L'indépendance ou la dépendance du Liban?
Novembre 2007
Chers amis-es, lecteurs et lectrices,
me revoilà suite à un mois d'absence, avide d'écrire, de partager et d'échanger, mais aussi, inquiète de l'avenir du Liban.
Je m'étais éloignée du brouhaha de la politique, affairée avec Jana ma fille, née le 20 octobre. Croyez-moi, je n'ai rien manqué, vu que la situation n'a pas changé: tensions et conflits entre les politiciens, alliances éphémères, le même blabla et charabia, une diarrhée verbale qui ne semble pas avoir de remède, des mots vides de toute teneur, des promesses roulant à vide et un va-et-vient quotidien de ministres étrangers et d'ambassadeurs qui ont le culot d'affirmer leur non-ingérence dans les affaires internes du Liban, alors qu'ils ne font que dicter leurs ordres, adoptant un ton condescendant, impérialiste...
Il est évident que la faute incombe à 'nos' leaders, des pions à la solde de telle ou telle autre puissance, et également aux gouvernements étrangers qui piétinent la souveraineté et la dignité des peuples de la région Proche-Orientale, mais surtout et en premier lieu, à 'notre' mutisme face à un cortège de fous et de démons...
Pourtant, le 'nous' - le peuple -, pluriel dans ses appartenances, rêves, us et coutumes, pourrait se relever de sa torpeur, s'unir et se révolter. Qu'est-ce qui le pousse à cambrer son dos et à laisser faire une bande de poupées fantoches? Est-ce une question de quantité? Après tout, les Libanais vivant au Liban ne forment qu'un quartier dans une ville Chinoise... 4 millions... Mais la diaspora compte plus de 12 millions... Est-ce une question de diversité de visions? La diversité n'implique pas forcément la désunion. Est-ce une question de chèreté de vie? Il y a du vrai dans cette question puisque le Libanais pauvre ou de classe moyenne - lequel d'habitude constitue la force de frappe du changement, voire le pilier de toute révolution - est entraîné dans une crise économique qui ne le laisse pas respirer ou alors le pousse à quitter le pays à la recherche de quoi survivre - et non pas vivre, puisque 'vivre' devient un luxe que seule une poignée de personnes bien nanties peut se payer, et encore...
Quelle que soit la réponse, nous pourrions croire que les Libanais sont indignes de l'indépendance acquise il y a plus d'un demi-siècle suite au mandat Français - notons que le 22 novembre marque l'anniversaire de cet événement majeur dans l'histoire du pays -, ou alors qu'ils ne sont pas capables de gérer leur propre diversité et de faire leur propre lessive sans un coup de main des 'grands', ou alors qu'ils sont 'faibles' de nature, 'immatures' et 'violents'... Personnellement, je n'y crois pas. Je crois foncièrement que les Libanais en grande majorité veulent la paix entre eux et avec les autres. Mais à quel prix? À ce jour, au prix de leur vie, mais j'espère pas au prix de la vie de leurs enfants.
Je ne voudrai pas que ma fille Jana soit prise dans l'étau de la guerre. Je ne lui souhaite pas de passer par l'épreuve de la violence meurtrière qui marque l'humain au plus profond de son être. Et aujourd'hui plus que jamais, je suis déterminée à poursuivre ma lutte pour la construction de la paix et de la convivialité, pour que justement elle n'ait pas à chercher à 'survivre' comme l'ont fait et le font encore ses parents, ses grands-parents et tous ses ancêtres, mais à 'vivre'!
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Lebanon’s Independence or Worldwide Subordination
By Michele Chrabieh
Beirut, Tuesday November 20th, 2007
Lebanon’s Independence Day falls on November 22nd and the “deadline for electing a new head of state is down to its final days”. President Emile Lahoud’s term ends on November 24th and no consensus has apparently been reached between our two political factions celebrated for their legendary quality of “obedient submissiveness”. They are the March 14 (government) and the March 8 forces (opposition).
Independence is defined as “freedom from the control, influence, support, aid, or the like, of others” (http://www.dictionary.com/). But in the case of Lebanon, the Independence day is rarely discussed or even mentioned except for pointing out that it is an official holiday and a recreation day. Today, it is one of those final days in the countdown to a political vacuum or an organizing rebirth of the Phoenix.
So far, from what we have heard and seen, our so-called independence has enjoyed the semantic relation of belonging to a lower rank i.e. it has been but conditional or contingent on the US and the West’s quest for regional supremacy on the one hand, and on Iran and Syria’s on the other, “as through a natural or logical sequence”.
The following quotes in today’s issue of the “Daily Star” resume it all somehow:
"The presidential election issue is not easy to solve as it involves too many players," Sfeir told the media on Monday. "The solution is tied to the Lebanese and is linked to neighboring and faraway countries," he said. Sfeir also warned that a civil war and having two presidents "are possibilities but would be disastrous" to the country.
By Michele Chrabieh
Beirut, Tuesday November 20th, 2007
Lebanon’s Independence Day falls on November 22nd and the “deadline for electing a new head of state is down to its final days”. President Emile Lahoud’s term ends on November 24th and no consensus has apparently been reached between our two political factions celebrated for their legendary quality of “obedient submissiveness”. They are the March 14 (government) and the March 8 forces (opposition).
Independence is defined as “freedom from the control, influence, support, aid, or the like, of others” (http://www.dictionary.com/). But in the case of Lebanon, the Independence day is rarely discussed or even mentioned except for pointing out that it is an official holiday and a recreation day. Today, it is one of those final days in the countdown to a political vacuum or an organizing rebirth of the Phoenix.
So far, from what we have heard and seen, our so-called independence has enjoyed the semantic relation of belonging to a lower rank i.e. it has been but conditional or contingent on the US and the West’s quest for regional supremacy on the one hand, and on Iran and Syria’s on the other, “as through a natural or logical sequence”.
The following quotes in today’s issue of the “Daily Star” resume it all somehow:
"The presidential election issue is not easy to solve as it involves too many players," Sfeir told the media on Monday. "The solution is tied to the Lebanese and is linked to neighboring and faraway countries," he said. Sfeir also warned that a civil war and having two presidents "are possibilities but would be disastrous" to the country.
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Another Rotten Day in the Lebanese Paradise of Downtown Beirut.
By Michele Chrabieh
Friday November 23rd, 2007
It’s just about seven in the morning. Army tanks, security forces, check points and deadlocks make up the distinctiveness of the roads in Downtown Beirut. A panorama we have seen on quite a few occasions, a vista we get pleasure from while heading on foot to our employment since our usual parking spots turned to forbidden zones, and a spectacle our politicians have just vowed to show us all over again. They have truly decided to summon a session today but with no actual president to elect. At midnight, President Emile Lahoud’s term ends and the next step is yet to be known and has no specific time frame. We live with the tremble and apprehension of the unexpected yet surprisingly exhibit a carefree mind-set. We mechanically prepare a “primitive warlike” morning kit with, for instance, some provisions, running shoes, extra clothing and a mobile charger. In parallel, we anticipate our logistical alternatives to get to work and in due course leave it. And that with a cynical motto: “No retreat, no surrender”. “Yet no deal, no country”.
By Michele Chrabieh
Friday November 23rd, 2007
It’s just about seven in the morning. Army tanks, security forces, check points and deadlocks make up the distinctiveness of the roads in Downtown Beirut. A panorama we have seen on quite a few occasions, a vista we get pleasure from while heading on foot to our employment since our usual parking spots turned to forbidden zones, and a spectacle our politicians have just vowed to show us all over again. They have truly decided to summon a session today but with no actual president to elect. At midnight, President Emile Lahoud’s term ends and the next step is yet to be known and has no specific time frame. We live with the tremble and apprehension of the unexpected yet surprisingly exhibit a carefree mind-set. We mechanically prepare a “primitive warlike” morning kit with, for instance, some provisions, running shoes, extra clothing and a mobile charger. In parallel, we anticipate our logistical alternatives to get to work and in due course leave it. And that with a cynical motto: “No retreat, no surrender”. “Yet no deal, no country”.