Western Arab

Here we are again, Ramadan 2010. Ramadan Kareem to all.

Yes a post after weeks of being away. Away getting to know. Away for 3 weeks in Lebanon, which I will post pictures from later maybe. And away from a small trip to New York. Well that is all for now, this is more a push to resume posting and also to wish everyone a blessed Ramadan.

When are the Lebanese going to learn? When are they going to grow up? Why is the blood of Arabs so cheap?

So the Lebanese news today. Nabih Berri was re-elected to be speaker of the parliament. No surprises, everyone expected this to occur. Yet dozens of Lebanese took to the streets to celebrate this “political victory”. Some danced, some sang, and some fired aks and rpgs into the air. Yes in 2009 we still have people in Arab countries that celebrate by shooting guns, rpgs and mortars. And every time this happens, people are wounded or killed. What a great victory they had on June 25th when 11 were wounded and one woman died. Oh how great victory is, it is even greater when people are hurt. Or is it that our blood is so cheap? I read that the woman died of a heart attack after gunman fired near her apartment, but in Lebanon the story changes from one to the other, but I don’t care for how or the reason, the point is people were hurt and killed for some lame victory.

This happens in other countries as well. People think it is a great idea to shoot at weddings. There was a story a few years ago when someone fired a mortar during a wedding in Afghanistan in celebration. If I recall correctly both the bride and groom were killed. So let us just stop this stupid behavior.

Lebanese Flag

Well the 2009 Lebanese Parliamentary Elections have occurred with relative quiet. Amazing.

The U.S. will gladly welcome the results since the pro-western majority won. It is worth mentioning that if the minority opposition had won, the U.S. would have called the elections unfair, flawed and that voters were threatened with death and violence if they did not vote for the opposition. In addition, they would say democracy still does not exist in Lebanon, but now that the pro-western alliance won, it does! Regardless I don’t care for any of that, what I do care is this all occurred without any real problems and hopefully the Lebanese are smart and work together peacefully and avoid any foolish internal fighting which only benefits their enemies.

So I congratulate Lebanon on it’s peaceful elections and hope for a future built together and that the mistakes of the past are avoided.

This is a simple video that asks the question, when shall we become Lebanese? It is right to the point, showing various people from different countries announcing what they are, i.e. I am American in English, or I am French in French, or I am Palestinian in Arabic. Only when it gets to Lebanon, each Lebanese person announces who he is by his religious sect. The small strip of land called Lebanon is divided into about 22 pieces, so when shall we become one?

Cedar Island Lebanon

I just ran across some new idea that has apparently been floating around for some time, perhaps I am late to hear about Cedar Island, Lebanon.Well what can I say, when the Palm Islands in Dubai were first introduced to me, I thought it was a cool idea. A first of it’s kind. Something the Arab world is making that is unique and new. Something the world will be impressed by. The result perhaps was not what was expected, there are many critics, and with Dubai’s ever ending list of projects, half complete or rushed, the Palm Island plan didn’t do so well, I think.

So here we are, in 2009, discussing a giant man made island to be created on the beautiful Mediterranean coast of Lebanon. A promise of hotels, residence, golf, aquarium, kindergarten, school, hospital, presidential guest house, malls and shopping, and so much more! I don’t think a presidential guest house impresses me or the people of Lebanon, but in a country where things can’t be done without connections, I can see this as a small bribing chip to get a presidential A-OK on the project.

With learning of this project, I also learned of a lot of debate on this project with many flat out opposing this project entirely. While each may have his opinion on why or why not this project is good, from hurting marine life  to being a copy cat of Dubai to Lebanon having beautiful nature unlike Dubai’s desert where an island was needed to attract tourists, where as Lebanon has plenty of natural attractions. I will have to side with those opposing the project, for similar reasons, mainly that Lebanon itself needs major reconstruction and cleaning up. I would much rather a cleaner Lebanon, than this giant island that is supposed to be a clean city island. I would rather reconstruction in Lebanon, with building codes applied, unlike the chaos that occurred during and after the civil war. I say clean up Lebanon and this island isn’t needed.

I flew to Lebanon just last September and what I remember of the beautiful coast of Lebanon is the hideous sight of homes built right up at the very edge of the coast. There were not luxury hotels or residences. They were … the following:

Ugly Coast next to the Beirut Airport Runway