"Most of the greatest evils that man has inflicted upon man have come through people feeling quite certain about something which, in fact, was false." Bertrand Russel (1870-1970)
Once again our politicians have failed to behave responsibly.
First person Joseph el-Khoury
Nov. 13, 2006- Along with many Lebanese abroad I have been feeling a deep sense of national humiliation over the past few days. I have been skeptical from the start, if not completely opposed to the idea of a national dialogue. This is understandable, as I still harbor distant memories of conferences held in fancy European resorts and Arab capitals. At the time it proved a very effective way to learn geography but none of these attempts at dialogue led to long-lasting and satisfactory resolutions. Ironically many of these so-called first-rank politicians who were part of the Lausanne and Geneva set are still debating our future 20 years later.
Once again our politicians have failed to behave responsibly. By agreeing to a national dialogue outside the normal framework of the institutions they have re-established a primitive process reminiscent of the days of the omnipotent militia leader. This tribal round-table is of course not suitable to any democratic process, let alone in a fragile society with ever-widening fault lines.
Out of the latest parliamentary elections and due to the complex nature of shifting alliances came a majority and a significant minority. While the Hizbullah-Aoun alliance deliberately refuses to behave as an opposition in what appears a tactical move to undermine the government, the behavior of the March 14 Forces is less clear. On one hand they insist on their popular and electoral mandate to govern the country and on the other they adopt the same posturing as their opponents. I might be unaware of some secret US-inspired recipe to win the standoff but I get the feeling that they are more comfortable in the roles of sectarian and feudal chiefs than in that of elected representatives. http://www.dailystar.com.lb
I am not sure what would relieve my sense of humiliation. It is clearly not the lunches held by Samir Geagea and Michel Aoun or the sarcastic humor of Nabih Berri. I wish they chose to have this circus elsewhere than the not-so-vibrant heart of Beirut, where their security ring is guaranteed to keep every shopper, businessman or tourist at bay. May I suggest another fancy European capital next time!
Dr. Joseph El-Khoury A Lebanese citizen in voluntary exile
Madness takes over Lebanon. Militants are fighting in the streets of Beirut. Military guns are on both sides. What is the prospect of such a situation. Aren't the Lebanese fed-up with wars?
23 November 2007 Lebanese President Emile Lahoud left the Baabda presidential palace without handing over the power to a new president. This is the first time since independence in 1943.
