Opposition Protest Update

The labor union in charge of organizing the dismal, opposition-backed demonstrations at government buildings in Beirut for the past two days has called off the campaign. "We just want to take a rest today," the union chief told Reuters.

The Hizballah-led opposition parties, realizing perhaps that they miscalculated by lending their backing to the poorly attended labor protests, promised to intensify the campaign by protesting at sites all over Lebanon, not just Beirut. The first such actions would be a Saturday sit-in at either the the Education Ministry or Justice Ministry, both of which are in -- wait a second -- Beirut, and both of which are closed on Saturdays.

Meanwhile, pro-government and anti-government groups are in the middle of a unproductive debate about which loves life more than the other. It started when some social and business leaders launched a "United Colors of Benetton"-style advertising campaign aimed at ending sectarian feeling in the country. They plastered billboards around the country with an "I Love Life" logo in English, French, and Arabic.

Ending sectarianism in Lebanon is an important endeavor, but the movement's political sympathies have clearly been with the government. So much so that the opposition recently launched a response. Hijacking the same billboard logos, they're running an equally aphoristic "I Love Life... With Colors" campaign. (The colors represent the various opposition parties.) One opposition official connected to the campaign has actually been telling the press: "We love life more than they do."

If that's the case, and everyone loves life, then may TIME suggest a resolution to Lebanon's political crisis? A big group hug.

By Andrew Lee Butters/Beirut