It all began with a competition over who would offer more mulla to the thousands of Lebanese whose homes were destroyed during the one-month-long Israeli offensive. Hizballah offered $12,000, the international community responded by pooling their resources together and offering $40,000.
Then, Lebanon's billionaire politicians started to compete over who would re-build the destroyed bridges that the Israelis so generously targeted "to prevent Hizballah from re-arming itself." They publicly selected their favorite bridges and promised to fork over the funds necessary to rebuild them - on condition that the bridges be named after them, once constructed.
Then, a new competition emerged: which country in the region would rebuild entire villages. Qatar, I think, started it. Several days ago, it declared its intention to rebuild Bint-Jbeil. Next came our wonderful neighbor to our east and north, which declared that it would rebuild three or four other villages... .
And now, this: The Saudis have offered to pay the dues and fees of all Lebanese students attending public schools "at all levels."
This is all very generous, and I am sure the recipients are more than greatful for it. However, please excuse me for being a bit cynical!
So now that the Saudis have offered to pay for public schooling, what's next? Cell phone bills? Will the Iranians offer to pay all the cell phone bills that Lebanese accumulated over the month-long offensive?
Lebanon continues to be an open field where regional and global powers play their soccer matches. When they throw cash at us, its all nice and dandy, however, we are the last ones they consult when they decide to convert those dollar bills into katyusha rockets and cluster bombs.
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10 comments:
lebanon - to my mind - should accept but realise that it does not need these countries in the long run.. once it is on its feet it should sprint alone and establish relations based on its general national interests..
i must say that the flow of money is surprising.. what about the iraqis.. dont they deserve schooling and towns and villages?
wishing peace for all
lirun
telaviv
www.emspeace.blogspot.com
I am a little suspicious of Saudi Arabia's decision to focus on education.
I have read their translated textbooks online... I am suprised they are not sued by Hitler's estate for copyright infridement.
I am glad Lebanon is receiving so much support, but I hope Lebanon will reject any educational material that preaches hate... should any be found.
Lebanon shouldn't get a penny until the disarm HB. Period. Enough acting like victims.
fga,
of course the money will help. the point i tried to make was that it's nice to have people competing to give you money; however, I have two issues that bother me:
1. intentions. as I've already mentioned, the primary concern of the donors is to "stick it" to their adversaries.
2. Lebanon is open to donations and (in normal circumstances) investments. However, nobody's ever figured out how to protect it from weapons and bombs. Maybe if our political elite managed to figure that trick out, I'd be a little less cynical about the money we get.
salary relief and tax assistance are certainly methods used in israel..
doha and raja - i have expressed nothing but respect for you both and your blog since finding it - but what have u done to raise the profile of this matter on the agenda..
you have now attained international recognition - if i were you i would be leveraging this for the purposes i support - beyond just blogging
lirun
telaviv
www.emspeace.blogspot.com
Raja says:
Lebanon is open to donations and (in normal circumstances) investments. However, nobody's ever figured out how to protect it from weapons and bombs.
Herein lies the crux of the argument. You protect investments and people from bombs and weapons when you make peace with your neighbours and provide a strong, sovereign and unified state, that enforces the rule of law within its boundaries.
Neither our leaders nor our people seem to comprehend this very basic and simple logic.
I think it is great that money pours into Lebanon, provided it truly gets to the right hands and is all channelled through the Lebanese government so as to strngthen its power vis-a-vis Hezbollah. As for money from Iran and Syria, it is no gift. If anything, it is compensation for the price Lebanon has had to pay (and if nothing is done, will continue to pay) for their ambitions.
Loli,
I respectfully call Bullshit :)
These "ordinary people" you mention are not as powerless as people keep saying. If they stopped acting and thinking sectarianism, the sectarian leaders wouldn't be empowered.
If the Lebanese people truly started thinking about Lebanon first and ACTING about it, people like Aoun, Geagea, Nasrallah and their ilk would not have the following they currently have.
Loli,
I understand what you're saying. Hell, I grew up in Lebanon and experienced this phenomenon firsthand.
Having said that, I still think that the people (as a whole) are ultimately the ones who make these leaders relevant. Aoun is only relevant because of this blind following he has that you mention.
The same goes for those who follow Geagea, Jumblatt, Berri, you name it.
So yes, we need new leaders, from a newer generation. That's a given.
But these leaders don't materialize out of thin air. They come from people like you and me, and those siblings and aquaintances you mention.
For true democracy to flourish, people like us need to step up. As long as we keep shrugging our shoulders and staying at home because "there's nothing we can do about it"...Guess what? Aoun and Berri and Nasrallah and co. will stay our leaders.
Loli,
Bad Vilbel is also the title of a track by experimental electronic duo Autechre (of which i happen to be a fan). It really has no "blogging" significance besides being phonetically appealing to me. :)
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