The Secret
The Lebanese behavior had been a riddle that had puzzled anthropologists, economists and politicians until the day when, out of the blue, someone discovered the reasons behind what his colleagues deemed a peculiar demeanor vacillating between joy and anxiety: a joy resulting from the gains achieved and an anxiety of losing them. After lying deep and sound in slumber, the dormant Lebanese people(s) finally woke up to a new reality: electricity being supplied uninterrupted with very affordable bills, roads being maintained, traffic controlled, parking lots available, public transportation organized, drinkable water provided, contaminated water purified and waste recycled. Read the rest of this entry »
Jeita: “Thank you, Twitter, Weber and Fattoush.”
Shortly after launching the New 7 Wonders campaign, Jeita Grotto attracted huge masses of visitors of whom the Lebanese constituted the largest portion. Apparently, the New 7 Wonders Foundation presided by Mr. Bernard Weber, did not prevent multiple votes through the Internet or by telephone, as long as money was charged for each and every vote.
Nouhad’s Remains or Lebanon’s
Nouhad Nasser Eddine was unaware that a terrible fate was awaiting her on the dawn of October 15, 2011 on the “so called” Byblos-Beirut highway where she fell victim to a hit and run accident. A fast-driving car ran into her, claiming her life and tossing her dead body over the road to be ran over again by other drivers who “mistakenly” confused her scattered limbs with “inhuman remains” as reported by the National News Agency. Read the rest of this entry »
What does it mean to be young and Arab?
In his book “The Mainstay Concerning Poetry’s Embellishments, Correct Usage and Criticism”, Ibn el-Rachik recounts that a poet who became very famous was asked how his name was on every tongue and known all over. He said “It is because I have minimized what is right and said ‘what is correct.’”
But what if we believed in Imam Ali’s words that: “Upholding what is right has left me no friend”.
I do not know why we insist on holding so many seminars, symposia and conferences in English, while we talk about the problems of our youths, who are supposedly Arabs. Are they really Arabs? And while we don’t question further whether the Kurds are Arabs and the Berbers are Arabs and the Chaldeans and the Assyrians are Arabs, have we asked them about their opinions and how they want to be called? Are young Arabs, Arabs; or are they Lebanese, Moroccan, Syrian and Saudi? Read the rest of this entry »
Saints, Traitors, Villains, and Fools with Two Airports
“…Historical self-deception is a luxury which only societies confident of their unity and solidarity can afford…Divided societies, on the other hand, cannot afford such fanciful indulgence. To gain the degree of solidarity that is needed to maintain viability, their best chance lies in getting to know and understand the full truth of their past, and to accommodate to its realities”. Kamal Salibi
In a country like ours, names of places and individuals are not mere words but deep expressions of emotions and memories. They become symbols and idols not to be taken lightly. Examining some names in our history would take us to an interesting path, especially when we trace how the egos of these individuals were transformed into legends and fantasies that are treated as historical facts, by which we live, and sometimes die. Read the rest of this entry »
A Ramadan “dialogue” in the cedars forest
“They” decided to meet in what is left of the Cedars’ Forest to discuss what is left of Lebanon. The dialogue started with interventions from representatives of the Phalanges Party and the Lebanese Forces stating that the oldest cedar tree today in “Ain Al Rab” is 1,000 years old according to a carbon testing report and that the oldest tree in Lebanon is the endangered Lizab (Juniper), which is threatened with extinction, especially following the construction of the Dinnieh-Hermel road and the Brissa dam. Hezbollah representatives objected and demanded the verification of the laboratory tests. As a result, the attendees decided not to discuss this issue and agreed to only discuss matters affecting daily lives of people that could be tackled. Therefore, there shall neither be talk about the international tribunal nor the weapons. There shall be no talk regarding “international legitimacy”, “alliances with Saudi Arabia or Iran” or even debates about the age of the Lizab and the cedars, thus avoiding any escalation. Read the rest of this entry »
Zaki Al Arsouzi and Antoun Saadeh, when they talk or cry
The “conventional wisdom” decreed, during the Turkish-Syrian rapprochement, that the case of Iskenderun commonly known in this part of the world as the “usurped province”, ought not to be discussed. So the two parties, the Ba’ath Party and the SSNP, the former founded by Zaki Al Arsouzi and the latter by Antoun Saadeh, who always campaigned for the case of Iskenderun, remained silent. They even praised the “wisdom” in making a deal with Turkey to spite their local rivals. Suddenly and apparently after being satisfied with its human rights records on the Kurdish question, Turkey declared its concern regarding human rights in Syria. And simultaneously, these two parties started to remember Iskenderun again. Neither party deliberated on the problems of ideologies, strategies and national interest. Is the land more important than the people? How do you deal with a neighbor who declares friendship but has taken a land that you feel is rightly yours? Neither party felt it was high time to launch a critique of their ideas and their conduct since their foundation. Read the rest of this entry »
Adma Nassif topples the confessional system
Perhaps she has seen it all: the Baghdad Pact and Gamal Abdel Nasser’s era, the blooming of new ideas in young Arab generations, the emergence of the tribes of Hashid, Bakil, Taghlib and Tamim, and Al Qardawi and Al Jazeera, the widening schism between the “Sunni” and the “Shia’a”, the division of Sudan and Yemen and Iraq and potentially Syria, the rise of Erdogan who is sitting on Iskenderun and more and Netanyahu who is sitting on Palestine and more, the bankruptcy of Egypt and splurging Qatar that is to spend $100 billion on a football game, to Abu Dhabi, who is oblivious to the rights of its migrant workers but is highly concerned about human rights in Syria, to the Ba’ath party’s tedious rhetoric since it gained power in Iraq in 1968 until 2003 and in Syria since 1963, to Ghazi Kanaan and Rustum Ghazaleh ruling with Lebanese Zua’ama who now curse them, to the dissipation of the SSNP that seems to be always fascinated by the genius of Kanaan and Ghazaleh and their heirs, to the proud confrontation with Israel in 2006, to the demise of Ben Ali and Mubarak, and until her last breath in May 2011, Adma Nassif succeeded in bringing down the confessional system. Read the rest of this entry »
“The people demand…”
but I buried my heart in Maroun Al-Ras
The youth of Laique Pride who demonstrated on the 15th of May 2011 “demanding the fall of the confessional regime” did not know what that date (15th of May) means to us. Some of Laique Pride demonstrators apparently have a selective memory that dates back to the day when they launched their call on Facebook, which sometimes is touted, not only as a tool for change, but as the ultimate goal of revolutions in this part of the world.
Have the youth asked themselves whether the American people will ever forget September 11 or more importantly 4th of July, their Day of Independence? 15th of May 1948 to us is more than a “Nakba” and larger than a land called Palestine. It is the date of our ongoing tragedy and shame, which we will never forget, and the date of our forthcoming independence, which we shall always work for.
The youth of Facebook and twitter do not know that our hearts were buried on the 15th of May 1948, and our memory is still sizzling with many dates, notably 5th of June 1967. Those youths perhaps don’t know that Maroun Al-Ras has raised our heads high in 2006. And that the words of the White House about Israel’s rights to defend itself, after shooting peaceful demonstrators on the other side of the borders, brings to memory what the settlers have done to the Apache under the leadership of Geronimo (or Goyaale) in 1829 and to the Miniconjou in 1890 and what they are doing to us in Iraq, Palestine, Lebanon and Syria today.
Our collective memory is still alive as evidenced by the demonstrations on the 15th of May. The youth will remember that we have buried our hearts, once again, in Maroun Al-Ras, Majdal Shams and Aisawia and that we held our heads high.
Jawad N. Adra
The True Story of Ain Al-Roummaneh Bus
Posted by . in Uncategorized on May 16th, 2011
Jawad N. Adra - There are those who believe that the Lebanese have “ignorantly” decided not to discuss the causes of the civil war, which started in 1975 and supposedly ended in 1989. And they are bewildered how a society can move so swiftly from a Hanoi to a Hong Kong. Crimes were committed with impunity and no reconciliation process took place. Yet, we read about national unity everyday and about Lebanon being a unique multi-confessional model of peaceful co-existence. Discussions about how Britain, Germany or Japan re-built their societies after World War II and about conservation of cultural heritage and national memory and how austerity measures were adopted, are not welcomed. This happens for a reason. And the reason is: the war has not really ended. It has just taken a different form and a lower level of intensity. We have simply chosen to jump from the game of blood tinted with money during times of “war” to the game of money tinted with blood in times of “peace”. Considering that we are still in a state of war, denial is convenient and so is the continuous worthless talk about a fictional “national debate”.It would therefore be a good idea to write a new convenient “history” of the civil war that we can teach to new generations, which will also be a novelty to historians. And here is the introduction to the book:
“Youth of Lebanon, you have been told that there was a civil war from 1975 until 1989, and that the sparkle was in April 1975 because of the Ain Al-Roumaneh bus when allegedly tens of Palestinians were killed by the armed militia of the Phalanges. This story is simply not true. The truth is that Lebanon is situated on an earthquake fault line extended from Nahr Al-Kabeer to Naqoura and from the Mediterranean to Eastern Mountains and on that day we had an earthquake rated 9/9 on the Richter scale, which caused the bus accident. Later on, Lebanon witnessed many after shocks and in 1982, coinciding with Israel’s occupation of South Lebanon and Beirut, another earthquake reaching 8 on the Richter scale took place. The intensity of the earthquake caused a perpetual split between Eastern and Western Beirut.
Youth of Lebanon, do not believe that the Lebanese have killed each other. Nor have they committed any atrocities. As for our Zua’ama, they were working hard as rescuers and volunteers in the Red Crescent, Red Cross and Civil Defense. Druze and Maronites did not fight. Muslims and Christians did not fight. Sunni and Shia’a never had a problem. Nor did a Sunni have a problem with a Sunni, a Shia’a with a Shia’a, a Druze with a Druze, a Maronite with a Maronite. We were all one, working to rescue the victims of the earthquake.
Youth of Lebanon, do not believe that anyone capitalized during the earthquake era, stole, killed or embezzled. Afterwards, when things became quiet in 1989, Lebanon’s Zua’ama embarked on a campaign of reconstruction, using their own money and connections to support these efforts. Public land and public money were protected. Most of all, remember that the banking sector worked for the unity of Lebanon and its reconstruction tirelessly after the earthquake with exemplary altruism. Please do not believe those who tell us to learn from Japan. Japan has nothing to teach us. They have been subjected to two nuclear bombs, many earthquakes and tsunamis and damaged nuclear reactors and look how they behaved.
Example 1
Japan: “They” survived with a handful of rice for a family of 4 for 24 hours quietly standing in a queue and bowing.
Lebanon: “We” accept handouts without needing them, no queueing no bowing but we pay back by our votes in elections.
Example 2
Japan: “They” accept calamities in silence. Perhaps you have heard about this Japanese lady who was dug out of the rubble apologizing to the rescuers for not being able to help them.
Lebanon: “We” don’t … we don’t … and we don’t … *
Example 3
Japan: “They” do not raise photographs of their prime minister and do not extend their appreciation for his help.
Lebanon: “We” raise the photographs of our Zua’ama proudly and always thank them while cursing them in our hearts.
Example 4
Japan: “They”, the Buddhists, don’t know God and His Prophets
Lebanon: “We”, the Lebanese, are the cradle of civilization and the example of co-existence and do not pray for idols unless they are Zu’ama.
The Japanese stood for one minute in silence for their victims and carried on working. We are in constant mourning for our earthquake victims while at the same time rejoicing being Lebanese at White and Sky Bar and on Facebook, Twitter and satellites.
Youth of Lebanon, we have never forgotten the victims of the 1975 earthquake including the children of Qana. Japan has a lot to learn from us.”
* Please fill in the blanks
“Baltajiah”
Jawad N. Adra
It would be interesting to study how and why certain words and expressions become widely used at a certain time and suddenly they disappear to perhaps appear again. In the case of Obama, “change” is the word. During the Syrian presence in Lebanon, no politician would make a statement or speech without mentioning “the unity of the two tracks” or “destiny and the path” or “the Syrian alternative”. When the American troops arrived in Baghdad, the then Iraqi Minister of Information used the word “uluj”. This word became popular for a while and now we hear it no more. Recently, in most political articles and interviews, the word “harak”, meaning movement, is “a la mode”. And following the Tahrir Square demonstrations in Cairo, the word “baltaji” has entered the political lexicon in the Arab World.
Following are some observations about the word “baltaji”.
First: the Baltaji family
It would perhaps be beneficial for the March 14 supporters who are popularizing this word in Lebanon to remember that the Baltaji family is Sunni and did not participate in the attack on the demonstrators in Tahrir Square nor in the famous 7th of May 2008 in Beirut. Perhaps they might be offended by the derogatory use of this word, but who cares, their number doesn’t exceed 130 voters.
Second: the word “baltaji” in Egypt
In the Turkish language, the word refers to an axeman, or a butcher or a logger. There used to be a battalion in the Ottoman army that would use the axe as a weapon. In the Sultan Diwan, there used to be a “baltaj” who would “discipline” people if they upset the Sultan. After the occupation of Egypt by the Ottomans in 1517 and when law and order broke down, a criminal would be referred to as a “baltaji”.
Third: the etymology of the word “baltaji” according to Ibn Manzour
“Balatnahom” means we fought them and “ablata” means bankrupt or broke, which confirms that a “baltaji” is a poor man. “Balat” is the axe in Arabic, which also confirms that he is the axeman.
Fourth: who are the real “baltajiah”?
The real “baltajiah” who attacked the demonstrators in Tahrir Square are those who ruled Egypt for more than thirty years. The real “baltajiah” in Lebanon are those warlords who committed atrocities and then procured an amnesty law for their crimes, and those who robbed and embezzled the Public Treasury and seized public property while watching Israel bombard their people. The real “baltajiah” are Western leaders who sold arms to dictators knowing well they will only be used to crush and oppress the people of this region.
Fifth: “Al Mubaya’ah”
It would be interesting for the researchers to study this word and its origin, according to Ibn Manzour again. In Islamic history, this word is a proof of a democratic tradition where people “youbayi’oun” i.e. support a ruler or a Khalif. Ibn Manzour tells us that although this word means a contract that one can romantically fantasize is a “social contract”, it could also be a sales contract where “one would sell what he has or himself” and obey … And that is “the deal”.
The roots of two words “baltajiah” and “mubaya’ah” might explain the way we are: “thugs” and “deals” do not build nations.
When “they” correct “our” history
For the eyes of Feltman and Sison
Jawad N. Adra
Considering the latest Wikilieaks revelations about discussions between Lebanese politicians and the former US Ambassadors to Lebanon, Jeffrey Feltman and Michele Sison and the accusations levied by those politicians, most of whom were supposedly friends of those ambassadors, The Monthly finds it appropriate to republish this editorial, which was published in Issue # 66, January 2008.
When “they” correct “our” history
“Why do you keep talking about the 16th and 19th centuries? What about today?”, My colleague asked. I do not think we are ready yet. But let us see…
The letter of Bani Shu’aib(1) raised nostalgic feelings among the descendants of foreign envoys who played an important role in the history of the region, including Lebanon.
Their statements reflect true stories they heard from their parents or found in family documents. They all had mixed feelings towards Lebanon. They remember sweet stories about the “beautiful country” and its “hospitable people” who rece ived their ancestors warmly when the latter were powerful and victorious. On the other hand, they hold bitter memories of these “welcoming” zu’ama turning on their guests like ravenous wolves when defeated.
These descendants are surprised at the ability of Lebanon’s “ruling families” to appear highly “cultured” and “modern” and to simultaneously act like voracious beasts. It seems that History to them does not matter, because stories, fictive or real, will depict them as great Zu’ama, heroes definitely, and “martyrs” if needs be.The descendants of these envoys, however, have another version of Lebanon’s history.
Let us see what they say.
The descendant of Jamal Pasha (1872-1922)
“Old documents, which belonged to my great-grandfather, prove that those who were called ‘revolutionists’ and ‘reformists’ and stood against the Turks, were in fact Jamal’s followers turning against him when Turkey was defeated by the Allies. They then replaced him by France and Britain. As for those who displayed patriotic fever they most probably did that to spite a neighbor or a cousin,” he said.
“My grandfather told me once: “The Arabs have a weakness in their character that is jealousy of their countrymen who become important,” and he literally told me that “if those zu’ama forge alliances with France and Britain against Turkey in World War I (1914), the Arab nation will be defeated forever… and those who pretend to know nothing about foreign schemes are either short-sighted or have decided to sell their conscience and dignity.”
Jamal Pasha’s descendant concluded his letter, saying: “Those who called my great-grandfather the ‘Butcher’ used to kiss his…”(2)
The Descendant of Damien de Martel (1878-1940)
“My great-grandfather was not as bad as you think. He had a good sense of humor and loved women.
He fell in love with a woman who was revered by all your zu’ama.It is true that he used the game of money in the 1934 parliamentary elections, but he said: “I am doing a humanitarian job as there are no other means for Abboud Abdel-Razak, Emile Tabet and other candidates to help the poor voters and penniless journalists…”
It is also true that he meddled with the 1936 presidential elections but your Zu’ama were more than willing, since he wrote to his girlfriend: “You have always told me that our relationship should make of you a millionairess… I will not allow the candidates (Emile Eddeh and Beshara al-Khoury) to win the elections unless they lose their minds or money or both together…”
The descendant concludes the letter: “Yes, they waited in queue at his door and when the French government decided to transfer him, they abandoned him.”(3)
The Descendant of General Edward Spears (1886-1974)
The great-granddaughter of General Spears begins the letter saying that Britney is not a relative, stating that she was very angry that the singer had a wider popularity than Edward.
She says that her grandfather was the main contributor to Lebanon’s independence. “He was the one who threatened French High Commissioner Jean Helleu and expelled him from Lebanon after the latter detained your “heroes” of Independence. He deployed many efforts for the election of your first President(4). In the mid-1960s, I met one of your zu’ama who told me that my “late” grandfather was a hero. I told him that he was still alive and that he would be very happy to receive him again or any of the Lebanese zu’ama. He declined, saying he was overwhelmed with work.”
She continues: “You left my grandfather to die alone and I will never forget that.”
Skimming through old documents and dispatches, we stopped at the beginning of the civil war in 1975.
“Please let us go back to the time of Fakhreddine I (fictive or real), as I am still confident that Fakhreddine II is the founder of modern Lebanon… and please do not try to change my convictions,” my colleague said.
(1) See The Monthly issue no.65 of December 2007
(2) Memoirs of Jamal Pasha, translated from Turkish into Arabic by Ali Ahmad Shukri
(4) “Lebanese Presidents as I knew them”, Iskandar Riashi, title translated from Arabic.
(3) Fulfillment of a Mission (1941-1944), Edward Spears
