Martyrs didn't die, for us to quit and leave

I always go back to a sentence Samir Geagea said on his speech in Notre Dame of Harissa on Sunday, September 29, 2006. You can read about that day in this post.

The meaning of the sentence was that the Lebanese martyrs didn't die, for us to quit and leave.

I love this sentence, it always makes me retreat for a minute and think before I think if I want to leave Lebanon or not.

Of course, for everything in life, there are 2 sides and 2 meanings. But first, I want point out, that all martyr's, whatever their cause was in Lebanon, they had strong faith, and strong belief, that if they die, they are helping Lebanon. We might not totally agree with their political thinking, nonetheless, they really are to respect.

I salute those Lebanese martyrs, and that is the main reason for the red color in the Lebanese flag, we wouldn't trade it for the world.

Back to the 2 sides, should we leave or not? Although people died to save Lebanon. We can decide to stay, only in respect to those martyrs, and we can decide to leave and tell those martyrs, no we're not like you. I am not blaming or saying who's right or wrong, because I believe we are right when we think in both ways.

Another dilemma...

A word from me to everyone

I ask everyone in Lebanon, please, have doubt, don't follow blindly. Most of us want a better Lebanon, we should unite, and not be afraid of each other. If you like another leader doesn't mean I should hate you or you should hate me!

What has happened to us. Politics is supposed to be a solution for something and not a reason to fight. Discussing, dialoguing, giving and taking, listening, argumenting. This is what we should do.

A friend told me yesterday that Nasrallah said on last Thursday's speech that one of March 14 had gone to the USA hoping that they request from Israel to make a war on Hezbollah because this is the only way Hezbollah will be gone, and you expect me to just believe it? Give me proof, I will believe it. But since when do you listen and believe Nasrallah? Just because your leader Aoun is now on Hezbollah's side, you side as well. I am not saying it is wrong, but there is something called, reason and logic. Where did it go, do you at least question? do you at least doubt? why do you get pissed if I told you: "You actually believe that one 14 March member has the influence to control the world?" You reply: "Liliane, let's not talk about it, we don't want to fight!"

I don't want to fight either, but at least, show me that you are trying to reach the truth and not just believe blindly.

I do not want a government ruled by one side, i.e. Saad Hariri, but I am not going to go the other way and want Nasrallah to rule it, or Aoun. I want a government where no one rules, and everyone rules.

We elected them, and we have to live with our choices! It is not possible that after elections, I demand a new government. How can this be? The Lebanese people elected them.

Both sides have been messing up, but the way I see it, the government are now in a better position than the opposition, and the opposition should answer the government's requests for a dialogue and not a street thing.

I am optimistic about things, I can see change in both sides, and I think the media should start being more objective. It is time for the propaganda to stop.

Nasrallah, I am on to your game

Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah I respected you, and I have supported you all the way through the war. And this blog is proof. Everyone can go back to the early dates and see how I defended this war and how I even thought that we won over the Israelis.

But you know what, I am big of a person to admit when I was wrong. And I was wrong. Because so many Lebanese united with you, and now you're against them. I stopped believing you when you said something in the sense of "If we knew this would be Israel's reaction, we wouldn't have captured the 2 soldiers". I mean come on, Israel? Big Reaction? Technology? Weapons? Have you even been living on earth?

You are ruining Lebanon. If you care about Lebanon you wouldn't be doing all this. If the government doesn't do your way, you accuse and threat? Where do you get your money from? Where do you get your weapons from? We all know you are the pawns in a chess game, played by big enemies.

For the record: You want participation in decision making? Did you let anyone participate in the decision of making a war that was totally unecessary?

Where are you taking us, you won't say will you? What do you want Lebanon to become?

But guess what, the otthomans have gone, the french are gone, the syrians are gone, and whoever comes next? will be gone! That is, if we let them.

The Siniora government might not be perfect, but it is enough that it stopped your war, and got help. I support it, the Lebanese Flag is hung on the balcony and we are no longer afraid of Hezbollah or saying anything against it.

Today's orange & yellow gathering

Well, I've been trying to think of something to write about today's gathering. A lot of people are worried and afraid of its outcome. I personally think any trouble will be controlled by our Lebanese Army. I also think, they will not reach any place. For once, Syria can't help, and for once, the international community will not be on their side. Now this may sound like this is unjust for them, and they have the right for more. Of course they do. It's their right to protest, as long as no problems occur.

But what puzzles me is, how can Aoun be so happy to ally with Hezbollah. There was a day when I thought Lebanese should all be united. But not anymore, because we're not all Lebanese. Hezbollah had dragged our country into war with probably one of the strongest and top of the line technology army in the world. Moreover this war had only resulted in death, destruction, very bad economy, no tourism (no money), stress and pressure... And then the government was able to end a war it did not start, provide protection sort of speak to Hezbollah (who by the way still have weapons), get international relief, and send Lebanese troops to the borders, while they haven't been able to do that for almost 40 years.

And Hezbollah have the nerve to drag Amal with them into resigning in order to call this government illegal. Aoun lovers, can't you see who Aoun has allied with? You tell me program. What program?!

You say you only wanted Syria out and it's out, so no reason to keep blaming them for things! How can you say it's out while we still have politicians getting assassinated!
You say Aoun wanted to open "files" and that's why March 14 decided not to put him as President anymore and then each went on his way? Was he going to open also Franjieh, Karameh, Wahab, etc... files? And tell me, isn't also Hezbollah considered to at least done a tiny miny small mistake called WAR?

I have come to a place where I am almost about to have arguments (and definitely they're picking on me), with friends I have known for more than a decade, luckily I keep turning it into a joke and not say anything, because friends are more important than politics... However all this is happening because of politics, precisely Aoun (because they're with Aoun)... What is going on to this country? (I am not saying I don't put provocative nicknames on msn! I do) but I believe we are in a democratic country and I should say my opinion. So here it is ladies & gentlemen.

I think if Aoun doesn't wake, and better yet, his followers, his lovers, his worshipers, don't wake up, then we are ruined! And YES WORSHIPERS , I say that because some say: "We don't understand his politics, but we will follow him till the end, and our blood is orange!" And this response reminds me only of how we were told to follow Jesus, you don't have to see it, just believe in it, that's what faith is about.

Anyway, I do not belong to any political party, and in my family alone we have 4 religions, so if i give any opinion, it is mine and not some so called leader's.

Finally, if anyone wants to catch up on today's news, I think Tayyar's website will be covering it minute by minute.

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?

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.

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.

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.

Lebanon is only getting worse politically

I don't know how I actually still have hope that Lebanon will shape up to get better. We all know the children of today are tomorrow's politicians, so how can it get better while the way children (most) are being raised will only lead to more xenophobia and prejudice.

I am not saying in Lebanon people do really hate each other when it comes to religion, we actually get along pretty well, however the real issue here is whenever politics gets involved, people GET xenophobic and scared and prejudice.

Why do we tell little children of 5 and 6 year old who to love? Follow Nasrallah or Geagea or Aoun or Hariri or Berri or Franjieh or Jumblat or ... or ... or ...?

Why don't we let them get educated and grow up to one day decide who they want to follow? Are we being fair to them by shaping their mind to a 2D closed box?

How can we expect for the future reponsibles and politicians to make our Lebanon a better country while the way of thinking is not evolving at all?

Why aren't we accepting change? I think each and every political party in Lebanon is as stubborn as the next. None of them is willing to compromize, or learn or discuss. They all want their way or the highway.

I personally am getting fed up with the Lebanese people who are not trying enough to change, to look beyond their noses. They are not seeing that most of our leaders are nothing but hypocrits who only care about their own personal interest and making us hate our fellow brothers and sisters over silly and ridiculous unintelligent noisy thoughts.

My 100th Post: Lebanese politics, same ... different day

Well, I will take advantage of this special post, the 100th post, to state several issues.

I will be decreasing the number of political posts on this blog, because lately the news about our politics have become pretty much repetitive. Actually they've always been like that, changed a bit during the war, and now we're back to Kids Play. I have noticed that Politicians go round and round and finally saying things that sum up to 5 sentences:

• (1) Ana ma khasneh (It's not my fault)
• (2) Hayda ileh (That's mine)
• (3) Ana rbe7et (I won)
• (4) 3tineh yeha (Give it to me)
• (5) And my favorite: Kil shi byerja3lak (Hope what you wish for me, happens to you)
• (6) Also my favorite: Houwe ballash (He started it) <-- Inspired by Rampurple

So from now on, on the news, they can just use codes, i.e. X says 1, Y says 4, X and Y say 5. This way, they can decrease the news time, and increase maybe the entertainment time.

What's your religion? A question I will stop answering

I want religion to be no more than personal belief, not a criteria to judge, or a criteria that either opens a door to friendship or not, or a door to hatred or not. I am not saying everyone judges by religion! For those who don't, then I assume this won't be hard to apply, and for those who do? Then learn no to!

From now on if someone asks me: "What is your religion?" or an even more subtle question: "Where are you from?" (you see the latter basically reflects the religion to a certain point as well, combined with the name of the person).

I will answer: Humanity, and I am from Lebanon.

What is your religion? and where are you from?

The Lebanon I want

I extracted this paragraph from a previous post I've written:

...Today, “August 14, 2006”, is not just a new chapter, it’s a new book, a sequel! It’s not possible for politicians to keep playing hide and seek! It’s about time they work, and I presume it’s about time the Lebanese citizens wake up, and demand that their politicians do their job!

Rebuilding Lebanon is not just rebuilding the homes of those brave people, not just engineering and building the destroyed infrastructure, it’s not about building cities only! Because as the proverb says “Men, not walls, make a city.” Therefore I think, it’s about time to re-educate everyone, to care for every girl and boy in this country, to make sure they all get the proper education, to make sure they all grow to respect others' religions but realize it’s not a criteria to judge, love or hate the other! To make sure when they’re grown they receive the right orientation and guidance, to make sure they all get a chance at jobs and that Lebanon has more job opportunities than job applicants!

It’s time to think of Lebanon as a strong and capable country, why can't Lebanon for once be an example for the whole world?

All Lebanese should ask for PEACE!

They say Peace is the non-existence of strom, the calmness after the war, the quietness, the acceptance of the new situation, well I think this is wrong. I think Peace is a peace of mind, peace of morals, peace among the Lebanese, peace that there won't be another war! I think right now in Lebanon everyone should speak up. In war they spoke, why don't they speak up now, for Peace?

The Lebanese should do just like what they did on the 14th of March in 2005, when over a million Lebanese marched down to the martyrs square and asked for sovereignty and freedom. This time we should do it for Peace.

Lebanon is for every Lebanese, for my mom, for my father, for my neighbor, for the grocer, for everyone and for me, and I refuse that any politician, Lebanese or whatever nationality, to decide the fate of my country. I get to at least express my opinion and say that I want long lasting peace in Lebanon! Nobody asked me if I wanted this last war!

But even if it's over, I will ask for Peace, because we still don't have it.

Lebanon is my country as much as it is Lahoud's or Murr's or Nasrallah's or Aoun's or anyone else's! And I have a say in this. And what I will say is that I want PEACE in Lebanon, a long lasting one.

If we don't say it soon enough... then I'm afraid it won't happen, only its opposite will.

Does anyone want another war?

If you want peace, then ask for it.

Is Lebanon to be re-born or re-torn? It's up to Nasrallah

Today Walid Junblat (Leader of the Lebanese Progressive Socialist Party) has given a press conference in reply to Nasrallah's speech 3 days ago (Monday 14th of August) and Syrian President Bashar El Assad on Tuesday 15th of August, so did Minister Saad Hariri.

Starting with Junblat, which many consider, to be unstable. I am not sure of this description, however I have to admit that I like the way he answers. He did not provoke or accuse Nasrallah's resitence of anything, he precisely was proud of the brave men who have fought against Israel in the South of Lebanon. However he did imply that none of the national discussion have known or been informed of Nasrallah's intentions concerning the most recent war in Lebanon, nonetheless he expressed that he had his doubts that something was bound to happen.
Nasrallah said on Monday they will rebuild the destroyed homes and they will not wait for the government due to some complications, and Junblat commented by saying that the money that Hezbollah will use are actually money coming from Iran.

Consequently, Junblat suggested that Hezbollah becomes a part of the army.

Moreover Junblat sent questions to Sheikh Nasrallah, asking him what is his stand from the Taef agreement, and who will he dedicate his vitory to, the Lebanese, or the Syrian / Irani governments? He also criticized harshly the Syrian President, saying that he is trying to create a conflict inside Lebanon.

Agreeing with him on the latter part was Saad Hariri, adding to it a saying: "A criminal always goes back to the crime scene". Saad Hariri accused Assad of provoking a turbulance among the Lebanese.

He added: "Standing in the face of Israel is a famous Lebanese production".

Saad Hariri accused Israel of "living off the blood" of Palestinian, Lebanese and other Arab people. He also accused Syria of trying to sow strife in its weaker neighbor, where it kept an occupation force for 29 years. Source: AP

Now that the Syrian President wants to play the game of: "You deserve this. Look at what happened to you when Syria left Lebanon!" and other silly sentences. Politicians such as Hariri, Junblat, Gemayel, Aoun and most of March 14 who were accused of being Israeli agents, will not remain silent, they will answer back.

I am curious to see what Sheikh Nasrallah will reply, I think it's all in his hands, it depends on what he will answer, either a real problem will be created in Lebanon, or a new dawn. He already offered to help rebuild Lebanon, that's good, but how good? Will it affect the regime in Lebanon?

Source: Lebanese Media

Lebanon lego... let go

Sometimes Lebanon feels like a Lego, after being put together... it gets kicked and pieces fall to the ground. And then we rebuild it, but it's still made of pieces that might still fall to the ground on any sensitive move.

I can't help but keep wondering about the future of Lebanon, more like, the shaky future of Lebanon. I am sure that they will rebuild Lebanon. Obviously after the speech Sheikh Nasrallah gave on Monday, August 14, calling all the youth of Lebanon to volunteer and put their differences aside, and focus on the rebuilding of our country.

Lebanon will surely receive many aids, and perhaps international companies from UAE or Kuwait will adopt the project of rebuilding the southern suburb of Beirut, a project that is similar to what happened in downtown, allowing people to go back and live in new houses.

I am torn between several feelings. At one side, I can see the future in Lebanon, on the other side... I don't. It's not the first time this happens in Lebanon, I can go back in history and list how after each war, after each attack, even earthquakes, Lebanon got back on its feet. Everyone who came to Lebanon can testify its beauty, its vibrant roads; if you get stuck in traffic, it’s actually a good thing, because you know you're going to the right place!

I can keep going about the night life, about the adventures you can do in the nature, the beach, the sunny weather all summer, the chilly breeze at night in the mountains, the barbecues in your grandma’s house, everything is close to each other, and not to forget the amazing appetite Lebanese people have, thus the delicious food!

What's funny is that so many people used to tell me about the greatness of Lebanon and that I should appreciate it more. What's more funny (funny sad, not funny haha), is that it what took me to realize how much I love my country is to get stuck outside Lebanon without being able to go back, watching on the Reality TV a new movie called “Israeli war on Lebanon”, that came to a theater near me on July 12, 2006 and lasted for 33 whole days! a non stop movie which resulted so much destruction, damage and death tolls.

I ate fruits here, I ate cucumbers, they don't have a taste!
The houses are beautiful, roads are clean, trees on the side, but there is no one on the streets, what's the point? You would think the area I live in is abandoned.

I am so angry and so mad because every time Lebanon is about to develop, for more companies to invest in our country, for the economy to progress, for tourists to start visiting by thousands, what happens? A war, a political crisis such as the assassination of Hariri followed by 13 other explosions all over Lebanon.

It's definitely not fair, and it's definitely not something we want to see happen again. I would like to live in my country, in my home. I want to do this without worrying if in 2 or 3 years Lebanon will be destroyed again.

What is the true solution? Who is really the one to blame? I observe the politicians in my country, and I don't see good coming from them. This is an honest opinion. I can't trust any of them, they seem to all be working for their good and only their own good! They think of themselves as celebrities, as hot shots, but “snap out of it and see the truth, you actually serve the country”, or at least they should.

A famous wise man once said that the master is the server. The politicians should put aside politics, and just work. They should be like every other employee. Go and do their job, with work ethics! If they don’t know how, then why the hell are they in their positions? They can always go and attend project management classes.

Today, “August 14, 2006”, is not just a new chapter, it’s a new book, a sequel! It’s not possible for politicians to keep playing hide and seek! It’s about time they work, and I presume it’s about time the Lebanese citizens wake up, and demand that their politicians do their job!

Rebuilding Lebanon is not just rebuilding the homes of those brave people, not just engineering and building the destroyed infrastructure, it’s not about building cities only! Because as the proverb says “Men, not walls, make a city.” Therefore I think, it’s about time to re-educate everyone, to care for every girl and boy in this country, to make sure they all get the proper education, to make sure they all grow to respect others' religions but realize it’s not a criteria to judge, love or hate the other! To make sure when they’re grown they receive the right orientation and guidance, to make sure they all get a chance at jobs and that Lebanon has more job opportunities than job applicants!

It’s time to think of Lebanon as a strong and capable country, why can't Lebanon for once be an example for the whole world?

L.A.

What is happening on the Lebanese Ground?

This article is not to talk about the Israelis operations and invasions and how Hezbollah is putting up a strong fight, this article will be shedding some light on what is happening with the Lebanese people. At this point, the Lebanese people can be divided into several categories, and there are just many of them.
But I will only cite one of them, the category that I will be talking about today, a category that nobody is really mentioning.

The people in this category need to build a future, who are my age, who are young and ready to work hard to buy a house and have a family or maybe continue their education, and who are afraid to do so in Lebanon.

I fall in this category along with so many other Lebanese people. I am currently outside Lebanon, supposedly on my vacation and got stuck outside. I’ve never wanted to be in Lebanon more than now. But I also don’t know if this is where I want my future to be, because I am scared this war is nothing but a battle and there will be more battles in the future. Hatred only brings hatred, and war never leads to peace.

Keeping in touch with my friends, I've come to know that several of them have fled to outside Lebanon; they went to Cyprus, Switzerland, U.S.A., France, Kuwait, Jordan… And several are starting to search for work outside Lebanon. One friend said to me: "There is nothing here anymore for me, I might as well leave, to Qatar, to Dubai, it's better than here."

Some of the companies in Lebanon are even thinking of relocating their offices, I know the company I work for will divide their offices among Jordan and Qatar, and I know of a company which one of my friends works for who might relocate to Japan.

I guess you get the idea, not only financially and economically is our country losing its opportunities and chances, but also the generation that is one day to rule our country and make it stand on its feet, will be living to invest their energy and intelligence in other countries, and this is called immigration.

We have had this problem long ago, and just when people started believing in Lebanon and deciding to come back, the war happened; like a friend of mine who lives in Toronto, Canada, who was seriously thinking of coming back to live in Lebanon in summer 2007, but on 12th July 2006, she changed her mind.

What are they doing now? The Lebanese people! They are trying to cut down on driving their cars, barely they go to work, as some of them still have work, lucky them, because they don’t know when is the next time they can fill their cars with gas.

Speaking of work, I know several persons who got “excused” from work, they were given their salaries and been told: “do no come back”.

My friend works in a travel agency, so I asked her: “How is work?”
She replied: “Well I still go to work, but I have no work!” obviously because no one is traveling from or to Lebanon at this moment due to the airport being still shut down. My friend is afraid she might lose her job as well.

Everyday I am worried my brother might drive while going to his work on a bridge that suddenly Israel might assess as a road that leads to Syria and bombs it.

At the end the question is: “Should we go back and try to lead a normal life in Lebanon ignoring the possibility that another war might take place on our playground?”

L.A.

Thank you to the Lebanese Red Cross and all other brave volunteers

15 Martyrs till now from the volunteers of the Lebanese Red Cross. They are afraid, yes, but this doesn't stop them from going all the way when there is a wounded that can be saved, they get in their ambulance car, and reach their destination in hope to save another life, while the enemy is hoping that they wouldn't, which explains why so many times Israel's air-strikes beside from bombing the children (who apparently are members of the Hezbollah Militants), and women, and old men, and even men... bombed the ambulance cars of those volunteers, while they're on their way to do their job.
Israel perhaps believe that there might be some ammunition, weapons supply to Hezbollah in Ambulance cars? so they bombed them.



World look at this, volunteers who's job that they love, is to save people, have sacrificed their lives for them. They knew at any second they might die, but this didn't stop them.

Respect and appreciation for all those courageous and brave volunteers. Thank you for saving lives, and hope you stay safe. Humans like you make this world a better place giving us hope for tomorrow.

Watch video from "Kevin Sites in the Hot Zone - Reporting from Lebanon" about the Ambulance Attacks

L.A.

How does it feel?

How does it feel to be on the outside and watch your country get destroyed? I can tell you, it feels horrible. It feels horrible to sit there helpless not being able to do anything for your country. This country is my home, Lebanon is where I was born, Lebanon is where I went to school, Lebanon is where I met my friends, Lebanon is the home of my family. My ancestors, who my mother's part had escaped to the safe Lebanon, to the beautiful Lebanon, that they have become Lebanese themselves.
How does it feel to be just another civilian watching her fellow civilians die with no reason. I always think that there must be a way to solve problems without the need of a war.

Israel has made a war on us. Israel has detroyed a lot of innocent people's homes. Where will they go now? What will they do? They're living right now in schools. What happens when school is bound to start in September? Should we stop teaching the kids? Should our country stop from functioning. No. You got that right. We have survived war over and over again. But does this make us entitled to be the one who has war? again? over and over again?
I can post another article, another analysis about the possible ceasefire with conditions imposed by Israel, repeated by Washington, the United Nations, Rice, Blair, John Bolton...
I can post the condemnations of Israel by some arab countries, France, Italy and others.
Oh Rice paid us a visit, what a great opportunity to see the hope open up of a possible ceasefire.

Cease-fire... is there an undo-fire? Why isn't there an undo-fire? What did we reach? Did we accomplish anything? Is the world going to get better? Is force ever a solution to deprive some people from living; living the lives they are entitled to?

Is this really normal? In war everything goes and some people have to die. We all know this is much bigger than us. We all know that what leaders say on TV is something else from what they say "under" the TV, the agreements they make. It is so funny and offending at the same time. The US saying that it did not accept the offer Syria has made yesterday. It's a sharade, we should prepare oscar trophees and make a special celebration on E! Entertainment TV to reward the best lying politicians.

Politicians, the scum of this world. Thank you again for applying the balance of the Yin Yan. Evil and Good. Good and Evil. Make sure you always do your part in Evil, so others do their part in Good.

Care to do your part in Good, then don't forget to donate and help.
http://www.saveleb.org/Donate/donations.html
http://www.netlebanon.com/RescueLebanon/
http://donatetolebanon.blogspot.com

L.A.

Let them hear your voice

Who is right who isn't? Who's fault it is? Is what Israel doing to Lebanon justified? fair? right? Are you with Hezbollah? What do you wish? What do you think will happen?

Let us hear your feedback.