Word: beiruti
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...much use complaining to the police, who do little except direct traffic these days. It is occasionally possible to protest to whatever militiamen control the neighborhood; they sometimes catch a criminal and deal out rough justice. Then again, the robbers might be their comrades. For self-protection, many Beiruti men -- even if they , are not affiliated with one or another militia -- carry guns tucked under their belts, and women have neat little .38s stashed away in their purses...
...entrepreneurs with just as much Phoenician zest for commerce. They hawk everything from quarts of Johnnie Walker scotch to Barbie dolls; a good part of the merchandise comes from inventories assembled by looting. Says Citibank Manager John Bernson: "We're beginning to see unmistakable signs of that old Beiruti personality coming to the surface again...
Discovering an older relative blasting away with a rifle from the roof of their building, a young Beiruti inquired what was going on. "I'm a sniper," the old man said proudly. "They give me $25 for each person I kill. I've already made $100 this morning." "But, uncle," pressed the youth, "how do they know you're telling the truth about the number you've bagged?" The old man bristled: "Am I not a man of integrity...
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