Elections?

So Lebanon went through "elections" relatively peacefully, which is a good thing, the last thing any rational Lebanese wants is sectarian fights. However, did the elections change anything? I tend to disagree; it just reinstated the same situation that we have been in for the past 4 years (and arguably since the beginning of civil war). 71-57, that was the result of the elections, therefore the bunch of warlords, money bags and corrupt individuals (who call themselves 14 march) won over the coalition of the mentally unstable megalomaniac, the brainwashing religious and military figure and their group of vulgar militia leaders and members of the Syrian intelligence.

Hmm, I wonder if I would have been happy with any result. Maybe one of the possible positive results of this election is that we won't face any political and economic sanctions from the "democratic" west due to the people's choice...

Nothing changed. We are still stuck in the same stalemate. They are arguing over who gets how many ministers while 3 people are dying every day due to the lack of proper traffic rules. They are fighting over technicalities, while tens of people die on hospital doors because they cannot pay in cash. Unemployment and emigration rise every year and so does their power, possibly as a consequence... Every day Palestinian refugees and Lebanese citizens live in sub human circumstances and we wonder how we get terrorist groups? What do you think happens when a 13 year old boy who lives in a terrible excuse for a house, has less than a meal and has had no education is given a Klashinkoff and some money and told to fight for a cause? We wonder why its easier to buy the peoples votes then convince them, its because they know the politicians will do nothing for them but that 300$ will feed them, or maybe buy them a weapon to defend themselves against those who the army and police refuse to defend them from.

I look at the political scene today and I see nothing different than 20 years ago. Half those in power should be in jail, the second half should go get an education. While I do think that maybe some politicians have good wills, they have been caught in the spider web of Lebanese politics and they are indeed a minority, a rather silent one or maybe more accurately a silenced one.

What have we achieved during the past 4 years? The international investigations in Ex Prime Minister Mr. Rafi Hariri's assassination and the "freedom" from Syrian troops. Hmm, those things were done in 2005 and were mainly due to the agreement of the people's will with American politics. So what have the politicians done in the past 4 years? They argued over Hezbollah’s weapons and the presidency. I think if the average Lebanese really thinks about it he'll realize that those 2 things aren't even close to being his priority. Even if those discussions were important I don’t think we need 128 parliament members and 30 ministers to dedicate all their time to those two topics and those two only. That is 35 million dollars of wages wasted on a pointless argument and 4 very valuable years of possible growth poured down the drain. Hmm, I wonder how many lives that money could have saved...

You'd think that the Lebanese people would realize that both sides of the previous 4 years are at fault for this, that they would rebel for their rights and not for their leaders, but nothing... As a matter of fact worse that nothing, more people voted this year for those corrupt individuals than 4 years ago. Oh god we are becoming even dumber, the percentage of sheep on the Lebanese land is increasing(maybe because all those educated individuals left Lebanon)

Those warlords and money bags, did what they can do best to get the most votes, they threatened and paid money, respectively. Micheal El Murr was taped threatening a religious figure and promising him money. If the Lebanese judicial system has any grain of integrity left, he should be arrested for his actions. I understand that he is not the only one who has used such mafia-like methods to insure themselves that beloved chair and I hope evidence against the rest is found... This makes me wonder was this election really a free and democratic one? Nonetheless, I appreciate the effort that Minister Baroud has made, he has proven to be worthy of the job and I hope we can get more work-oriented energetic figures like him. He was significantly more successful in the job assigned to him than any of his predecessors...

Then you hear things like: "well, we lost because Lebanon was flooded with returning emigrants". Hmm, is that possible a bad thing? They are Lebanese, they had the freedom of choice behind that curtain and they chose against you. At least for once Lebanese politicians did something to bring people to Lebanon instead of driving them away...

Another thing this election has reinstated is that patriarchy of our society; out of 128 parliament members, the female ones could be counted with the fingers of one hand. We actually have fewer women in power than last elections. Many political groups didn't have any female candidates. Election campaigns used phrases such as "Be Pretty and Vote" I say "Be Equal and have female candidates" and "Be smart and vote blank" even the phrase "Be pretty and vote" and the accompanying Serbian model picture are demeaning on so many levels...

But the thing that primarily disturbed me about this election is the lack of serious political programs. Even those groups that did have a program, they did not even mention it not once in their campaigns and after reading the programs I felt like they were nothing but a bunch of statements written carelessly and aimed at getting the most candidates, not a real serious plan for Lebanon... How could you possibly vote for somebody when you have no clue what he will do over the next 4 years and you know he failed in the past 4 years?

I hope the next four years bring change to Lebanon, but I am a realist. If we do not rebel against the mafias, we will forever remain complaining. I ask the Lebanese this: Why are you more likely to demonstrate when a politician asks you too than when your brain tells you that something is wrong? For how long do you intend to follow the leaders blindly like sheep? When will you start questioning their words and demanding actions?

The Lebanon I Dream of...

This documentary quite accurately assesses the problems in Lebanese politics: The Lebanon I Dream Of. Congratulations to the director Pierre Dawalibi and all the crew. I believe this is a must-see for all Lebanese, in hope that someday they might rebel upon the ruling mafias...

Lebanese Elections

I read this article and it very accurately describes my feelings about the upcoming Lebanese Elections, thought I'd share...

LEBANESE ELECTIONS

By; Fatina Salaheddine; Publisher (Al-Sahafa Newspaper USA)

So I was asked if I think that as a Lebanese-American if I go vote in Lebanon this June, if my vote will count, and if my vote will make a difference….


To put it simply, NO. No, I don’t think that my vote, nor do I think that even the upcoming Lebanese Elections in Beirut will make any DIFFERENCE for the country whatsoever. Until the day that LEBANESE will vote for what’s best for the country of LEBANON and for the whole of LEBANON ONLY, and NOT to mafia leaders on opposing sides who only care to garner votes for their sick "love of personal power" and their transparent belief in their “religious hierarchy” – the approaching LEBANESE ELECTIONS will not improve the country or its citizens.

The country is suffering from “Blind Eye” syndrome. The Political candidates running for election or re-election have nothing to say about solving the problems of the high unemployment (including college graduates), high cost of educating the Lebanese youth, stabilizing the electricity in the country (in some parts of Lebanon, electricity still goes out after a few hours each day, and people rely on their unreliable power generators), feeding the poor and the elderly (yes, there are many Lebanese who are so poor they cannot even afford to eat and rely on their kind neighbors or local churches and mosques for a decent meal), fixing the internet availability to all its citizens, and breaking the outrageous monopoly of the mobile companies and their enormous charges.

What about regulating the medicines/prescriptions from pharmacies who sell tampered medicine to the innocent sick? What about getting the 100’s of orphaned children off the streets of Beirut (who are not only dragging down the Touristic image of Lebanon –but will eventually cost society a huge price to pay as these abused orphans pay back society with their diploma that they earned off the streets of Beirut; begging, robbing, stealing, raping, and eventually becoming con artists to just survive and get through their dysfunctional and abandoned lives). What about providing a social security system for its retired citizens, and providing clean water availability to all of the country (and yes, this includes the South of Lebanon where Hizbollah seems to have taken the place of the Lebanese govt. in providing clean water, free hospitals, free medicine, homes and jobs to the people of the South– all whilst giving their recipients a reason to keep supporting them. Ever heard of the saying, “kiss the hand that feeds you”?). Why aren’t the candidates discussing what they can do to solve the high cost of medical care (FYI - did you know that Lebanese still have to pay 100% of their surgeries upfront at the hospital – or they will be denied their healthcare?) – all this and NO ONE seems to be asking these candidates about any of these vital social conditions, not even the Lebanese media reporters or writers with a conscience question these candidates on what they plan on doing to solve these numerous issues! Even the people, “the suffering citizens” living under these poor third-world country conditions, seem to also be suffering the “Blind-Eye” Syndrome! Will the real Lebanese citizen, please SPEAK UP!

Instead we see the Lebanese politicians hogging the microphones and staging Press Conferences every chance they get, to slam the rival side (whether it be March 14 or March 8) with rhetoric about how if YOU out there listening are Lebanese and want to maintain being a “true Lebanese” then YOU as a Lebanese NEED to vote for me, verses the other opposing side! Sounds preposterous? Yes, of coarse it does – and yet not one member of the Lebanese media or private citizen speaks up about the real issues facing the entire country of Lebanon and its fantastically religiously diverse people... all in fear of their bosses who sign their paychecks.

ELECTION DAY will be another SAD DAY for the Lebanese living under all this political mess, and trying to maintain living a decent life with such an uncivilized class of people - calling themselves “the government".

I wonder, if we asked all the supposedly "dignified" Lebanese from around the world - that are getting large sums of money, fully paid travel and lodging arrangements to come to Beirut and VOTE for their opposing sides (March 14 or March 8 side) - to please write an article and define the difference between the words: MAFIA and GOVERNMENT and the difference of these two words in correlation to our dear country of LEBANON. Have they no shame?

If even the Lebanese OUTSIDE OF LEBANON are maintaining this "prejudiced completely insane and backwards mentality" for voting to keep the same prejudiced people in power - what message is this sending for the next generation of Lebanese?

Where did the pre-civil war visionaries of Lebanon disappear to? Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, was the impressive center of epic free-thought in the Middle East. Artists, philosophers, writers, and professors from all over the world flocked to Beirut, filling café’s and quenching each other’s thirst with their nostalgic memories of what once was, whilst forward ideas of the world were shaped. My God, what can be achieved in life- including Lebanon- given the free will of a person!

With the upcoming Lebanese Elections, I think to myself - How can Lebanon regain its democratic foundation - if people are going to vote so BLINDLY? Unfortunately, what seems to be the imminent future, is that those VOTING Lebanese are either getting paid to do it, or are simply illogical about Lebanese internal politics that they just are going to vote for someone - because they either share the same religion or that someone comes from their own city or village in Lebanon.

This whole ridiculousness of Lebanese politicians paying people to come vote for them, instead of it being the other way around, as it is here in the States, where supporters make donations to those candidates they feel best support their interests for the benefit of their country – is so truly backwards. I don’t understand how the educated, well-traveled, well-versed, tri-lingual speaking Lebanese cannot see and realize this irrationality? Seriously, sometimes when I try to sort this absurdity out in my mind – I end up with this feeling that maybe the Lebanese actually enjoy the chaotic messy world of politics that they live in. After all, they know and have the power to speak-up, and to make a difference in their lives and the lives of their children, and yet they choose to keep going in the same direction, generation after generation.

May God bless Lebanon and the citizens of Lebanon who suffer from all this mess under these power hungry politicians. I pray that God will unfold the diseased eyes and brains and hearts of all the prejudiced and stubborn voters and supporters of LEBANON'S CURRENT OPPOSING SIDES.

When rage breaks loose...

What is happening? Why are destruction and havoc dominating our beloved cities? Why are armed men roaming the streets with no intention but to slaughter fellow Lebanese? Why are mothers weeping the loss of their loved ones?

The answer is simple(yet very complex): Brainwash. Politicians and extremists convince people that the other group hates them and desire nothing but to see them dead, so they start hating that group, that group starts hating them and the cycle goes on...

Some people have the nerve to ask me: Why do you hate "people who are fighting for their rights" and "people who are defending the country and beirut from the invading terrorist group"?

Well maybe, just maybe, I don't like seeing innocent people slaughtered, maybe I don't like hearing phrases like "shiites hate us" and don't accept to believe them as a truthful generalization, maybe I don't believe that by destroying our cities Israel is gonna be harmed, maybe its because I don't think that a civil war can ever bring any good, and I definitely don't like seeing my grandmother forced to leave her house because fools think that by burning a politician's office they prove their point...

But oh Ragheb: How do we fight for our rights?

How about a rational long discussion? How about using the brain which makes our species unique? How about proving your point of view? How about every human display of opinion? How about discussing your concerns realistically and logically?

Maybe its just me but I seriously doubt that Ehud Olmert or Bashar Assad, or Bush or Ahmedinajad is crying every night because we are figting, they are feasting on our blood and we are too blind(or maybe too dumb) to see it...

Maybe its just me but I believe in building a strong nation with all the components of prosperity instead of fighting fruitless wars. Lebanon cannot be Israel nor can it be Iran, for then it would lose its identity. I believe in Lebanon as the confluence of cultures, religions and views... I believe in Lebanon the lighthouse not Lebanon the battlefield!

To every free Lebanese: Revolt against these fools which are ruling you, don't listen to their words of hatred, they are the devil in disguise...

To my dearest Lebanon: I apologize for all the pain we have caused you, we don't deserve you...

Words on Gaza

What is a massacre?

Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary defines it as: "the act or an instance of killing a number of usually helpless or unresisting human beings under circumstances of atrocity or cruelty"
I firmly believe that what is happening today and has been happening for the past 3 weeks between Gaza and Israel fully qualifies as a massacre...

With more than a 1000 killed and about 5,000 wounded in the most atrocious ways, I cannot but stop and think: Where is this going? Why are all these children suffering? Why do we hear everyday about people who lost their entire family in a blink of an eye? What would happen to a 9 year old who just lost 12 members of his family and is alone on the streets under shelling and bombing? Till when will humanity suffer from its own cruelty? Are we any more civilized today than we were a millennium ago? It seems to me that we are acting just like cavemen following our most basic instincts blindly(but with more advanced techniques for doing so...) Is this violence necessary? Will this violence do any good? Can it serve any purpose but vengeance? Till when will we stay silent while thousands are losing their lives?

I am no political analyst no more am I interested in knowing whose fault these massacres are, for it does not really matter. Violence breads nothing but more violence. Each bomb by Israel is a motivation for Palestinian teenagers to join the ranks of Hamas and other groups that fight Israel, to become "freedom fighters". When a child loses his family and loved ones, his basic instincts drive him to seek revenge, he will easily be brainwashed into Terrorism. On the other hand, each time Hamas throws their little pathetic rockets on Israel they prove to the idiots in the world(including the presidents of most "civilized" countries) that the Israeli "Defense" Forces should be supported. They cause Israelis and the majority of the Western World to believe that their form of terrorism is justified. Yes, the acts of Israel are classified as terrorist acts, Israel is systematically using terror as a means of coercion. Contrary to popular belief terrorism takes many forms and is not just crazy people running down streets screaming :"allah akbar" and killing themselves and civilians.

Many fellow Arabs use the fact that the Israeli response is disproportionate to the Hamas to prove their point. With all due respect I find that very stupid, ofcourse the response is gonna be disproportionate what else do you expect? should Israel call up Russia get some Katyoshas and fire em up at Gaza? When a mosquito bites you you crush it, you don't respond by biting the mosquito back... The fact is you are both wrong, you both are using all what you can to inflict harm on each other, without any regard to civilian lives. I truly believe that if Hamas had fighter jets they would have used them against Israel too. The fact that you are weak means nothing, it doesn't make your killing of civilians any more justified. Is an AIDS patient justified in intentionally spreading he HIV virus? I think not...

I hope that it is clear that I blame neither sides solely for the war but I am disgusted by the acts of both sides.

The way Israel is fighting makes it seem like they are intent on killing as much civilians as they can. Bombing universities, schools, mosques, hospitals and even UN centers and completely disregarding human rights and international laws and organizations. The IDF are acting like vicious murderers(not very surprising though) thirsty for the blood of Palestinian Civilians. They are feasting on their hunts. A basic search on the web would give you endless photos of Israeli atrocities. And yet the US is proud of its relationship with such a vicious nation and calls its actions justified.(maybe just as justified as the war on Iraq to get rid of weapons of mass destruction? or all the Human Rights Violations in Guantanamo Bay?)

Palestinians firmly believe that they have to do what they do to protect themselves from the Israeli harm. They believe that their rockets might stop Israel from attacking them, or give them back the land they believe is occupied by Israelis. The truth is those rockets are acts of violence against fellow human beings which would cause them to respond in accord with the most basic instinct: survival. No matter what your believes are, killing everybody who doesn't agree with you is not the way to achieve your goals. And throwing pathetic rockets that just wake up the monster from its sleep definitely doesn't...

If we take a look back in history, every oppressed group of people rises someday with nothing but vengeance in mind. Hitler came from an oppressed Germany after World War 1, to me its very ironic that Hitler's victims are now oppressing another group which will ultimately lead to the rise of another Hitler, and God save us from the atrocities that Hitler II will bring...

The only form of stable peace, is fair peace!

Some people call for the two-state solution. From my point of view that could only bring temporary peace, for it would not put an end to the hatred and brainwash happening on both sides. The only stable solution is one in which Muslims, Jews, Christians and people of all faiths, live in one nation side-by-side respecting each others religious freedom and learning to tolerate each other. Most people call this naive, for it is very hard to achieve, but I find that any temporary solution that doesn't fix the roots of the problem is the naive path....

In conclusion, I pray for peace to enter every house in Palestine, Israel and my beloved Lebanon, I pray for the day when Jewish and Muslim teenagers joke about the stupidity of their ancestors, laugh together, fall in love with each other and work for a better future together....