"...Thus, the most democratic country on the face of the earth is that in which men have, in our time, carried to the highest perfection the art of pursuing in common the object of their common desires and have applied this new science to the greatest number of purposes. Is this the result of accident, or is there in reality any necessary connection between the principle of association and that of equality?
Aristocratic communities always contain, among a multitude of persons who by themselves are powerless, a small number of powerful and wealthy citizens, each of whom can achieve great undertakings single-handed. In aristocratic societies men do not need to combine in order to act, because they are strongly held together. Every wealthy and powerful citizen constitutes the head of a permanent and compulsory association, composed of all those who are dependent upon him or whom he makes subservient to the execution of his designs.
Among democratic nations, on the contrary, all the citizens are independent and feeble; they can do hardly anything by themselves, and none of them can oblige his fellow men to lend him their assistance. They all, therefore, become powerless if they do not learn voluntarily to help one another...."
Thursday, March 31, 2005
when I juxtapose what ALEXIS DE TOCQUEVILLE writes in this passage onto Lebanon, I get disheartened....
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
funny!
This article cracked me up! I love it when people throw verbal punches at each other. My caveat, of course, is that the fists are smothered with sarcasim.
Anyways, I have to admit: the Interior Ministry seems to have some pretty good writers....
Anyways, I have to admit: the Interior Ministry seems to have some pretty good writers....
Monday, March 28, 2005
Lebanese Sectarianism - the discussion continues...
Mustapha,
Thank you for you complements... I really appreciate them.
You responded to my specific observations with broad generalizations about where you feel Lebanon is headed.
I cannot hold you to it, because I think that if I were in your shoes, I'd probably do the same - most likely with less skill than you.
With regards to some of the points you make, I will state the following:
I would like to believe that Lebanese behave the way they do because the country is still in an initial phase of the "development process." I would also like to believe that dynamic systems always correct themselves for the better. A good counter-example to that claim is the re-segregation of American schools that is taking place today as whites and blacks willingly move to separate neighborhoods and send their kids to all-white & all-black schools. However, people here are noticing that development, and trying their best to arrest it.
The thing I keep on having to remind myself about Lebanon is that we don't have to just live together - we've been doing that for ages. We have to start thinking about how it is we want to live together.
A friend once told me that the diversity in America shocked her after leaving Lebanon (which she thought was one of the most diverse countries in the world). My response to her was that in America you have 300 people with different backgrounds, and in Lebanon, you have 20. The difference is that those 300 people each have their own apartment, whereas those 20 all live in one room.
The issue here is not physical space; it is psychological. I feel that in Lebanon, we live with a village mentality in the internet age. People (especially our parents) still judge each other and interact as if they were living in a village. Not only is their “group mentality” very strong, but the criteria for someone to be included in that group is ridiculously rigid. It’s almost like, if someone enters a house with his left foot instead of his right, he is automatically disqualified from consideration.
Whether or not this kind of behavior was a virtue a century ago, when the main form of transportation was horses and donkeys, is not for me to decide. But during an era when thousands of Lebanese from all over the country come together in one university campus, this behavior becomes ridiculous. Have any of you noticed how Lebanese insist on retaining their “village identities” even though their families have been living in Beirut for generations? My reaction to this is why? Why haven’t I grown up believing that I am part of the “cosmopolitan community” in Beirut, rather than a village that I barely visit twice a year? Mustapha, you and I, and the majority of other Lebanese bloggers think in a similar fashion, so why do we still identify ourselves with towns or sects even though we are probably more similar to each other than we’ll ever be to our cousins or relatives?
As I said in my previous post, our whole psychology needs to change. This is no easy task… and success is questionable. However, my hope is that this huge national gathering that took place only a couple of weeks ago will nudge things towards the right direction. In other words, I am hoping for an acceleration of Mustapha’s “development process.”
Thank you for you complements... I really appreciate them.
You responded to my specific observations with broad generalizations about where you feel Lebanon is headed.
I cannot hold you to it, because I think that if I were in your shoes, I'd probably do the same - most likely with less skill than you.
With regards to some of the points you make, I will state the following:
I would like to believe that Lebanese behave the way they do because the country is still in an initial phase of the "development process." I would also like to believe that dynamic systems always correct themselves for the better. A good counter-example to that claim is the re-segregation of American schools that is taking place today as whites and blacks willingly move to separate neighborhoods and send their kids to all-white & all-black schools. However, people here are noticing that development, and trying their best to arrest it.
The thing I keep on having to remind myself about Lebanon is that we don't have to just live together - we've been doing that for ages. We have to start thinking about how it is we want to live together.
A friend once told me that the diversity in America shocked her after leaving Lebanon (which she thought was one of the most diverse countries in the world). My response to her was that in America you have 300 people with different backgrounds, and in Lebanon, you have 20. The difference is that those 300 people each have their own apartment, whereas those 20 all live in one room.
The issue here is not physical space; it is psychological. I feel that in Lebanon, we live with a village mentality in the internet age. People (especially our parents) still judge each other and interact as if they were living in a village. Not only is their “group mentality” very strong, but the criteria for someone to be included in that group is ridiculously rigid. It’s almost like, if someone enters a house with his left foot instead of his right, he is automatically disqualified from consideration.
Whether or not this kind of behavior was a virtue a century ago, when the main form of transportation was horses and donkeys, is not for me to decide. But during an era when thousands of Lebanese from all over the country come together in one university campus, this behavior becomes ridiculous. Have any of you noticed how Lebanese insist on retaining their “village identities” even though their families have been living in Beirut for generations? My reaction to this is why? Why haven’t I grown up believing that I am part of the “cosmopolitan community” in Beirut, rather than a village that I barely visit twice a year? Mustapha, you and I, and the majority of other Lebanese bloggers think in a similar fashion, so why do we still identify ourselves with towns or sects even though we are probably more similar to each other than we’ll ever be to our cousins or relatives?
As I said in my previous post, our whole psychology needs to change. This is no easy task… and success is questionable. However, my hope is that this huge national gathering that took place only a couple of weeks ago will nudge things towards the right direction. In other words, I am hoping for an acceleration of Mustapha’s “development process.”
Day 3: From Tripoli
From Tripoli I write you--a short trip for family reasons has come at the right time when I really longed to be back to beloved Lebanon. What can I say about how things are from inside here?....
Well, let's just say that there is fear; it's amazing how when we're away from Lebanon we tend to synthesize news and analyze opinions and speeches in almost a vacuum...and definitely our discourse has been bold on this blog. Writing from here...it all feels different.
The Lebanese people never fail to amaze me. We have such an appetite for life. The night I arrived home, a bomb blasted in Bouchrieh; the same night, my family danced joyfully for my return until the early hours of the morning...This is how we are. This is how it was during the war...and after the war. We lived through it and we overcame it when it ended. We hate defeat; we love life.
On the political level...there is fear and that is saddening and definitely a striking contrast from the spirit a month ago. We don't leave our homes at night. Cars that have any blue signs on them or pictures of those affiliated with Hariri have been a target of sabotage and attacks lately. More and more people are being advised not to wear the blue sign, symbolizing the call for the truth of Hariri's assassination. Moreover, there has been numerous skirmishes and violent confrontations here and there, except that they don't get broadcast....Tripoli is almost divided: a section that has former Minister Jisr's and Hariri's pictures and the other Karami's...
People, yes, have gotten out of their silence and our family gatherings are all about politics, but still such talk is still bound within four walls...the culture of "fear" is still clutching on to us and not letting go...we're scared of speaking out loud about the "others"; we still whisper at times... We suspect that this person or that might be someone "affiliated" and "is recording everything we utter." We talk of prisoners who have been armed and released north....
This is a glimpse of things from here--not a political analysis, but a description of the landscape from the heart to the heart.
I will write soon...
Narakum.
"Nobody knows how many rebellions, besides political rebellions, ferment in the masses of life which people earth."
Well, let's just say that there is fear; it's amazing how when we're away from Lebanon we tend to synthesize news and analyze opinions and speeches in almost a vacuum...and definitely our discourse has been bold on this blog. Writing from here...it all feels different.
The Lebanese people never fail to amaze me. We have such an appetite for life. The night I arrived home, a bomb blasted in Bouchrieh; the same night, my family danced joyfully for my return until the early hours of the morning...This is how we are. This is how it was during the war...and after the war. We lived through it and we overcame it when it ended. We hate defeat; we love life.
On the political level...there is fear and that is saddening and definitely a striking contrast from the spirit a month ago. We don't leave our homes at night. Cars that have any blue signs on them or pictures of those affiliated with Hariri have been a target of sabotage and attacks lately. More and more people are being advised not to wear the blue sign, symbolizing the call for the truth of Hariri's assassination. Moreover, there has been numerous skirmishes and violent confrontations here and there, except that they don't get broadcast....Tripoli is almost divided: a section that has former Minister Jisr's and Hariri's pictures and the other Karami's...
People, yes, have gotten out of their silence and our family gatherings are all about politics, but still such talk is still bound within four walls...the culture of "fear" is still clutching on to us and not letting go...we're scared of speaking out loud about the "others"; we still whisper at times... We suspect that this person or that might be someone "affiliated" and "is recording everything we utter." We talk of prisoners who have been armed and released north....
This is a glimpse of things from here--not a political analysis, but a description of the landscape from the heart to the heart.
I will write soon...
Narakum.
"Nobody knows how many rebellions, besides political rebellions, ferment in the masses of life which people earth."
Sunday, March 27, 2005
A contrast of Lebanese and American psyches
One of the things that amazes me about American society is how much of a "to do" culture it is. Whenever you meet someone, the first thing that person tells you is what he does in his life. In the psyche of the American, a person is worth as much as his resume, and the lowest life form is the individual who is where he is at because he somehow inherited it.
One of the virtues I find in this obsession with "doing" is existential. The average American is the most restless human being in the world. He's a workoholic who works more than eight hours a day, not because he needs to feed himself, but because he wants to work. There is an unquenchable drive to be engaged in an activity; to help make something happen.
Another virtue of this attitude is, ironically, social. Professions tend to bring more people together than race, nationality or religious creed. In social gatherings, I find that although people are interested in my background and do ask me to elaborate, discussions revolve around the question: "so, what have you been doing lately?" or "what do you do in life?"
Compare that reality with the situation in Lebanon. Some of the most important questions asked there are: "where are you from?" "from what village is your dad? and mom?" "what's your family name?" and "who's your grand father?" When discussing the virtues of an individual, one of the most important criteria is summarized in the following question: is he from a good family?
In short, the issue of "who you are" is one of the biggest in Lebanese society; and although what you do is definitely important, it comes in a distant second place.
The most important downside of this societal trait is existential. People, especially men, feel that their life is justified mainly by being who they are. Why should Jubran do something worthwhile when he already "earns" admiration for simply being the son of Malek? Why should Mohammed/Joseph care about doing something in their lives when they both feel that just by being Muslim/Christian they are "better off", and are comforted by the prospect of eventual salvation - even though neither really practices his religion?
More damaging, however, is the behavior of those individuals who are motivated. Whatever enterprise they wish to undertake must be justified by answering the following questions: how does this benefit you (as if doing something is not inherently beneficial)? how does if benefit your family? your village? your sect? etc, etc....
This mindset simply does wonders for poisoning Lebanon's social environment. Identity factors into what friends you hang out with, who you support in the elections (rather than, for example, who will give you a tax break or better garbage collection), who you marry, etc....
I sometimes ask myself: if Lebanese valued "what they did" as much as americans do, how different would things be? If people were drawn together because of what they do in life rather than what sect or village they're from, what would happen to our infamous sectarianism?
The majority of Lebanese will say that they are not sectarian, but the political structure forces them to be that way. Unfortunately, I have to conclude that they are being dishonest with themselves and the rest of us. It goes much deeper than simply politics. Who you are is a question that is imbeded in our psyche, and seems to be a permanent fixture.
In my opinion, Lebanese need to look at themselves in the mirror before anything else. Some major behavioral changes need to take place if we are ever to overcome some of the animosity that currently exists between us. Politicians can always change the rules of the game, but in my opinion the problem exists within the people at large; and can only be remedied by them.
One of the virtues I find in this obsession with "doing" is existential. The average American is the most restless human being in the world. He's a workoholic who works more than eight hours a day, not because he needs to feed himself, but because he wants to work. There is an unquenchable drive to be engaged in an activity; to help make something happen.
Another virtue of this attitude is, ironically, social. Professions tend to bring more people together than race, nationality or religious creed. In social gatherings, I find that although people are interested in my background and do ask me to elaborate, discussions revolve around the question: "so, what have you been doing lately?" or "what do you do in life?"
Compare that reality with the situation in Lebanon. Some of the most important questions asked there are: "where are you from?" "from what village is your dad? and mom?" "what's your family name?" and "who's your grand father?" When discussing the virtues of an individual, one of the most important criteria is summarized in the following question: is he from a good family?
In short, the issue of "who you are" is one of the biggest in Lebanese society; and although what you do is definitely important, it comes in a distant second place.
The most important downside of this societal trait is existential. People, especially men, feel that their life is justified mainly by being who they are. Why should Jubran do something worthwhile when he already "earns" admiration for simply being the son of Malek? Why should Mohammed/Joseph care about doing something in their lives when they both feel that just by being Muslim/Christian they are "better off", and are comforted by the prospect of eventual salvation - even though neither really practices his religion?
More damaging, however, is the behavior of those individuals who are motivated. Whatever enterprise they wish to undertake must be justified by answering the following questions: how does this benefit you (as if doing something is not inherently beneficial)? how does if benefit your family? your village? your sect? etc, etc....
This mindset simply does wonders for poisoning Lebanon's social environment. Identity factors into what friends you hang out with, who you support in the elections (rather than, for example, who will give you a tax break or better garbage collection), who you marry, etc....
I sometimes ask myself: if Lebanese valued "what they did" as much as americans do, how different would things be? If people were drawn together because of what they do in life rather than what sect or village they're from, what would happen to our infamous sectarianism?
The majority of Lebanese will say that they are not sectarian, but the political structure forces them to be that way. Unfortunately, I have to conclude that they are being dishonest with themselves and the rest of us. It goes much deeper than simply politics. Who you are is a question that is imbeded in our psyche, and seems to be a permanent fixture.
In my opinion, Lebanese need to look at themselves in the mirror before anything else. Some major behavioral changes need to take place if we are ever to overcome some of the animosity that currently exists between us. Politicians can always change the rules of the game, but in my opinion the problem exists within the people at large; and can only be remedied by them.
Interesting discussion
come share your opinion in this interesting discussion that is going on in Lebanese Political Journal.
Click on the title to go straight to the post.
Click on the title to go straight to the post.
Thursday, March 24, 2005
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
A few thoughts I would like to share...
Two bombs have exploded in the past few days, killing at least two people and causing considerable damage. The message that this sends seems to be that the Lebanese have to choose between SECURITY and SOVEREIGNTY. But it may well be that this time the Lebanese want both.
Leaders taking part in the ARAB LEAGUE SUMMIT in Algiers -although most of them asked Assad to comply with UN resolution 1559- did not speak with a strong enough voice. With Lahoud asking them for help in the face of foreign interference, and the opposition urging them to support their fight, the Arab leaders must have found it hard -or simply too politically costly- to take sides. On another note, their rejection of Jordan's proposal for unconditional diplomatic ties with Israel would make it potentially impossible for Lebanon to engage in normalisation talks with Israel before the step is taken by more powerful Arab countries (excluding Jordan and Egypt). Does that strengthen Hizballah's argument for retaining its arms?
-On Bush's position concerning the 'democratic wave' seemingly sweeping the Middle East ( in today's International Herald Tribune)-
In response to an article entitled "still think Bush was wrong?", E. H. Gould wrote: << Thanking President George W. Bush for the "Arab Spring" is like crediting a crowing rooster for the rising sun. In fact, the Arabs' move toward freedom is despite Bush, not because of him. The same brave Egyptians who now call for free elections in their country were beaten and arrested in the streets of Cairo when they protested the US invasion of Iraq. Bush, unlike any other American president in memory, is widely detested in the Arab world. Bush's espousal of "democracy" only cheapens the world in the Arab eyes and embarrasses reformers.>>
(I thought the first sentence presented a good analogy and wanted to share it with you).
Hizballah Secretary General Sayyed Nasrallah announced that he wanted to discuss the Party of God's status in Lebanese political life with Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir (By the way, have you noticed that both men have 'Nasrallah', or "victory of God" in the names?). Both men are widely recognised by most Lebanese as reasonable, rational men. This may perhaps come as a surprise considering the fact that they are both religious figures. But in a country where politicians do not always inspire great trust, the two men appear to have, if not the trust, at least the respect of the people. Such steps that are guided by reason -rather than interest- give some reassurance that not all is to be determined by force and events beyond our control.
Leaders taking part in the ARAB LEAGUE SUMMIT in Algiers -although most of them asked Assad to comply with UN resolution 1559- did not speak with a strong enough voice. With Lahoud asking them for help in the face of foreign interference, and the opposition urging them to support their fight, the Arab leaders must have found it hard -or simply too politically costly- to take sides. On another note, their rejection of Jordan's proposal for unconditional diplomatic ties with Israel would make it potentially impossible for Lebanon to engage in normalisation talks with Israel before the step is taken by more powerful Arab countries (excluding Jordan and Egypt). Does that strengthen Hizballah's argument for retaining its arms?
-On Bush's position concerning the 'democratic wave' seemingly sweeping the Middle East ( in today's International Herald Tribune)-
In response to an article entitled "still think Bush was wrong?", E. H. Gould wrote: << Thanking President George W. Bush for the "Arab Spring" is like crediting a crowing rooster for the rising sun. In fact, the Arabs' move toward freedom is despite Bush, not because of him. The same brave Egyptians who now call for free elections in their country were beaten and arrested in the streets of Cairo when they protested the US invasion of Iraq. Bush, unlike any other American president in memory, is widely detested in the Arab world. Bush's espousal of "democracy" only cheapens the world in the Arab eyes and embarrasses reformers.>>
(I thought the first sentence presented a good analogy and wanted to share it with you).
Hizballah Secretary General Sayyed Nasrallah announced that he wanted to discuss the Party of God's status in Lebanese political life with Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir (By the way, have you noticed that both men have 'Nasrallah', or "victory of God" in the names?). Both men are widely recognised by most Lebanese as reasonable, rational men. This may perhaps come as a surprise considering the fact that they are both religious figures. But in a country where politicians do not always inspire great trust, the two men appear to have, if not the trust, at least the respect of the people. Such steps that are guided by reason -rather than interest- give some reassurance that not all is to be determined by force and events beyond our control.
The System is Crumbling!
The system is crumbling! 48 hours before Fitzgerald's report is read out loud to the whole world, the magistrate charged with overseeing the Hariri murder investigation Abu Arraj stepped down... (funnily enough, it's almost like black comedy, Rabiah Qaddoura charged him with overseeing now the Jamil El-Sayyid file....)
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
Yet another bomb!
Events on the ground are proving that the Syrians have not left Lebanon. They have withdrawn some of their troops and ostensibly closed their "intelligence offices" in Beirut and a few towns, but they still control Lebanon.
I have arrived at a conclusion: Everytime Lahoud "releases a statement," I will ignore that it came from that sorry-excuse-for-a-president; and tell myself that it was released direct from Damascus. Lahoud is nothing but the face of the Syrian apparatus in Lebanon. Until Lebanon is clensed from both him and that apparatus, I will not consider my country liberated.
I have also arrived at another conclusion: Wi'am Wahhab has to be arrested with all the other traitors once all this is over. He is the prototypical Syrian stooge. A few months ago he was a worthless journalist. Then the Syrians shoved him into Omar Karami's government; and today, as a "former minister" he has the god given right to spill his venom onto the airwaves -- How Syrian can this get???
I have arrived at a conclusion: Everytime Lahoud "releases a statement," I will ignore that it came from that sorry-excuse-for-a-president; and tell myself that it was released direct from Damascus. Lahoud is nothing but the face of the Syrian apparatus in Lebanon. Until Lebanon is clensed from both him and that apparatus, I will not consider my country liberated.
I have also arrived at another conclusion: Wi'am Wahhab has to be arrested with all the other traitors once all this is over. He is the prototypical Syrian stooge. A few months ago he was a worthless journalist. Then the Syrians shoved him into Omar Karami's government; and today, as a "former minister" he has the god given right to spill his venom onto the airwaves -- How Syrian can this get???
Syria isn't gonna let go... at least not as easily as we think.
One of the most contentious issues that lebanon is dealing with now is:
what do we do with Syria's "leftovers"?
the opposition wants to get rid of them... Hizballah is adamant that these individuals don't suffer the fate of the SLA big-wigs.
Some estimates put Syria's Lebanon-profits at $750 million a year in hard currency. They had Lebanese partners, and are probably counting on them to guard their "assets" after the withdrawal.
Let me just provide some examples of Syrian-Lebanese "economic cooperation":
1. syria has connected its electricity grid to Lebanon's and is "doing us a favor" by selling us power. The problem with their generosity is that we have more than enough power-generation capacity - our problem is with feul aquisition.
2. Last year, Syria completed a natural gas pipeline into Lebanon. This pipeline is supposed to supply us with "cheap and reliable" gas for our power plants. The problem with this offer is that Qatar (and even Iran) have offered us gas at much cheaper rates.
The reality is clear:
Lebanon was, and still is, a major source of hard currency for the Syrian regime and its cronies. They're not gonna let go that easily!
what do we do with Syria's "leftovers"?
the opposition wants to get rid of them... Hizballah is adamant that these individuals don't suffer the fate of the SLA big-wigs.
Some estimates put Syria's Lebanon-profits at $750 million a year in hard currency. They had Lebanese partners, and are probably counting on them to guard their "assets" after the withdrawal.
Let me just provide some examples of Syrian-Lebanese "economic cooperation":
1. syria has connected its electricity grid to Lebanon's and is "doing us a favor" by selling us power. The problem with their generosity is that we have more than enough power-generation capacity - our problem is with feul aquisition.
2. Last year, Syria completed a natural gas pipeline into Lebanon. This pipeline is supposed to supply us with "cheap and reliable" gas for our power plants. The problem with this offer is that Qatar (and even Iran) have offered us gas at much cheaper rates.
The reality is clear:
Lebanon was, and still is, a major source of hard currency for the Syrian regime and its cronies. They're not gonna let go that easily!