Monday,31 January 2011
By : Jameel W. Karaki
There is a magnificent piece of glorious heaven, down on earth - right here in the Mediterranean that has settled firmly on terra firma atop lush green meadows called Lebanon. This once-famed and resplendent republic which has now been relegated to a lowly farmhouse was indeed (during its prime
) a fantasy wonderland of sorts. A wonderland that captured the attention of residents and visitors alike, while holding them spellbound through the wonders and intricacies of the humble nature and culture of its people combined with the natural splendor of its natural surroundings.
It is no closed-door secret that in Lebanon, as is everywhere else in the world, citizens are charged for electricity consumption. And since that is a common feature and requirement, why is it so that whenever the Lebanese people light their oil drenched lamps or switch on their electric bulbs (despite paying the said bills) get down on their knees, pray and praise the Lord God Almighty for showering His divine blessings on them? That is because despite paying their bills, they're unsure whether the lights will light up when electrical switches are switched on the following day!
This is so, because through years of internal conflict most of the people cannot even afford to buy generators in efforts to have their own limited supply of electricity. Why? I say this simply because the government, since generations, has yet to come up with affordable and feasible solutions to counter this problem, while an underprivileged people are left with little or no options at all.
The Lebanese people's patriotism, sense of duty and brotherhood can, never be held under doubt nor can it ever be debated. On the one hand, we have those selfless patriotic citizens who fought with their lives against hordes of enemies to liberate their beloved country Lebanon. It is only befitting to mention here that those people lost their properties, a person or persons that they held most dear to their hearts while some even had their entire families wiped out -- while liberating their country from fiends and foes.
Sadly and unfortunately, on the other hand, there are those evil and cursed people who corroborated with the enemy, raped and killed their own people in gluttonous efforts to amass fortunes. Yet, the only sentences that they were handed down by the judiciary were miserably negligible month-old sentences in jails across the country. What a justice! It would have been far better if sentences like those were not handed down at all. It is an atrocious mockery of the legal system and that is all that I have to say in this regard.
It is not a free republic, I would say. It is a kingdom dominated by centuries-old monarchs. We are not even entitled to elect our own leaders of choice since there are some hierarchical families who engage in handing down the reins of leadership to their own offspring and future generations of their families despite the undisputed fact that they are not qualified enough; if not at all!
And thanks to all those ignorant and lowly citizens who support their leaders of choice from their respective sects in exchange for money, free education and all sorts of favors while blissfully overlooking the fact that they are those very politicians who have been depleting massive funds from the public treasury -- just like their great grandfathers did.
It goes without saying that we Lebanese, as a people, pledge their loyalties in favor of their own sects - instead of pledging our allegiance to our country first. This is the main reason why we will never ever succeed in transforming our country into a republic.
It was only recently that scores of enraged and incensed people took to the streets - vociferously expressing their outrage against the appointment of billionaire candidate Najib Meqati as prime minister. It is indeed ironical that they staged protests against his appointment; while making it look like the post of the prime minister has been strictly reserved for His Excellency Saad Al-Hariri.
And to all those who are under the impression that the prime minister's post is the royal prerogative of Saad Al-Hariri, I would like to point out the fact that "Saad, under any circumstances; is no Rafiq." Not to mention the fact that the International Tribune is fabricating and distorting facts to serve the best interests of Israel. I say this in light of the fact that the truth is being withheld by a handful of false witnesses with the pathetic involvement of some Lebanese parties and politicians.
It is indeed deplorable that Lebanese politicians always like to agree to disagree; and in this context, I'd like to offer my heartiest congratulations to the new Prime Minister Najib Meqati, while encouraging Saad Al-Harriri to earnestly follow in the footsteps of his late father by supporting the Lebanese resistance, while wishing the Lebanese people peace and prosperity.
Judging by all the events and manipulations mentioned above, it only goes without saying that Lebanon is a farmhouse that is surreptitiously owned and managed by farm lords while the herds of sheep that are locked up in pens are the lowly citizens. What these farm lords do not realize is the bare fact that there are mighty kings who are actually scrutinizing their actions and directing their moves from outside the shady confines of their farms.
What I cannot comprehend is: Why should we have to wait for other countries to solve our own domestic problems? Why can't we sit down together and solve them by ourselves amicably? Can the leaders of those countries (who we look up to), gauge our feelings? Can they ever surmise what's best of us or are they only interested in the best interests of our so-called leaders?
Finally, all those that are entrusted in key government positions in Lebanon are mere government employees that are expected to look after the best interests of all Lebanese citizens - and not restrict their care and attention to particular sects.
By : Jameel W. Karaki
There is a magnificent piece of glorious heaven, down on earth - right here in the Mediterranean that has settled firmly on terra firma atop lush green meadows called Lebanon. This once-famed and resplendent republic which has now been relegated to a lowly farmhouse was indeed (during its prime
) a fantasy wonderland of sorts. A wonderland that captured the attention of residents and visitors alike, while holding them spellbound through the wonders and intricacies of the humble nature and culture of its people combined with the natural splendor of its natural surroundings.
It is no closed-door secret that in Lebanon, as is everywhere else in the world, citizens are charged for electricity consumption. And since that is a common feature and requirement, why is it so that whenever the Lebanese people light their oil drenched lamps or switch on their electric bulbs (despite paying the said bills) get down on their knees, pray and praise the Lord God Almighty for showering His divine blessings on them? That is because despite paying their bills, they're unsure whether the lights will light up when electrical switches are switched on the following day!
This is so, because through years of internal conflict most of the people cannot even afford to buy generators in efforts to have their own limited supply of electricity. Why? I say this simply because the government, since generations, has yet to come up with affordable and feasible solutions to counter this problem, while an underprivileged people are left with little or no options at all.
The Lebanese people's patriotism, sense of duty and brotherhood can, never be held under doubt nor can it ever be debated. On the one hand, we have those selfless patriotic citizens who fought with their lives against hordes of enemies to liberate their beloved country Lebanon. It is only befitting to mention here that those people lost their properties, a person or persons that they held most dear to their hearts while some even had their entire families wiped out -- while liberating their country from fiends and foes.
Sadly and unfortunately, on the other hand, there are those evil and cursed people who corroborated with the enemy, raped and killed their own people in gluttonous efforts to amass fortunes. Yet, the only sentences that they were handed down by the judiciary were miserably negligible month-old sentences in jails across the country. What a justice! It would have been far better if sentences like those were not handed down at all. It is an atrocious mockery of the legal system and that is all that I have to say in this regard.
It is not a free republic, I would say. It is a kingdom dominated by centuries-old monarchs. We are not even entitled to elect our own leaders of choice since there are some hierarchical families who engage in handing down the reins of leadership to their own offspring and future generations of their families despite the undisputed fact that they are not qualified enough; if not at all!
And thanks to all those ignorant and lowly citizens who support their leaders of choice from their respective sects in exchange for money, free education and all sorts of favors while blissfully overlooking the fact that they are those very politicians who have been depleting massive funds from the public treasury -- just like their great grandfathers did.
It goes without saying that we Lebanese, as a people, pledge their loyalties in favor of their own sects - instead of pledging our allegiance to our country first. This is the main reason why we will never ever succeed in transforming our country into a republic.
It was only recently that scores of enraged and incensed people took to the streets - vociferously expressing their outrage against the appointment of billionaire candidate Najib Meqati as prime minister. It is indeed ironical that they staged protests against his appointment; while making it look like the post of the prime minister has been strictly reserved for His Excellency Saad Al-Hariri.
And to all those who are under the impression that the prime minister's post is the royal prerogative of Saad Al-Hariri, I would like to point out the fact that "Saad, under any circumstances; is no Rafiq." Not to mention the fact that the International Tribune is fabricating and distorting facts to serve the best interests of Israel. I say this in light of the fact that the truth is being withheld by a handful of false witnesses with the pathetic involvement of some Lebanese parties and politicians.
It is indeed deplorable that Lebanese politicians always like to agree to disagree; and in this context, I'd like to offer my heartiest congratulations to the new Prime Minister Najib Meqati, while encouraging Saad Al-Harriri to earnestly follow in the footsteps of his late father by supporting the Lebanese resistance, while wishing the Lebanese people peace and prosperity.
Judging by all the events and manipulations mentioned above, it only goes without saying that Lebanon is a farmhouse that is surreptitiously owned and managed by farm lords while the herds of sheep that are locked up in pens are the lowly citizens. What these farm lords do not realize is the bare fact that there are mighty kings who are actually scrutinizing their actions and directing their moves from outside the shady confines of their farms.
What I cannot comprehend is: Why should we have to wait for other countries to solve our own domestic problems? Why can't we sit down together and solve them by ourselves amicably? Can the leaders of those countries (who we look up to), gauge our feelings? Can they ever surmise what's best of us or are they only interested in the best interests of our so-called leaders?
Finally, all those that are entrusted in key government positions in Lebanon are mere government employees that are expected to look after the best interests of all Lebanese citizens - and not restrict their care and attention to particular sects.
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