tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10968421.post111711638654114851..comments2024-03-23T02:40:59.858-05:00Comments on The Lebanese Bloggers: Reformers in LebanonRajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02625042447499335907noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10968421.post-1117626317595674582005-06-01T06:45:00.000-05:002005-06-01T06:45:00.000-05:00I know this is a personal attack but I cannot resi...I know this is a personal attack but I cannot resist.<BR/><BR/>Sounds like the first academic, Sleimane, is your regular idiot savant (probably hiding his Marxist bent under pompous words).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10968421.post-1117528670276626142005-05-31T03:37:00.000-05:002005-05-31T03:37:00.000-05:00raja,You are right on both points:I was too inflam...raja,<BR/><BR/>You are right on both points:<BR/><BR/>I was too inflammatory.I apologize to the readers.<BR/><BR/>As to the Baha'i faith, your friend is absolutely well informed: True believers are not supposed to have political activities (even though they can vote!).<BR/><BR/>[As to the case of that person involved in PLO, i was told it was rather due to an "image de marque" issue with Israel. It is yet another interesting story i might talk about elsewhere].<BR/><BR/>Even though i don't think your answer is as sincere and unbiased as you say, i will answer sincerely: I am a Baha'i by family and education but not at all a true believer... I don't mind at all being "excommunicated"; i expect even the use of the "Greatest Name" Baha' is not very recommended for blogging. But hey, i despise ALL religious dogmas (including YOURS, dear reader) and don't see why i should make an exception with that of my parents.<BR/><BR/>I am a Baha'i agnostic (sorry if that horrifies the thirlworldist view of sympathizers of "this sooooo cute and primitive religion we must take care of -as we do for Pandas- for the sake of cultural diversity" as Canadians put it). As agnostic as every reasonable person should be.<BR/><BR/>Excommunicators and blasphemy watchdogs are trash.<BR/><BR/>Thank you for your original post raja<BR/><BR/>Baha'Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10968421.post-1117504991127834762005-05-30T21:03:00.000-05:002005-05-30T21:03:00.000-05:00anonymous,If Tony is an extreme anything, he's an ...anonymous,<BR/><BR/>If Tony is an extreme anything, he's an extremely good analyst and writer. His postings consist of articulate arguments that are founded on strong evidence, and shaped by sound theoretical frameworks. If you want a good understanding of what is going on in Lebanon, I highly recommend you read his posts. <BR/><BR/>What I like about him, is that he gives all of us "wanna-be reformers" a strong dose of Lebanese reality. The fact of the matter is that the overwhelming majority of Lebanese, from all of the sects, are part and parcel of a sectarian political system - whatever they CLAIM to think about sectarianism. Druze, Shi'a, Orthodox, Maronite, Sunni, etc... Most people (whether we like it or not) identify with their families, localities and sects, and practice politics accordingly! So, the question is: do we do like military dictators and quash the system? Or do we create formal state institutions that are modern and effective, however, manage to take account for the sectarian political tendencies of Lebanese - as, I believe, Tony recommends? That is not "fanatic" rhetoric. In fact, I see Tony's rhetoric as much more rational than some of the anti-sectarian rhetoric that we hear every once-in-a-while (including some of my own posts). <BR/><BR/>Baha'...<BR/><BR/>please control the language. You make one valid point. But, it could have been done without the inflamatory language. On another note, I just wanted to ask you a sincere question. I have a close friend in Beirut who happens to be Bahai'. Yet he never talks politics because he says that his religion forbids him from doing so. In fact, he told me the story of a Bahai' lady who was excommunicated from the faith because she joined the PLO and was participating in politics.<BR/><BR/>Was he misinformed?Rajahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02625042447499335907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10968421.post-1117498932158395142005-05-30T19:22:00.000-05:002005-05-30T19:22:00.000-05:003) I forgot to add that stupid intolerant self-rig...3) I forgot to add that stupid intolerant self-righteous people like you anonymous are Lebanon's plague, not sectarianism<BR/><BR/>Baha'Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10968421.post-1117498822769860622005-05-30T19:20:00.000-05:002005-05-30T19:20:00.000-05:00To anonymous:Once and for all:1) Being a "right wi...To anonymous:<BR/>Once and for all:<BR/><BR/>1) Being a "right wing" is not an insult. Stupid intolerant anonymous<BR/><BR/>2) Anti-right wing or anti-Maronites pertain to racism. You f... anonymous racist<BR/><BR/>Baha'Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10968421.post-1117438580813851392005-05-30T02:36:00.000-05:002005-05-30T02:36:00.000-05:00What Kamal Hamdane said is not really controversia...What Kamal Hamdane said is not really controversial. There is near unanimity in Lebanon about the fact that sectarianism is a plague.<BR/>Your friend Tony from Across the Bay is an extreme right wing fanatic.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10968421.post-1117291636865522292005-05-28T09:47:00.000-05:002005-05-28T09:47:00.000-05:00Doha,The online archives are a recent phenomenon. ...Doha,<BR/>The online archives are a recent phenomenon. But the paper archives are available in Jafet, the information office, and the Outlook office.<BR/>Supposedly, professors keep copies of them, as well. I've heard there is a professor who has copies from the sixties through InLook and LookOut to the re-creation of Outlook in 1997. I don't know the guy, though.<BR/><BR/>There are a lot of people still at AUB from your days: Fadi Shaker, Rami Salameh, Kamal stops by a lot, and Joe Manok is now an AUB employee.Charles Malikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09009178114562065398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10968421.post-1117237621022911052005-05-27T18:47:00.000-05:002005-05-27T18:47:00.000-05:00Doha,Totally off topic, but I've just spent quite ...Doha,<BR/>Totally off topic, but I've just spent quite a lot of time reading things you wrote and looking at your picture.<BR/>No, I'm not stalking you.<BR/>I was doing the same to Kamal Sanjakdar, Sary Zantout, Hussain, Mirna Shidrawi, Rami Salameh, that Cypriot girl (sorry forgot her name).<BR/>Wow, I had never heard of Galloway until the recent flap over Iraq, but you were meeting him face to face in 2000!<BR/>Crazy to see you in places other than the internet. We definitely have one degree separating us, although we have never met.<BR/>Crazy stuff...Charles Malikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09009178114562065398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10968421.post-1117129431286528492005-05-26T12:43:00.000-05:002005-05-26T12:43:00.000-05:00frankly, aside form all of this talk about institu...frankly, aside form all of this talk about institutions and politics, a fundamental problem is the way Lebanese individuals deal with one another. Almost every Lebanese has a group mentality, and consequently befriends or associates exclusively with people from their own sect or community. I think that kind of behavior is very unfortunate. We all live in a country that is so rich, but, for whatever reason, we stay in our little cocoons or enclaves and despise other Lebanese without really getting to know them! If we can't even get ourselves to have decent and friendly conversations, then I wonder what's the point in talking about political reform and political institutions!<BR/><BR/>Which one came first? The chicken or the egg? can someone answer that question for me?Rajahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02625042447499335907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10968421.post-1117118699317993962005-05-26T09:44:00.000-05:002005-05-26T09:44:00.000-05:00doha, federalism can only exist when you have defi...doha, federalism can only exist when you have defined geographic entities. In Lebanon, the different sects are dispersed all over the country, so you cannot have "sectarian states" in Lebanon. However, I did mention the reasons I advocate for the American model - its respect for minorities, and for autonomy of political entities at the subnational level (i.e. states).<BR/><BR/>In Lebanon, we don't have states, we have sects. The political elite have always claimed to represent their sects, and consequently have turned sects into political entities. From my previous posts, you know what my position is concerning that phenomenon. Although it has saved us from rotting under a dictatorship by fostering a consociational system, sectarian politics is a prison in its own right! Therefore, I proposed the American political system as a realistic compromise . A way to get us where we would like - i.e. a place where sectarian/identity politics exists, but is in the backburner, rather than the forefront of political discourse.<BR/><BR/>At the moment, I cannot propose any more details because I don't have the time to think about them. However, on the whole, I think that the American system offers us many models we can use to move forward. As I'ver already mentioned, the respect for minorities in the United States, and the different nodes of power broadly reflect the political situation in Lebanon.Rajahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02625042447499335907noreply@blogger.com