Gebran Tueni's one year memorial

صوت... يتحدى الموت

No Christmas decorations yet

Usually the christmas decorations start blooming in all regions, kind of competitions between municipalite. New Jdeideh's street decoration is usually beautiful (close to the region where Pierre Gemayel was assassinated). But this year I haven't seen any decorations, I am not hearing christmas songs, or shops decorating their vitrine with Santa's, christmas trees or snow...

Come on... Put some cheer and hope in the hearts of the little ones.

Beirut Marathon 06 - New Date: Dec 3

Shou esset hal sheri3

Is it me or this whole "sheri3" (street) this a bit too ridiculous! We all go there, we park our cars in the street, we walk on the street, we do our shoppings and run our errands, we go to work by driving on the street. Please just stop saying "they're going" or "we're going to the street", it is just too preposterous and silly! Just say demonstrations, demonstrations is a good word, use it!

Dedicated to all Lebanese and FREEDOM Lovers

Saying what you want wheneveryou want is not freedom. I do not have the freedom to at least participate in the decision of my country's fate. So I dedicate this small sound clip (click play) taken from the movie Braveheart, said by William Wallace:

Aye, fight and you may die, run, and you'll live... at least for a while. And dying in your beds, many years from now, would you be willin' to trade ALL the days, from this day to that, for one chance, just one chance, to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they'll never take... OUR FREEDOM!

To all those who loved the movie and loved Mel Gibson when he screamed "FREEEEDOM", here you go:

Bil 3arabeh el mshabra7, fouto neimo

مش بس أنا من بيروت بي يوضع أغاني علع البلوغ - المدونة – تبعو ليوصف حالتو الشخصية، وأنا كمين!!!

ؤم فوت نام وصير حلام انو بلدنا صارت بلد.
هاي بلد، لأ مش بلد
هاي قرتت عالم مجموعين
مجموعين لأ
مطروحين لأ
مضروبين لأ
مقسومييييييين

Lebanon`s economy messed up again

Since the assassination of Pierre Gemayel, around 45% of hotel reservations for the Christmas holidays have been cancelled. The tourism in Lebanon have been influenced negatively, and there is no gain to no Lebanese but as a matter of fact only losses. We have already lost our summer season, and now we are losing Christmas and Snow holidays.

Tourism is the major contributor in the Lebanese economy, and it has been extremely messed up for the past 2 years. The debt on Lebanon is rising and so is the martyrs numbers.

I really hope that something good will come out of this before I am 90 years old.

Is Manar blowing things out of proportion?

When I hear the news anchor speak in the news on Al-Manar TV, I only notice the full of hatred. You would think they are talking about World War III for that matter. If a person only relies on their news and doesn't check other sources, the only perception of the events in Lebanon are much more blown out of proportion, inaccurate and provocative.

It is definitely not healthy. They closed MTV because it rooted for one party in Lebanon (in an exagerated way as they claim), other TVs do root for a certain party but in my opinion Al-Manar is doing the same on a much higher scale considering the level of danger and provocation. They should take it easy, orelse every viewer will end up full of hate.

Where did the old days go, Peace, Love and Rock'n'roll!

That Black Saturday, dad`s life was spared

The black saturday was not just another normal saturday. It was during the beginning of the 1975 civil war in Lebanon, on December 6.

Black Saturday was a series of massacres and armed clashes in Beirut, that occurred in the first stages of the Lebanese Civil War. On Saturday December 6, 1975, the bodies of four members of the radical-rightist Phalange Party, an organization grouping primarily Maronite Christians, were found in an abandoned car outside the state-owned electricity plant in Christian-dominated East Beirut.

The Phalange's militiamen in the city went into a frenzied rage, blaming the killings on the Lebanese National Movement (LNM), dominated by leftist Muslims and Palestinians. Phalange forces attacked Muslims throughout Christian-dominated East Beirut, indiscriminately firing into crowds. Tens or hundreds of Muslim hostages were snatched off city streets and either killed or later released for ransom.

Luckily, when Dad was passing, his life was spared as one of his friends was on that checkpoint where he was stopped. His friend told: "He's good, let him go".
Of course later on he flipped at dad for leaving the house.

Press is dying for another war in Lebanon

Is it me or are the press really praying that another war bursts in Lebanon, and not just a war, a civil war. They badly want to see bad things happen! Why? Well maybe it sells more newspapers, gets more viewers and readers.

For example yesterday, while I was watching the special program of Samir Geagea on Al-Arabiyya, on the bottom of the screen, they put "Urgent news: Problems are occuring on the road to the airport, and the road has been closed".

I flipped to other channels to see if anyone has got more information, but nothing. So we went back to continue the program on Al-Arabiyya, while another urgent news came up and it said: "Al Arabiya reporter informs that the problems are under control, and the road is open."

So I assume, maybe 2 guys were fighting over a girl or something?

Aoun: Lebanon is ruled with agreement and not numbers

In an article in www.tayyar.org today, about an interview of Al-Jazeera with Michel Aoun, he said:

لبنان يحكم بالتوافق لا بالعدد

I am a bit surprised of this, because as far as I remember that he is the one who always makes sure the numbers appear. Anyway whether there was more people yesterday in the funeral that whatever Hezbollah and Tayyar are planning or vice versa, it is really not the issue here. The issue was a good man was assassinated and Lebanon IS in danger.

He also explained why he did not participate in the funeral, he said:

لا يُخفى على أحد أنه فور حدوث الجريمة، رُفعت شعارات ضدي شخصيًا، وحاولت بعض القوى الإعتداء على مكاتب التيار الوطني الحر وشعاراته. استوعبنا الحدث، وقامت القوى الأمنية بضبط الوضع كي لا يتفاقم، وسعيت بالأمس إلى امتصاص هذه الحالة غير الصحية والتي تضمنت اعتداءً سافرًا على معتقدنا السياسي. لقد وُظفت الجريمة ضدنا لذلك امتنعنا، بعد محاولات عدة، عن المشاركة على رغم أننا نريد المطالبة بتحقيق سريع لكشف الحقيقة فليس لدينا ما نخشاه.

Translation in summary, he said that since the crime he has been dissed and even some forces have vandalized some of the Tayyar offices, but they understoond the event and the Security forces controlled the situation, etc...

I would like to confirm such vandalization because it happened before my eyes. I personally do not like Michel Aoun (nonetheless I was in agreement with Tayyar during the university days, but no longer), but this doesn't give me the right to disrespect and vandalize and hurt.

Pierre Gemayel`s funeral, pictures included

There was definitely a lot of people attending Sheik Pierre Gemayel's funeral, but I have to be objective on this one and say it was not near 14th of March 2005 at all. Proof is I was able to actually drive my car to Ashrafieh in 10 minutes, thus in 14 March 2005, it tooks us almost an hour and a half to get there. But nevertheless, it was huge, a lot of crowd, from all ages and religions and backgrounds. A martyr such as Pierre Gemayel derserves it.

Okay below are only a couple of photos of many more, if you want to see more, please click here to view the whole album.











You can view the whole album here.

Pierre Gemayel cartoon by Ben Heine

From cartoonist Ben Heine.

R.I.P Pierre Gemayel. Condolences to his family and all the Lebanese who want a free and sovereign Lebanon.

Aoun calling for participation in tomorrow`s funeral

I just read on the LBC TV marquee that Tayyar leader General Michel Aoun has called upon his party and his followers to participate in tomorrow's Sheik Pierre Gemayel's funeral.

العماد عون يدعو مناصريه للمشاركة في جنازة الشهيد بيار الجميل

That is some good news...

Source: LBC Group TV

7th martyr

If the speculation that killing another minister so the goverment has 8 "absent" ministers thus its cancellation in order not to vote for the international tribunal in Hariri's assassination then there will be a 7th martyr on the "bus of martyrs" as everyone is calling it.

We really thought the amazing Gebran Tueni was the last, but apparently he isn't. And now we wish Pierre Gemayel is the last. But what if he isn't?

Sleiman Franjieh, please go away

I just have to say it to keep it on record. I was so surprised even shocked of his statement yesterday directly post the assassination by an hour or so, when he blamed the security system in Lebanon of loop holes, etc... And he only did this to get back at those who accused his ministry that their security system is bypassed by the syrian intelligence.

I can't believe how silly, childish and ridiculous Franjieh sounded. Why can't he be for once a wise man, he could've waited at least 1 or 2 days before criticizing Lebanon's weak security system, he should've just paid his condolences and act as a respectful man. But no, the other kids won't like him!

I don't deny that we apparently still have a lousy security system that till now is still hacked by the syrian intelligence which had presumably left Lebanon in April 2005. However it was so obvious that he only wanted to get back just like kids to those who accused him of the same in march 2005.

And concerning Talal Erslen's statement, well no comment. Seriously this guy is living in a whole different world on his own.

From Independence day to mourning day

I don't know how much the readers would be interested in knowing how such a day is being spent in Lebanon by an average Lebanese citizen. A day that was supposed to be a celebration of the independence of Lebanon that was achieved in 1943, which is usually celebrated by showcasing a parade of tanks and military equipments. We usually watch and say: "Why don't they just show last year's". As it is always the same.

How ironic though, showcasing our military and security equipment, while a minister was assassinated by unmasked, and I emphasize unmasked, professional killers who did this is during day light and on a street full of buildings, beside the church where Minister Pierre Amin Gemayel was offering his condolences. This street is beside my old school, a street I know very well.

We're sitting today in front of TV, mourning Lebanon. Each time a political figure (apparently till now all of them are anti the syrian regime), is assassinated, we cry. Yesterday we sat, mom, my 2 brothers and I watching the live reporting of the post-assassination in Saint Joseph's hospital in Dora where the body of Minister Pierre Gemayel was taken, and we all had tears in our eyes, hopeless, tired, angry, sad and devastated. No need to love any of those good men, the few good men, to realise that killing them, is killing Lebanon, is killing us.

Each time they kill a small piece of the hope in our heart for Lebanon. They break the castle of playing cards that we rebuild everytime they break it. I feel like my head is going to explode. Listening to theories and explanations of what had happened, why it did, and where it will get us.

Walid Junblat, Saad Hariri, Nayla Mouawad and others have already pointed the finger towards Syria. Some don't name anyone, they just say that the killers who did this, intended for a conflict in Lebanese between the two groups. Others say, it is because of the international tribunal in Rafic Hariri's murder.

Samir Geagea demanded from Aoun without naming him, to join them, for the president to resign, and for the shiite ministers to cancel their resignation and go back to the government.

Amin Gemayel, the martyr's father handled the situation very wisely and calmly by asking people to pray for Pierre and not react offensively.

Everyone is asked to participate in the public funeral of Pierre Gemayel tomorrow (Thursday 23 November 2006) at 1 pm in Saint George Cathedral Downtown. All public and private institutions along with educational institutions will be closed. (Except probably my work place! however I intend to go to his funeral.)

What do I say about this? Like everytime, they wait for a good man to die in a horrible way to realise Lebanon is in danger, that Lebanon is threatened by the big kids and their big game, and this is when they ask for peace and discussion. But what happens in two weeks, they all forget and go back to their childish games.

I am not afraid of a civil war, we have proven over and over again that we do not want a war, we are bigger than wars. But this doesn't mean Lebanon is in a good state, we're in a very bad shape. Being economically screwed up, politically destroyed is enough.

I will go down tomorrow only to pay respect and to prove that we're here.

Pierre Gemayel`s assassination

Only yesterday we were thinking that Gebran Tueni's assassination in 12/12/2005 was the last of a long series of assassination that started with PM Rafic Hariri on 2/14/2005 to surprise the Lebanese today on 11/21/2006 just one day before Lebanon's independence day with a car without a plate number passing by the Minister Pierre's Gemayel convoie in Jdeideh region near Mar Mtanous and shooting at it. Resulting with the death of the ex Lebanese president Amin Gemayel's son.

Seems like the series of assassination has started again, with some already starting to accuse the Syrian Regime.

Whoever did it, it is obviously another proof that Lebanon is not independent, that Lebanon is not stable politically, that Lebanon is on the verge of even worse problems.

Pierre Gemayel shot to death

I am still not sure how true these news are because I am at work and I have no source but the internet. But I have heard so far at work people saying "He died, he died", and I asked who, this is when they said that Pierre Gemayel was shot to death in Jdeideh, assassinated....


Update: News have been confirmed.

Update: Civilians were hurt during the shoot out

Federal constitution in Lebanon

I remember once a colleague of mine in the university 8 years ago (yes I'm old) has told me that the solution for Lebanon was to confederate it. So I asked him to explain to me what confederation really is and what is its real difference with Federation.

Anyway two days ago, I was watching a program presented by Shada Omar, on LBC sat, where she had guests from different backgrounds and two of them were known musicians and singers in Lebanon, Ghassan Rahbani and Melhem Baraket. The famous Melhem Baraket, even though he got a bit too emotional, he mentioned that the best solution for Lebanon is a Federal system.

There was a professor in Psychology who had explained that a federal system in Lebanon cannot be applied because unlike the Swiss Federal Constitution, the potential sovereign states in Lebanon will be divided on sects. In summary, he specified that this is no longer possible as people from sect A habitate in places where sect B are, and so on. Not to forget that now people from different sects are getting married so what will happen to them?

Finally, I want to say that I am surprised that such a system even gets mentioned as a solution for real problems, for the reason that we will actually be declaring hatred and disagreement by applying it. Moreover, I don't think that sectarianism is a real problem in Lebanon, it is only a disguise for a bigger one, which is Lebanon's lack of sovereignty and independence.

Surprised of Lahoud`s statement

I read yesterday on LBC TV marquee, which rolls in the bottom of the screen, that Lahoud said: "I'm the biggest loser since the assassination of Prime Minister Hariri".

Makes you ponder!

Lebanon Independence Day

History

[...] General elections were held, and on September 21, 1943, the new Chamber of Deputies elected Bishara al Khuri as president. He appointed Riyad as Sulh (also cited as Solh) as prime minister and asked him to form the first government of independent Lebanon. On November 8, 1943, the Chamber of Deputies amended the Constitution, abolishing the articles that referred to the Mandate and modifying those that specified the powers of the high commissioner, thus unilaterally ending the Mandate. The French authorities responded by arresting a number of prominent Lebanese politicians, including the president, the prime minister, and other cabinet members, and exiling them to the Castle of Rashayya (located about sixty-five kilometers east of Sidon). This action united the Christian and Muslim leaders in their determination to get rid of the French. France, finally yielding to mounting internal pressure and to the influence of Britain, the United States, and the Arab countries, released the prisoners at Rashayya on November 22, 1943; since then, this day has been celebrated as Independence Day.

To read more, there is a small summary of how Lebanon got its independence day.

Celebration

Unlike the 4th of July and the variety of fireworks in the United States, independence day in Lebanon is celebrated with the Head of State, the Prime Minister, the head of the Parliament and other political figures, watching soldiers and members from the military, army, fire department, etc... showcasing in a parade of tanks and ambulance vehicles and helicopters and other military equipment, which is broadcasted live on TV.

I can assure you that we have more helicopters than last year, and other 4 small ones which I couldn't identify clearly as they were high up in the skies today. (They start practicing 3 or 4 days before the actual parade).

Flag

To read about how the Lebanese Flag was formed, you can visit this link.

After Nasrallah`s speech yesterday

BEIRUT (AFP) - The head of Lebanon's powerful Shiite Hezbollah movement has called for a national unity government to resolve the country's deep political crisis, or fresh elections.

"There a two solutions to resolve the crisis -- either the formation of a government of national unity, in which all political movements take part, or early parliamentary elections," Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah said in a speech to a mass gathering of Hezbollah supporters broadcast Sunday.

"We cannot have any confidence in this government because it answers to the decisions and wishes of the American administration," he said.

Source: AFP

What puzzles me is, Sheik Nasrallah is using an argument while similarly they do the same specific thing he's accusing the others to do. Anyway, even though the man explains and gives a speech in a very organized manner following an orderly logic, I still cannot agree with him on certain things, whereas he's very smart to the extent that the one who is listening to him gets hypnotized by his words and believes everything he says automatically.

Stop sectarianism in Lebanon before it stops us

This is a title of a new campaign in Lebanon. They say that the campaign "focuses on the ridiculous/harmful side of sectarianism/confessionalism and its excesses in our every day life."
Not to forget that the main reason of the civil war in Lebanon was sectarianism. "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."

To read more about this campaign, please click here.

Below are some images predicting how every day items such as business cards and ads in newspapers will become if sectarianism rules. They're a bit exaggerated, but in comedy you need to emphasize certain points so they can have a better effect.

My view of Lebanon these days, Walid Jumblatt`s way

Iza holik sta2elo mnil 7oukoumeh, ra7 ysawto el be2yin w law fi tiltein? eh ra7 ysawto!
Iza holik ma 3ajabetoun el 7oukoumeh hiye w shrouta, ra7 yenzalo 3al sheri3? eh nezlin!
Iza el eshya bit kaffeh heik w ma 7adan bi ***** 3ala esba3 majrou7, ra7 nfout bil 7et? eh feytin!

Egyptian blogger in Jail for expression secular views

I learned today about Abdel Karim Suliman Amer - known as “Kareem Amer”, a 22 year old egyptian blogger who has been arrested in Alexandria (Egypt) for speaking his mind in his blog about subjects such as women's rights, religious freedom, and academic freedom.

Take a minute to sign a petition here to protect freedom of speech in Egypt.

Lebanon president says cabinet okay of UN court plan void

BEIRUT (AFP) - Lebanon's pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud has rejected as null and void the pro-Western government's approval of a UN plan for an international court to try the murder of ex-premier Rafiq Hariri.

Pro-Western? so he'd rather it be pro-Syrian?

"The cabinet's approval of the plans for the establishment of the court are not binding on the Lebanese state because the decision was taken by an illegitimate body in breach of the constitution," Lahoud said in a letter to UN chief Kofi Annan on Tuesday.

Illegimimate?

It's not like they're voting for a nuclear bomb, they're voting on the decision for an international tribunal to condemn those who have assassinated Rafic Hariri. So Lahoud and the Shii'a ministers are fighting so hard against this decision?

Isn't it just TOO obvious?

To continue reading artile, please click here.

Monday Blues: The problem is us

Politics in Lebanon: The problem is us
By Liliane Assaf

What is puzzling nowadays is how many people try to understand Politics, in view of politics as some kind of science and only very highly intelligent creatures are able to comprehend it. People spend years reading books, watching the news, whether they were biased ones or objective ones, it doesn't really matter, does it? Because they know what is really happening, they are on to “them”. And you don't and aren’t.

Such phase occurs to a lot of people, I know it did to me a long time ago. I read a lot of books and watched the news, biased to this and biased to that; bearing in mind that it is never absolutely objective, is it? As I was trying to discern from different sources by reading books written by subjective and objective (to a certain point) authors, and that depended on where I was getting at. Eventually I perceived that everybody had their reasons, they really were good persons and even Heroes, but life snuck up on them when they weren't looking (that is when reading subjective books) and that’s why some problems occurred (i.e. war). Nevertheless when reading objective ones, those people were not heroes, they were criminals and mafias.

After cursing the TV all the time, and swearing on the street for the laziness and failure of our government to provide us with a civil country, with side-walks, with road signs, and traffic lights, with order... After getting pissed and yelling at the Lebanese people themselves for not even trying to act civil as well, I fell into a vicious dilemma of who I should be really blaming.

This is when I have decided to stop reading political books, newspapers and watching the news. I shut down any source of news that had to do with politics. And this was the day I realized, politics are stupid. It's a bunch of actions done by silly, greedy, mean, hypocrite and evil people who only care about their own selfish needs that only influence the common people defectively.

The conclusion I came out with, was that they might appear to be fighting according to those so called credible sources but beneath it all they would have probably set an agreement of some sort, i.e. screw a third party viciously. They had two truths, the one that they shows us on the news, and the one that they keep to their own.

Now of course, hating politics so much does not prevent me from getting acquainted with facts and interpreting them, and that is for one reason only which is not to be oblivious. Because I do not want to wake up one day, like I did on Tuesday the 13th of July, to see that a war has started in Lebanon while I was out of the country vacationing and thinking Lebanon was just fine and I will be back there on the 16th. As a matter of fact this is why I did this blog, while not being able to believe there is a war in Lebanon, and I wanted to convince the world that we Lebanese are not war people, we are not people who resolve their issues with guns and tanks, and that this war has caught us off guard. We were cheated.

But the truth is? We are war people, not because most of the Lebanese population wants to fight and kill, but because we have surrendered a long time ago to the enemy. We have given up believing that we are capable of taking care of this country. We show the world how disorganized and divided we are.

Why should we? We’d be irrational persons to think that Lebanon is the best country on this planet, because Lebanon is just another country. We are not God’s chosen nation, I would like to believe that God’s chosen nation are all countries. Nonetheless, Lebanon is my home. So if my home is very humid and missing walls and roofs, if the roof is leaking from the rain and if the doors are broken and everyone can get in and out. I should fix it!
If someone else who shares this home with me decides to do a war with a neighbor, I ask you why don’t I have a say in this while it is my home as much as it is anyone else’s.

If I am not a parliament member, or a minister or a municipality member, does this make me any less of a Lebanese citizen?

We have to face it, Lebanese people are divided, not because of ethnicity and the diverse religions, but because we are divided within ourselves. We let any small thing divide us from our brother, cousin, neighbor and certainly a stranger.

These lyrics for Pink Floyd were on my mind all the time, and I couldn’t believe them more than I did during the war. “Together we stand, divided we fall.”


14th of March the date and not the political party - although it is silly that I have to point this out – was a day to remember, a day that a large slice of the Lebanese population has agreed on one thing. It was one month since PM Rafic Hariri was assassinated, but the Lebanese people were not only there to know who assassinated him, but also to know who assassinated other former politicians, to know who ruined this country and made it what it is today, to discover who messed with it and messed with the Lebanese. But most importantly, the Lebanese on 14th of March wanted to say to the world and to each other that they wanted PEACE, not just a peace from wars and foreign interference, but a peace from bad economy, a peace from headaches and selfish politicians.

I would like to tell the Lebanese: “Let’s go tell our government, we want a change, we do not want foreign meddling and we want better programs and order.” But why would anyone listen to me? I am just another citizen like them; I am not a selfish politician who steals money from the poor, and gives the rich.

Latterly, politics are stupid, it’s a word to describe mistakes, conspiracies, greed, selfishness, childhood complexes and childish behaviors. But this doesn't mean I don't care for the well-being of Lebanon and every other country for that matter, for providing a better educational system, sidewalks, more order, road signs, scholarships and relieves.

To say the least, we are no longer stuck; we are in fact moving... backwards. I have lost hope.

Saddam has escaped!?!? on a tin-tin bike?

Ride Soussou Ride!!!
(Animated image received by email, no source specified)

Till when will Hezbollah keep threatening?

BEIRUT, Lebanon (CNN) -- A constitutional crisis in Lebanon is threatening plans for an international tribunal to try those allegedly involved in the assassination of the country's former Prime Minister.

Source: CNN

1- (2) Hezbollah and (3) Amal ministers resigned on Saturday the 11th. Leaving the Cabinet with 19 ministers.

2- President Emile Lahoud said Siniora's government lacks constitutional authority to make decisions

==> Wrong as the Cabinet has more than the two-thirds to vote for the decision of an international tribunal "to try those allegedly involved in the assassination of the country's former Prime Minister" (Rafic Hariri)

And my question is, why did Hezbollah and Amal ministers resign and not accept to vote for the decision of an international tribunal to condemn those who have assassinated Hariri?

Is there something they are hiding? Who are they trying to protect? Like for example, Iran and Syria?

Anyway, they did a mistake, and they obviously do not care about the well-being of Lebanon.

No breakthrough in Lebanon's party talks

BEIRUT, Lebanon - Rival politicians failed to bridge their differences Thursday in talks aimed at breaking a political stalemate that threatens to return Lebanon to violence, but delegates agreed to meet again for over the weekend.

Well good to know they are trying hard, they're even working on weekends.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has threatened to bring down the government of Prime Minister Fuad Saniora unless his group and its allies receive a third of the seats in the 24-member Cabinet — effectively gaining veto power.

Okay if this happens, we should just bid Lebanon farewell!

Source: AP

12 ways you can join the fight against AIDS

Today, more than 6,000 children will lose a parent to AIDS.

December 1 is World AIDS Day. What will you do?

1. AIDS Test
2. Add your virtual signature or use your mobile phone
3. Build a Caregiver Kit at www.worldvision.org/carekits
4. Sponsor a child
5. virtual AIDS Experience
6. Join World Vision’s Hope Prayer Chain.
7. Learn more about global AIDS by reading these FAQs.
8. Give a gift to help feed children affected by AIDS
9. Join a World Vision AIDS Walk for Orphans. Several are planned, including events in Chicago, Monterey Bay, and Orange County.
10. Acting on AIDS.
11. Host a Global Dinner
12. Join 2006 Global Summit on AIDS and the Church
    

To read more about it, please visit World Vision

Sakkar Rasseh min hal Balad

Khalas sakkar rasseh
Image received by email, no source specified.

Democrats win

WASHINGTON - Democrats won control of the House early Wednesday after a dozen years of Republican rule in a resounding repudiation of a war, a president and a scandal-scarred Congress. [1]

Bush keeps head up despite loss of House

WASHINGTON - President Bush struck a businesslike tone Tuesday night as the Republicans lost control of the House ...

Bush, unaccustomed to political defeat, planned a morning phone call to Democratic minority leader Nancy Pelosi and made plans to give his take on the midterm election results at an afternoon news conference. [2]

We shouldn't be really surprised of the loss of the Republicans, after September 11 Bush was fighting Terrorism, he had a good cause, a justified one. But apparently the Americans have recently changed their minds concerning the republicans policy, and voted for change.

[1] http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061108/ap_on_el_ho/eln_house
[2] http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061108/ap_on_el_ge/eln_bush_11

Lebanon to get high-speed link

High-speed DSL Internet should be available in Lebanon in March 2007, The Daily Star Reports. The lengthy delays in rolling out the service have cost the country economic growth and foreign investment, according to experts cited by the daily. Source: AMEinfo

I've been hearing such news for the past 3 years. Why should this year be any different?

Bravo! What great accomplishment

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Rival Lebanese leaders agreed on Monday to halt media campaigns against each other as an ice-breaker in talks to defuse a political crisis threatening to spill over into violence. [1]

Now that the "Discussion" table has started, and as the Lebanese already have an experience with such a "table", we all can predict the outcome. We definitely hope that they can reach a conclusion, come up with a solution to perhaps inprove the political situation in Lebanon.

The funny thing is, the above quote. They have agreed on halting Media campaigns against each other. I am not sure if I should be happy that they have finally decided to GROW UP, or sad that our politicians are that ridiculous that it took them so long to actually GROW UP.

As for the other issues, well they are still hanging.

[1] Reuters

How did our parents afford living?

I was thinking today, and almost everyday about this matter. How did our parents afford providing a house to the family, raising their children, sending us to private schools, paying for our clothes, and for our needs and not just any needs, I remember asking for expensive Jeans and expensive shoes from my dad, you see only Fila did the job.

But now I look at myself, and I have to admit I have a very good salary compared to the average salary in Lebanon (not that good, so don't assassinate me please, it's not worth it), and I can't even afford expensive Jeans and (well not Fila) expensive shoes. I just get by. I pay for my car, for its gas, buying some food, some clothes (I am not a shopping fan), paying bills (electricity, moteur, phone, cellphone, insurance, etc...) And I go out moderately, a drink here a movie there, and dining (stopped that since am dieting). But still I am not being able to put some money on the side (blame the car mainly).

So how about if we had a family, I wouldn't really be able to pay for a rented house, the multiple bills and children's school, their books and clothes and toys...

I heard mom say the other day that everything in Lebanon has become more expensive, such as the dairy products, chicken, etc... However I don't understand why; the siege hasd been lifted, importing and exporting is back to normal.

So what's different? Is this just directly because of the post-war, or has been always like this in Lebanon?

Note that Saddam has been sentenced to death

on the 5th of November!

Remember, remember, the Fifth of November

Remember, remember, the Fifth of November./ The Gunpowder Treason and Plot... / I know of no reason/ Why the Gunpowder Treason should ever be forgot... But what of the man? I know his name was Guy Fawkes and I know, in 1605, he attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament. But who was he really? What was he like? We are told to remember the idea, not the man, because a man can fail. He can be caught, he can be killed and forgotten, but 400 years later, an idea can still change the world. I've witnessed first hand the power of ideas, I've seen people kill in the name of them, and die defending them... but you cannot kiss an idea, cannot touch it, or hold it... ideas do not bleed, they do not feel pain, they do not love... And it is not an idea that I miss, it is a man... A man that made me remember the Fifth of November. A man that I will never forget.

Click here to read more quotes about V for Vendetta

I really like this quote from this movie. It is true that the idea is what lasts over the centuries, and men are like representative or human translators of the idea to the realy world. It's not the man we should follow, it's the idea.

Photshop Error on BUSH

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