Monday, August 07, 2006

Our Arabness Is Not Conditional

I couldn't help myself but cry with my Prime Minister Seniora, as he cried too.

As he addressed the emergency Arab Foreign Ministers meeting in Beirut, he choked on the words: "Our Arabness is not conditional. It is not by force, but a choice." (Ouroubatouna laysat mashroota. Innaha laysat bil irgham, la bal bil ikhtiyar)

Very powerful words and very true. How much did my country pay the price for standing by its Arab identity? I believe more than any other Arab country.

To be Arab, we housed the Palestinian Liberation Organization, when other Arab countries expelled them. To be Arab, we got invaded by Israel time and time again and our lands occupied by them for 22 years. To be Arab, we fought each other for 20 years in a bloody civil war. To be Arab, we lived years through Syrian intelligence domination. To be Arab, we housed the last bastion of resistance, Hizbullah, when Jordan, Egypt and Syria, bordering Israel, have never had a shot fired across their borders since 1974. To be Arab, we had to live through years after the Israeli withdrawal from the south not knowing whether the Shebaa Farms are Lebanese or Syrian. To be Arab, we were not given Arab support to send the Lebanese Army to the south. To be Arab, so many more issues were taboo to discuss and resolve.

For the first time, live before the whole world, PM Seniora said these words to the Arab Ministers. He choked, cried, wiped his tears and continued on. Some of the attendants looked embarassed and moved.

It's a choice, a choice we have made to stand by our Arab identity. And it's also a choice we've made to be pluralistic and democratic, a choice to be open and modern, a choice to be a message of coexistence for the whole world.

Israel is a democratic state, but not pluralistic; it's a state for the Jews. And Syria, our other neighbor, is an authoritarian state that subscribes to one creed, Assadist Baathism.

It is a difficult choice we the Lebanese have made: we want to be different; part of the Arab world, yet different, democratic, yet pluralistic. Lebanon: the house of many mansions, and the death toll rises....

Update: It turns out that the Arab Foreign Ministers meeting came up with something more than just a statement - a group of Foreign Ministers are heading to New York to work with Security Council members rallying support for the Lebanese government's seven-point plan that aims at reaching a comprehensive solution to all hostilities.

Update 2: The Lebanese government has ordered in those who served in the Lebanese Army the past 5 years. Is this the first step towards sending the Army to the south?

Update 3: News sources are saying that Syrian Foreign Minister Moallem did not agree with supporting the Arab Foreign Ministers meeting's official statement, which endorses the Lebanese government's 7-point plan and which stressed on ALL Lebanese people's resistance towards Israeli aggression, instead of just hailing Hizbullah's resistance. The 7-point plan includes a provision to turn in the Shebaa Farms to the UN until it's resolved whether it's Syrian or Lebanese territories.

To Moallem: What were you thinking? That you're coming to Lebanon so all could bow to your demands? So you could challenge the 7-point plan and keep some gambling cards up your sleeve?

I should just say that our PM Seniora was decent enough to repel the rumors in his press conference that you left early because you were disgruntled. It turns out that the rumors were true!

And yes the reserves called up will be heading to the south. May God be with them!

Update 4: Shiyyah was hit, a heavily populated area, in the evening, when everyone is huddled home. The footage of the carnage is scary. Rescuers are scrambling around the rubble to save who can be saved. 10 are reported dead and more than 30 wounded.

"Nobody knows how many rebellions, besides political rebellions, ferment in the masses of life which people earth."

37 comments:

Dry Gin Martini said...

Doha, very nice post, but what the hey is this "Arab identity"? I for one don't identify with "Arabs", with the latter being the true Arabs of the Arabian Peninsula.

Lirun said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Lirun said...

forever inspiring..

doha's posts make my head slow down and powerfully change my perspective everytime..

we need your voice dude..

lirun
telaviv
www.emspeace.blogspot.com

Lirun said...

apologies.. dude is used for both.. ;) i'm a surfer - we would use it for the queen of england..

her royal dudeness the queen heheh

Lirun said...

i see lebanon as the jewel of the crown

Abu Kais said...

Doha, thank you. I agree that Siniora is our only hope now.

Baroon said...

his speech was very emptional and touchy .
Lebanies should and will walk with thier heads high. small country, small nation,bigger than life itself.

Dry Gin Martini said...

For God's sake Lebanese people, would you quit deluding yourselves? You convince yourselves of these illusions just to feel comfortable and victimized because we are being destroyed while the world watches. When did we ever live in democracy? Are you insane? Just because our government system is supposed to be elected, doesn't make us a democracy. A democracy represents the people. Lebanon government has never represented the people. Hey guess what? Egypt's constitution is based on a democracy as well. Does that make them a democracy? Even Syria voted for the late Assad in an internationally televised election, just like the Iraqis did for Saddam, and they both got elected at 99.99% or something ridiculous like that. Does that make them democratic? Fucking stand up and take responsibility for our mistakes. Our mistakes of repeatedly rallying behind the same animals who have ruled us for decades. Our mistakes of rallying behind those who would sell us to whatever foreigner who had interest in the region. Our mistakes of never saying ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. Our mistakes of TAKING A BREAK from reality, whenever that reality allows for us to have time off, ie when there's war and death and killing, we are all passionate and excited and fighting, but as soon as the turbulance stops, we go back to partying and rejoicing and living life, instead of putting our foot down and changing things. For fuck's sake, why is it that most of us are out of the country in the first place? because we have democracy? OUR COUNTRY MADE US LEAVE, BECAUSE THERE WAS NO ROOM FOR US THERE. So quit your talk about democracy, please, it is starting to sound like a broken record. Lebanese people saying "quit destroying Lebanon cause it's the only democracy" is starting to sound like Israel people saying "we don't mean ill to the Lebanese people, but we have no choice but to destroy Lebanon to eradicate HA".

JoseyWales said...

Screw Ourouba.

People are dying and buildings are falling and our idiots want to discuss (deadly) concepts and romantic ideas.

Hopeless.

Ourouba Unconditional (i.e. THOUGHTLESS) is what got us here Visionless Milquetoast Simiora.

JoseyWales said...

The bombs over our land right here/ right now, is the PRICE of Unconditional Ourouba.

The "umma's war whether you like it or not" Milquetoast.

Do you like it?

Amon Ra said...

gsh;

very wise comments about how democracy should be executed but what will happen afterwardS, whenever a ceasefire comes..

Libanon has been destroyed and correct me if i am wrong but Lebanese do not acquire the capitals for establishing again not only democracy but the opeation of a decent state...

Thus, you will need help from abroad. I can imagine that even Israelis business will be capitalise on the results of this massacre... And of course your dearest foes from arabic world will be very keen to participate too....

It is a personal opinion but i dp not trust "democracies" which strive when the control is not in the hands of local people. And that is why Israeli tactis seem to be completely irrational or instigated by US. They will not achieve nothing more than increasing their isolation in the area.

P.S: Discourse analysis of UN resolution for almost a week takes place at the expense of civilians lives. How diplomats sleep at night???

Dry Gin Martini said...

Ronen, please follow one action from the following list:

1. Grow up.
2. Get informed.
3. Go to hell.

Anonymous said...

If your Arabness is not your tragic flaw, then your willingness to accept others' versions of it certainly is. Where is Lebanon's distinct identity? Where has it been asserted lately?

I once heard Rafiq Hariri describe his vision for Lebanon as something akin to Singapore. Well, were Singapore to assert its Chinese-ness in the same way, that little island would be just like any other Chinese province - dirty, corrupt, full of ill-mannered rich folks, and worse still, probably involved in regional conflicts. Instead, Singaporeans became Chinese-plus; ethnic Chinese may be a majority, but other groups are no less meaningful. They are Singaporeans - no more, no less. They have strong rule of law and a loyal, pluralistic population. They have loads of economic opportunity and they don't waste time and energy discussing identity issues at such a level as I see in Lebanon. If Lebanon could scrap this Arabness obsession in the interests of self-preservation for a moment, this kind of prosperity could be theirs.

Lirun said...

as someone who has spent meaningful periods of time in singapore and is well acquainted with its population.. unless it has changed over the past couple of years (which it may have).. i assure you that if i were singaporean i would hate to be anything but chinese..

i very much enjoy my time in singapore and have always enjoyed excellent hospitality..

however i dont envy singaporean indians more than i envy arab israelis

wishing that lebanon regain its light soon

lirun
telaviv
www.emspeace.blogspot.com
we can do better than this $^$^&

Dry Gin Martini said...

Dunes, please follow ALL actions from the following list:

1. Take your own advice.
2. read my original post.
3. lower your IQ by reading ronen's post.
4. worship me for not wasting precious calories by intelligently responding to Ronen's babble.
5. go to hell.

Lirun said...

lists are great

1. finishing reviewing contract
2. issue RFP
3. go to gym
4. shower
5. blog till my hands drop off

(i may as well post my chores given this is all i look at)

Amon Ra said...

gsh;

I read the seven points plan and figured out your point.

However, and forgive me for being pessimistic again, you must take into consideration that when the hostilities come to an end, international community will not have in the centre of its agenda the rebuilding of Lebanon...

Overall, people tend to forget very easily. I understand Siniora's effort to achieve a commitment from UN but this will be only temporal. Whoever participates in the rebuilding will not do it for lick Lebanon's wounds, In any case, you have NO other option so it is the best he could advocate...

I read also that Nasrallah stated that this is the last battle of Hezbollah??? Is this info valid because i have never heard it again? How possible you consider the gradual inclusion of Hezbollah members in the Lebanese army?

Sarah said...

I, also Doha, broke into tears as I heard him via Radio Orient's online transmission.
But, just as I was about to give up on us the Lebanese who with our conflicting and contradicting ideologies and 'struggles', Sanyourah emerged to me as, at the risk of sounding cliche, Lebanon's saviour.
He will hopefully lead us to Lebanon's only chance at survival, military neutrality and diplomacy.

Lirun said...

i dont think you're identity needs to be compromised.. there is no need to tip out the baby with the water..

as an israeli i have often met people who have prejudged me all around the world..

i am a very proud israeli.. however i have also taken it upon myself to decide (a) what being israeli and (b) how i want to influence that definition for other israelis and "outsiders"

Lirun said...

sorry meant to say what being israeli means to me

Robert18 said...

This is very powerful indeed.
But is it correct?

I always learned that the real Lebanese are desendants of the Phoenicians who lived in what we call now Lebanon from 1600 to 800 BCE, though there must be some Jewish blood left in some Lebanese, since they lived in Tripoli, Beirut and the Mount Lebanon area centuries before the Phoenicians. The Arabs imposed their will and Islam on Lebanon only in the 7th Century. Not much later a great number of Arabs were kicked out by the Ottoman Turks, with the help of the Christians........many fleeing to the east and south (!!). Then came the French and the Syrians who created and destroyed the state Lebanon respectively.

So where is this “We are all Arabs” nonsense suddenly coming from? In need of oil money? Pride is no longer an issue?

Anonymous said...

It's all relative. Considering, though, that Lebanon needs a plan moreso than it needs more rhetoric, I might find it useful to look beyond simple indentity questions. Were I a third world country (with a strategic location) with malicious outsiders threatening to prosecute their own agendas on my territory, I might find Singapore to be a helpful model. Maybe it's not perfect, as no society is, but I didn't see any starving Indians, Malays, Singhalese, or anyone else there for that matter. When Lebanon achieves the prosperity and consequent welfare system of Israel or Singapore, then the debate can progress to issues related to everyone's self-esteem. For now, broad strokes will do.

Lirun said...

i dont care if you're arabs or anything else for that matter..

i want peace with you

Vox Cantoris said...

My maternal grandfather left Lebanon for Canada in 1886. My paternal came here in 1910. They left because of the poverty and persecution under the Ottoman Turkish empire. Everyone wants a piece of this land. Watching from a far I cannot help but resent the Arab League/World and the rest of us for that matter, for expecting that Hizbollah would be disarmed by the government. What? Another civil war? Get out of Lebanon you Syrians and Iranians! Lay down your arms or get out of Lebanon you Palestinians and Hizbollah! Get out of Lebanon, Israel! Lebanon must be free, democratic, pluralistic for the Lebanese!

David Anthony Domet
Toronto, Canada

Lirun said...

hey nagrela..

not accurate.. i - as an israeli - spoke up earlier.. i dont want to live next to a contrived greenback/euro infatuated synthetic lebanon emulating the sungaporean model in our region..

while i have enormous respect for the achievements of the gulf emirates - the splendour of street lebanon is much more beautiful than any row of mansions that could be built on reclaimed land from dried up sea shores to which we have the likes of the beckhams and holywood stardom flocking..

i would much rather an organic and real society representing the best aspects of its own values and self actualising as the democracy it painfully aspires to be..

reading the last few comments - i need to say that i empathise with how easy it is to lose hope and how with each detonation our shared dreams seem further and further away from reality..

but please dont let go..

lirun
telaviv
www.emspeace.blogspot.com
while many wish that we fail.. many pray for our success

Solomon2 said...

The Lebanese government has ordered in those who served in the Lebanese Army the past 5 years. Is this the first step towards sending the Army to the south?

How many Hezbollah are being called into the Army, and what will be their function?

Dry Gin Martini said...

responding to z's posted article:

"...fired a Fagot-type anti-tank missile.." *snicker*

root cause said...

leb liona....if ur so sick of everyone here....please by all means go back to ur homeland and pick up a rifle. i'm sick of listening to ur rhetoric. must be rough sitting there in ur ivory tower in the states casting ur insults. i wish we were all as "wise" as you. (blatant sarcasm)

Lirun said...

for me its not irrelevant.. because having lived extensively overseas and having enjoyed the friendship of many syrian and lebanese people.. i want that friendship and i wish they could visit me in israel..

sure.. the pragmatic aspect appeals to me.. but i was their friend in times of conflict and peace..

i get pissed off enough by people i actually do know.. why do i need to hate a whole country the vast majority of which i have obviously never ever met.. simply doesnt make sense in my mind..

wishing us all peace..
lirun
telaviv
www.emspeace.blogspot.com
i hate being told to hate strangers - only like to hate people i know ;)

Lirun said...

anthony - its called municipal .. domestic or even just plain local law.. your question is very broad.. my knowledge of lebanese law is non existent.. but im guessing it probably has an ottoman history - developed by a french civil law system and then supplemented by a combination of modern local laws with sectarian influences.. but thats no more than an (un)educated guess..

Lirun said...

bigtime loli

althought every now and then we get someone who disappeared for a while come back and flex verbal muscles and chuck an agro..

nevertheless - the standard of discussion has improved heaps

echoing your wishes for peace..

wishing a safe night to all

Robert18 said...

Doha said...
My family is originally Circassian. We were Mamlukes who ruled back in the 1500s and then when the Ottomans took over, my great grandfather stayed behind in northern Lebanon and took up the Arabic language so as not to be discovered as a Circassian Mamluke.
So what do I say? That I'm from the Caucasian mountains? No! I'm Lebanese first and an Arab, because I speak Arabic and my customs and traditions are Levantine Arab.


Doha,
I am surprised that you prefer to be an Arab over being yourself, a Circassian. Don't you have any pride of being what you are?
I assume you don't have any contact with the Circassians in Israel. They are still Circassians, and proud of it. I have a salesman who is Circassian: hard worker, smart, happy and a very pleasant person. His family is very hospitable, and their original dishes are great. We in Israel are glad to have these small groups of people of various origins (the list is long): they are all happy, and don't have that nasty Islamofascist goal in their lives: to massacre all the Jews.

Being a minority, it's nice to have some friends, albeit often also minorities.

Robert


From the Circassian Foundation Kafkas Vakfi website:
Circassians in Israel
Circassians arrived at their present location from Balkans in year 1880 after 10 years of residence at Marvel-border of Greece and Bulgaria, they migrated to Palestine, the Holy Land of the three monotheist religions. Ottoman Sultan asked them to reside at Rihania (Reyhaniye) and Kfar-Kama villages. About 1000 Abedzah Circassians live in Reyhaniye and about 2000 Shapsıg Circassians live in Kfar-Kama and scores of families live in various Israeli cities and towns near their jobs.
Kfar-Kama the larger village has Jewish settlements as neighbours. Children graduate from village school and continue their education at Jewish schools.
They learn Hebrew, English and Circassian at school, National Circassian Alphabet of Caucasus is used in teaching Circassian.Reyhaniye is closer to Arab settlements as neighbours and children are able to go both Arab and Jewish schools.
Circassians serve in the army and employed in the border and regular police force. Municipal and public services are wide open to the Circassians. Circassians living in these two villages communicate in own Circassian language.
The Circassian Law (Khabza) regulates the conduct of the Circassians and settles all matters among themselves.

faiq said...

no matter how Democratic and pluralistic lebanon Israel will attack Lebnaon coz terrorist state know only one thing thats is killing people as much as they could...now palestinian is paying the price of Democracy,Believe me if their is democracy in Arab world Israel never dare to attack lebnaon..no arab leader stay in power by just sitting silently

Lirun said...

loli

i think your point is very valid..

the mere desire to communicate - even unsavoury messages - is better than solid silence..

at least there is a channel of communication and i'm sure even the most arrogant and unfortunate people who have been posting - have still had the benefit of learning something about the other side..

wishing peace and understanding to all of us

lirun
telaviv
www.emspeace.blogspot.com
sometimes it helps just to shut up and listen a bit ;)

AM said...

"Our Arabness is not conditional. It is not by force, but a choice."

I like that ... It only reinforces pride :D

The Middle East News Addict said...

I disagree. Lebanon's Arabness seems to be conditional. Only they were required to host the Palestinian terror groups, only they were required to host Hezbollah, only they were required to pay the price for this. Syria was smarter than that, so were Jordan and Egypt. They weren't required to host no one. Why should they when Lebanon, as the weaker party, can be required to bare the brunt for them? That is why I was pissed when I saw PM Seniora saying that Lebanon's Arabness was not conditional. It was very much conditional and his words proved it. Because I saw all the rest clapping their hands. They were not clapping for Lebanon as an Arab country; they were clapping for Lebanon as the only sucker to bare the brunt for their ambitions in order to be considered Arab.

dick said...

Doha:

A very moving post. I'm lost for words. Other than: stay yourself - we love you for it.