Under democracy one party always devotes its chief energies to trying to prove that the other party is unfit to rule - and both commonly succeed, and are right.
- HL Mencken
- HL Mencken
Saturday, December 09, 2006
Friday, December 08, 2006
STOP SECTARIANISM CAMPAIGN
Awareness campaign on sectarianism
Background:
Since 1920, Lebanese society has been structured according to religious confessions or sects. Within a country of 10,000 km², we have over 17 official religious sects.
Sectarianism is intertwined in our daily life, and has been so for years, officially and in society. Most official positions are based on religious denominations.
Sectarianism was one of the main factors leading to the civil war, but even today, everybody still thinks along religious lines and divides people into sectarian groups.
The topic was always a taboo subject, until the "Spring Revolution" of 2005. With this movement, the creation of civil society groups brought together people from every religion, and made it clear to many that civil society-led initiatives could effectively make a difference.
The campaign:
The campaign focuses on the ridiculous/harmful side of sectarianism/confessionalism and its excesses in our every day life.
Generously conceived for AMAM by a multi-confessional creative team of like-minded people from the H&C Leo Burnett agency, the campaign is bound to make you both laugh and think. The tone, which is innovative, provocative, funny and straight to the point, will most certainly generate debate and provoke much-needed thinking about the reality of how far confessionalism dictates our every day social behaviour.
Like us, you think confessionalism is a plague which has been eating away at this country for as long as one can remember. Like us, you also think this country, despite all its flaws and complexities, remains a place like no other, one we should cherish, support & believe in. Like us, you have surrendered to the Lebanese spell, and have vowed to always keep trying, in your own way, to make things better. Like us, you are a believer in the unique richness and potential found in the Lebanese pluri-confessional make-up. We hope you like this campaign. If you do, and wish to support us for other citizenship-building awareness campaigns of this kind, please get in touch. Thank you.
05amam
www.05amam.org
Background:
Since 1920, Lebanese society has been structured according to religious confessions or sects. Within a country of 10,000 km², we have over 17 official religious sects.
Sectarianism is intertwined in our daily life, and has been so for years, officially and in society. Most official positions are based on religious denominations.
Sectarianism was one of the main factors leading to the civil war, but even today, everybody still thinks along religious lines and divides people into sectarian groups.
The topic was always a taboo subject, until the "Spring Revolution" of 2005. With this movement, the creation of civil society groups brought together people from every religion, and made it clear to many that civil society-led initiatives could effectively make a difference.
The campaign:
The campaign focuses on the ridiculous/harmful side of sectarianism/confessionalism and its excesses in our every day life.
Generously conceived for AMAM by a multi-confessional creative team of like-minded people from the H&C Leo Burnett agency, the campaign is bound to make you both laugh and think. The tone, which is innovative, provocative, funny and straight to the point, will most certainly generate debate and provoke much-needed thinking about the reality of how far confessionalism dictates our every day social behaviour.
Like us, you think confessionalism is a plague which has been eating away at this country for as long as one can remember. Like us, you also think this country, despite all its flaws and complexities, remains a place like no other, one we should cherish, support & believe in. Like us, you have surrendered to the Lebanese spell, and have vowed to always keep trying, in your own way, to make things better. Like us, you are a believer in the unique richness and potential found in the Lebanese pluri-confessional make-up. We hope you like this campaign. If you do, and wish to support us for other citizenship-building awareness campaigns of this kind, please get in touch. Thank you.
05amam
www.05amam.org
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Beirut: Open Demonstration, Open Heart
A very touching drawing my Pierre Sadek, the famous Lebanese Caricaturist – shown on Future TV (staunch government supporter) on the eve of the demonstrations!
It Reads: Open Protest on the upper right corner, Open Heart on the lower right.
Beirut the large red Arabic script, forming a heart and a bouquet of roses.
On the first day of the demonstrations, Fairuz, the Lebanese Diva, was parading on the BIEL Theatre, a few hundred meters from the demonstration site – Full house! On the third day, the Beirut Marathon was taking place (courtesty gettyimages.com & AFP). The prime minister beseiged in the Ministerial Serail announces that he bows his head in pride for every Lebanese who expresses his right to demonstrate. In a region where dictatorship prevails, in a country where hearing Nasrallah and Aoun talk gives me allergy - I remember that Voltaire (?) said: "I disapprove of what you say (as a matter of fact, I hate what they're saying), but I will defend to the death your right to say it." Deeper under the skin of pro-Syria, anti-America, anti-government, da..da..da.. Lies freedom, and the belief that the people have the right to impose change.
Beirut, Lady of Democracy, Lady of Madness, Lady of Change, City of Change.
If she's with them.. I'm Changing Sides
The finer side of anti-government pro-Hizbullah Demonstrations!
Apologies for Photographer - I got this by email - source unknown.
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Gog, Magog & Demagog - The End of "Israel"
This posting comes after a long string of comments, replies on a posting called:David-Stone: Defensive Rolling Stone.
The argument started with a call to a 2 state solution between Palestine & "Israel" that will eventually grow into one state, and with demographics and wisdom, will integrate in the region. Otherwise, the results on the human level are catastrophic. In short, "Israel" should integrate (gradually), or disintegrate by force.
We finally agreed that we are enemies, and that there is no love lost between us.
The argument started with a call to a 2 state solution between Palestine & "Israel" that will eventually grow into one state, and with demographics and wisdom, will integrate in the region. Otherwise, the results on the human level are catastrophic. In short, "Israel" should integrate (gradually), or disintegrate by force.
We finally agreed that we are enemies, and that there is no love lost between us.
Sunday, October 08, 2006
David-Stone: Defensive Rolling Stone
Had it not been for the burst of the military bubble of Israel, Egypt would not have got its land back. Lebanon now has the same options. Israel paralysed half of Lebanon and destroyed 10 billion dollars worth of Infrastructure, a bunch of Lebanese guys parlayed northern Israel & its economy, and their economic losses are comparable, and the cost of war is not cheap for them either - 2 billion dollars of weapons.
Israel has forever boasted it can destroy the whole country. It still can, but this country will not stand still. I have strong reserve on "who" fights the defensive war, but I have no doubt that we should be always ready to give our neighbour to the south a strong kick in the mid-section if it gets macho. I propose to call the defensive plan - the David-Stone, a small stone between the eyes of the military giant once that beast gets aggressive.
I do not believe in peace with Israel, I do believe in a truce - until such a time that Israel truly moves towards peace. I believe the same applies to all Arabs and Israel. I repeat, until proven otherwise, Israel should not be trusted. On the other hand, running an endless war is futile to us at least. War from our part is only a means to set the record straight. After peace, we should always be careful. Israel cannot be trusted.
A clarification, I do not believe in Israel's right to exist as a principle, but I am also pragmatic. Now that it's there, we have to find a way to live with it with a pinch of salt, or a squeeze of lemon. The interim solution: two states. Long term solution, one state for the two people (secular, non-ethnic). Final solution - one state, and one people. Those would be called the Palestinian people (or call them any name), a multiethnic people, and multi-denominational one as well. Jews, Christians, Muslims etc. Some of the new-Palestinian people would have been originally Arab, and the others would have come a long time ago from Poland, Germany, Yemen, and Morocco etc. Timeframe? Hopefully 60 years. Crusades have done that, they came as Fredrick and Wolfgang, now they are called Mohammed and Elias. Let's put it into testing: Motche Kassav is called Moussa Kassab. Actually, the earlier pronunciation of the name sound like a sneeze compared to the rhythmic Arabic.
Another interesting fact, part of the Crusades and their settlements moved back to Europe, those who stayed integrated with their surrounding. I know that Arab airlines are acquiring A380s en-mass, in short, they can move a million people a month if they need to. Possible destinations: Madagascar for Climate, Europe for Culture.
Israel has forever boasted it can destroy the whole country. It still can, but this country will not stand still. I have strong reserve on "who" fights the defensive war, but I have no doubt that we should be always ready to give our neighbour to the south a strong kick in the mid-section if it gets macho. I propose to call the defensive plan - the David-Stone, a small stone between the eyes of the military giant once that beast gets aggressive.
I do not believe in peace with Israel, I do believe in a truce - until such a time that Israel truly moves towards peace. I believe the same applies to all Arabs and Israel. I repeat, until proven otherwise, Israel should not be trusted. On the other hand, running an endless war is futile to us at least. War from our part is only a means to set the record straight. After peace, we should always be careful. Israel cannot be trusted.
A clarification, I do not believe in Israel's right to exist as a principle, but I am also pragmatic. Now that it's there, we have to find a way to live with it with a pinch of salt, or a squeeze of lemon. The interim solution: two states. Long term solution, one state for the two people (secular, non-ethnic). Final solution - one state, and one people. Those would be called the Palestinian people (or call them any name), a multiethnic people, and multi-denominational one as well. Jews, Christians, Muslims etc. Some of the new-Palestinian people would have been originally Arab, and the others would have come a long time ago from Poland, Germany, Yemen, and Morocco etc. Timeframe? Hopefully 60 years. Crusades have done that, they came as Fredrick and Wolfgang, now they are called Mohammed and Elias. Let's put it into testing: Motche Kassav is called Moussa Kassab. Actually, the earlier pronunciation of the name sound like a sneeze compared to the rhythmic Arabic.
Another interesting fact, part of the Crusades and their settlements moved back to Europe, those who stayed integrated with their surrounding. I know that Arab airlines are acquiring A380s en-mass, in short, they can move a million people a month if they need to. Possible destinations: Madagascar for Climate, Europe for Culture.
Friday, October 06, 2006
1973-2006: Myth Busters
Thirty-three years anniversary of the October 1973 war! The Egyptian Army crosses the Barlev Line. Many would come and say that it was not a victory, but that is not the point. The outcome is that Sinai is Egyptian and Arab today. Thirty-three years ago, young Egyptian heroes crossed the Suez Canal to claim back what is rightfully theirs. [Check this website on Yom-Kippur]
Does the Canal qualify as part of the Red Sea? No matter what, the Egyptians did not need Moses to part the sea to get to the other side. They were not fleeing the Pharos; they took justice into their hands. They planned, they implemented, and they succeeded. They were the myth busters. Israel is not invincible, and contrary to what is believed, you do not need to destroy Israel, you just need to shake it hard enough to get what you want.
Back then, Arabs proved that Israel is not “invincible,” and that force, will, and good planning do pay back. This year, Lebanon proved the same.
Was Lebanon – through its resistance– victorious? One can debate this forever. I find it difficult to answer this question myself because HA was involved. Nonetheless, I still do believe our tiny little country should be proud that a bunch of its young men busted the myth again.
With one slight difference, the Egyptian Army undertook the assignment. Next time we need to defend our land and reclaim our rights, it should be the Lebanese Army supported by a government-controlled resistance, under a National Defense Plan.
I bow in respect to all the young men who sacrificed their life in 1973 for Egyptian and Arab land and honor. I also bow to all the resistance men and women in Lebanon: those who died for their cause, and those who lived (and will live) for it: A 10452 km2 free, independent, and sovereign country – Liberated of all foreign occupation – whether Israeli or Syrian.
Does the Canal qualify as part of the Red Sea? No matter what, the Egyptians did not need Moses to part the sea to get to the other side. They were not fleeing the Pharos; they took justice into their hands. They planned, they implemented, and they succeeded. They were the myth busters. Israel is not invincible, and contrary to what is believed, you do not need to destroy Israel, you just need to shake it hard enough to get what you want.
Back then, Arabs proved that Israel is not “invincible,” and that force, will, and good planning do pay back. This year, Lebanon proved the same.
Was Lebanon – through its resistance– victorious? One can debate this forever. I find it difficult to answer this question myself because HA was involved. Nonetheless, I still do believe our tiny little country should be proud that a bunch of its young men busted the myth again.
With one slight difference, the Egyptian Army undertook the assignment. Next time we need to defend our land and reclaim our rights, it should be the Lebanese Army supported by a government-controlled resistance, under a National Defense Plan.
I bow in respect to all the young men who sacrificed their life in 1973 for Egyptian and Arab land and honor. I also bow to all the resistance men and women in Lebanon: those who died for their cause, and those who lived (and will live) for it: A 10452 km2 free, independent, and sovereign country – Liberated of all foreign occupation – whether Israeli or Syrian.
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