In this blog I plan to write about why and how I think Lebanon’s future is a bright one. We are a resilient nation, though we have many problems. We are also a very determined nation and I think we will eventually find our way out of the crisis we are in. Once out, we will find that we have matured as a country.
In fact, if you look at our history you will find that we have come a long way. Yes, there still is a long way to go, but I believe there is so much to be optimistic about. So, I have decided to write about it.
My blog will be a matter-of-fact discussion of what needs to be done to get us out of the situation we are in today, at the start of 2006. Of course, the problems will change and often they will be temporary. I hope to be able to make some contribution, no matter how small, to the debate on policy making that we so desperately need in Lebanon. Too much politics in our country is about politicians and not enough is about people and the issues.
There are many cynics out there who will always point at our history and say: see, you guys are hopeless. Well, in this blog I want to welcome constructive comments from those cynics, who I might sometimes sympathize with, in addition to the optimistic voices. The objective is to find out what needs to be done to make our nation one we can be proud of and which can ultimately help us achieve our personal dreams. I dream of a Lebanon in which all people can feel safe and proud.
I named the blog “A House of Many Mansions”, after the title of the book by Kamal Salibi, because I believe that Lebanon’s real asset is its diversity.
The blog’s address 2351926.blogspot.com alludes to 23 May 1926, the day in which Lebanon’s constitution was adopted. Even though many changes have been made to this document, that day still represents the beginning of hope. For it is in our constitution and the depth of the commitment to it that our future lies.
At the end of the day, the current political situation boils down to a straightforward allegiance problem…and the fact of the matter is that faux sheikh Saad Al-Hariri and aspiring sheikh Fuad Saniura both hold Saudi citizenships and are literally on the Saudi government payroll: they both sit on the board of directors of PUBLIC and private Saudi firms (oooops conflicts of interests!) and they both literally receive fat paychecks from Riyadh at the end of every month that Allah makes.
You simply cannot bite the hand that feeds you, the hand that gives you money [Oger SAL, Solidere, Liban-Cell], gives you a job [Qoreytem, Oger SAL again, Bank Al-Madina], gives you a house [The Grand Serail in Beirut, Jeddah facing the Wahhabi Central Mosque, Paris facing the Eiffel tower…for the Hariris always like to show some hauteur!]
Cordially,
Dr V
PS Welcome to the Lebanese Blogosphere anyway
Welcome to the blogosphere tigermarks, and good luck in putting a positive spin on Lebanon. Looking forward to what you have to say.