At the end of September I’m moving from Portland, Oregon to Beirut, Lebanon for six months. I’ll rent an apartment and use the city as a base to visit the rest of the region, starting with Syria, Iran, Egypt, and Jordan.
I need a break from domestic politics. So I’m setting out to write about The World instead. The first places I’m going to visit after I secure my apartment are the very places the State Department tells me not to go anywhere near: Hezbollah’s militarized state-within-a-state in Beirut’s southern suburbs, and the wretched Palestinian refugee camps of Sabra and Shatilla. Then I’m going to Damascus so I can experience a real live Baath Party police state up close and in person.
I am not an unbiased observer, and I have no intention to write bloodlessly neutral “he said, she said” AP-style wire pieces. But I will try with all my heart to get it right and be fair.
Tech Central Station will publish my work four times per month instead of only twice. I intend to write for other publications as well, and I already have some tentative work lined up with a handful of newspapers, magazines, and online new media.
There is still room, though, for some more assignments. If you’re an editor interested in Middle Eastern political reporting, travel writing, and “muddy boots” analysis, please send me an email at michaeltotten001 at gmail dot com.
My blog will still be up and running the whole time. I do not intend to abandon it. Hardly anyone I know of has blogged from so many different countries, and I’m not going to pass up the opportunity.
If you feel so inclined, now would be a good time to hit my tip jar. I’ve never asked for money from readers before, and I sure could use it now. My income is modest, to put it mildly, and filing stories from the Middle East is no way to get rich.
Aside from packing my bags, I’m ready to go. I’ve had enough of opinionated bloviating for a while and I’m looking forward to adding to the world’s knowledge, even if ever so slightly, rather than merely adding to the world’s noise. Starting two weeks from now, everything I publish should be more worth writing and – I hope you’ll agree – more worth reading, as well.
Would it be too much to ask of certain people to stop calling Michael a "chickenhawk" now. The raw courage he displays in making this trip, and doing it the way he describes, should shame just about everyone into giving him some respect finally. Be careful, Michael. I've been donating to the hurricane recovery, but I'll try to send some your way. Thanks for meeting the world head-on. It shows the way for a lot of others who are too conscientious to sell out to the mainstream media conformity machine, but uncertain how to make a difference.
Good luck, Michael.
Michael Yon, Michael Totten, Stephen Vincent... this is what journalism should be, and usually isn't any more.
Be careful, indeed. I look forward to reading your dispatches, and hope you survive your travel itinerary.
Michael, may G-d look with favor on your journey, and deliver you safe back.
"From your lips to God's ears..."
Seriously -- best wishes, stay sharp, come back all in one piece, OK? Good.
Beirut's southern suburbs are totally fine, as is al-Janoub. I wouldn't worry about it. Very interesting places, all. Make sure to let me know when you're coming to Egypt.
May the Lord bless you and keep you.
Beirut is a beautiful city - enjoy the Corniche! And don't be a-feared of the flying cockroaches - they don't really eat much and sometimes come when called. Especially during power outages ;->
Best of luck to you. I expect to be serving (as opposed to training) in the IDF in mid-06ish. If you don't mind a Heeb stamp in your passport (and you can get them to print a piece of paper instead) I might be able to show you life from the point of view of a lowly hapash :-)
i wish i was going my grandparents are from tripoli qand jezzine,good luck
Be ready to be followed by the Syrian mukhabarat for quite a while.
But, the great news is---the food is excellent.