-21 with total page 272 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Lebanese history is often associated with sectarianism and hostility between religious communities, but by examining public memorials and historical accounts Lucia Volk finds evidence for a sustained politics of Muslim and Christian co-existence. Lebanese Muslim and Christian civilians were jointly commemorated as martyrs for the nation after various episodes of violence in Lebanese history. Sites of memory sponsored by Maronite, Sunni, Shiite, and Druze elites have shared the goal of creating cross-community solidarity by honoring the joint sacrifice of civilians of different religious communities. This compelling and lucid study enhances our understanding of culture and politics in the Middle East and the politics of memory in situations of ongoing conflict.