Women of Hezbollah

This film explores the reasons why women in Lebanon support and even encourage their husbands and sons to participate in radical behavior, or as we Americans know it: jihad.  In these Muslim families, the women play the "Islamization" role in socializing the children to adhere to Islamic ideology. Through their example, mothers teach their children to be good Muslims and good citizens. For the women in Lebanon, that means they are loyal to Hezbollah because it is their duty to God. For these women, being involved with the radical organization means justice for the crimes committed by the Israelis. One woman in the film explained that because she was forced into a marriage where she was basically enslaved, she feels the parallel in her country as it is enslaved by another force; to her, it only makes sense to rebel and encourage others to rebel, no matter the cost. Interestingly enough, the cost is the lives of those they love most. The women feel that if they make this kind of sacrifice, by letting their husbands and sons offer themselves as martyrs for Islam, they will be rewarded by God in heaven, and dignified on Earth as a martyr's mother. Many women were born into the war between Israel and Palestine and the indifference towards Arabs, which has in a way only perpetuated the hatred and violence. There is a question of nature vs. nurture in this film, that is answered with the terrifying images of children parading as soldiers, learning to march and hold guns; and the banners with the images of martyrs on every street post. When this kind of encouragement is found in everyday life, it is only natural to become apart of it. If violence is all you know, then how can you ever understand peace. The perpetual violence is the Israeli's fault as well as the Lebanese government. These women do no really want their loved ones to die, but they want their freedom more. Hezbollah is more complicated than crazed radical suicide bombers. It goes deeper than that. When the core of your entire life is based on revenge, how else can you live?