DAMASCUS — How many sides to side with in Syria's crisis?

I used to grimace and roll my eyes at talk of sectarianism in Syria. "Everyone lives happily side by side in Syria," I would boast. "All religions, sects and nationalities are welcome — everyone is a Syrian here."

But amidst the drawn battle lines in the sky and on land and in between official army uniforms and the casually dressed Free Syrian Army (FSA) soldiers, differences of religious belief here are now among the least of Syria's worries. Divisions in this ancient country are bred on politics and history, city and country, rich and poor, and few are even aware of the extent to which they are sucked into the dark tunnels of national and international geo-politics.

One deeply distressing consequence of the crisis is the increasing number of family members and couples falling out over support for either the FSA or the regime. "We have forbidden talking about politics at home now because of the fights that would erupt between us,' said Khalid, a 30-year-old single construction-materials supplier living in central Damascus.