Western Arab

California. Beautiful state. I love it. I have been here 4 days and it is wonderful. In that time I have visited Las Vegas, Nevada, the Hoover Dam in Nevada/Phoenix and San Diego California. With beautiful clear blue skies and impressive mountain views, California is quiet possibly the most attractive state I have visited.

Driving on the winding roads through the mountains and just the overall mountain views is a nice reminder of Lebanon. Lebanon has those winding roads in the mountains minus the guard rails and much thinner roads with beeping cars around each bend warning everyone that they are coming around the bend.

I have taken plenty of pictures and there will be plenty more to take. I will post some later.

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.

Let me just start with the video of the full Obama speech in Cairo, Egypt.

Impressive speech. Obama is an excellent speaker. He is well educated and clever. He knows how to reach people and make them trust him. He genuinely shows understanding of people.

Obama used Arabic words and phrases from the Quran in his speech to connect with his audience. He spoke of common interests between America and the Muslim world. He also spoke of Islamic contributions to the world and similarities between the Muslim world and America.

Obama assured Muslims that America is not at war with Islam and never will be. And we must not be bound by the past of fear and mistrust. We must move forward.

Obama addressed seven issues. The first issue being dealing with extremists. Specifically the huge trauma after September 11 and how some reactions after it were understandable and some were against American beliefs. That the war in Afghanistan was one of necessity, unlike the one in Iraq that was one of choice. Obama made no mention of the reasons behind the extremists and the root causes that drive them to such. Or perhaps he did as the next issue is that.

The second issue is Palestine and Israel. He spoke of refugees in the West Bank and Gaza, without mention of those in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and around the world, which tends to give the impression that he opposes the right of return for Palestinians. He stressed that he will pursue the two state solution which will require both sides of the conflict as well as the Arab countries to work towards. He also addressed rockets being fired at innocents and buses blown up without mention of the attacks Israel commits on Palestinians, occupation, harassment, prisoners and so on, what you can call the reasons for the violence that comes from the Palestinian side. However he did mention one of the reasons and that is settlements that must stop. And further that the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the lack of opportunity in the West Bank do not benefit Israel or it’s security.

Obama stated that “we will say in public what we say in private to Israelis, Palestinians and Arabs”. I found this statement to be important. America has always been very open with Israel, while keeping the Arab world in the dark. What the Arab leaders were told was told to Israel prior and received the Israeli stamp of approval. What the Israeli leaders were told was always kept secret. Obama is in the very least admitting of this biased behavior. Finally he spoke of a secure Israel and a secure Palestine.

The third issue was the shared interest on rights and responsibilities of nuclear weapons. Specifically Iran. The U.S. and Iran had a thorny past, but Obama would like for them to be not trapped in that past and work for the future. The goal is to stop a nuclear arms race in the Middle East while acknowledging that there are some whom have them without mention of whom, which is Israel. Obama went on further to say we must work towards a nuclear weapon free world and that Iran should have the right to peaceful nuclear energy so long as it complies with the nuclear proliferation treaty.

The fourth issue was of democracy and the controversy about it’s promotion particularly in recent years and specifically Iraq. Obama stated that “no system of government can or should be imposed on any nation by any other”. Obama calls for free elections and human rights and governments that protects these rights are more successful and aligned with America. He further stated that some advocate for democracy only when they are out of power and once they are in power are ruthless in suppressing rights of others. Was this a little message to Hosni Mubarak?

The fifth issue was of religious freedom. Obama stated that Islam has a proud tradition of tolerance and mentioned respect and tolerance about all people in the Arab world including Maronites in Lebanon, Coptics in Egypt and the fault lines between Muslims. He also mentioned an example of the U.S. rules that make it hard for Muslims to perform one of their religious duties of charity (zakat).

The sixth issue was that of women’s rights. Obama rejects the view some have in the west that a woman who covers hear head is less equal but he opposes women being denied an education equating it to denying equality. Obama was clear not to imply that this is a Muslim issue but rather a world issue including in America. Obama is confident “our daughters can contribute just as much as our sons” and respects a women’s choice of the traditional role so long as it is her choice.

And finally the seventh issue was economic development and opportunity. Countries in the Gulf can’t rely on oil wealth alone and must work towards education and innovation, which will be the “new currency of the 21st century”. He used Japan as an example of an economy that grew while still keeping it’s distinct culture and traditions. Dubai was also mentioned as such but that is questionable and a whole other story.

Obama’s speech was important and is a great effort at diplomacy that is respectful to the Muslims and the rest of the world unlike his predecessor whom stated “you are either with us or against us”. Obama is seeking to work with the world to solve conflicts. While it is merely a speech that Obama admits is not going to solve anything but it is a step in the right direction to address the issues and to turn the page.

Finally I am still left with the question, are we great fools? Can this speech just fool us into believing there will be change? Only time will tell but at least we can try to work towards these issues even if Obama or whoever else was just fooling us and never intended for us to do so. However I believe that Obama is genuinely working for change, equality and understanding.

I now leave you with an important quote from President Barak Hussein Obama’s inaugural address to Israel.

“… and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.”

we will never submit. we will never leave. we will never be silenced. we will never forget.

لن نخضع لن نرحل لن نسكوت لن ننسى

Video of Sami Yusuf’s “We will never submit”.

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?

Sleep

Alright, so sleep is very important and very fulfilling when you can get it, everyone knows that, right???? So why am I not satisfied? Sleep doesn’t come easy, it takes me anywhere from at least an hour to sleep. Even  if exhausted, I can be literrally passing out on my computer desk, but the second I get up and head to bed, that is all over, I am wide awake all over again. So what is the problem, I would seriously pay money to be able to sleep on cue. I know my dad can do it, he is blessed with the talent or gift, I think my uncle too, but he will be asleep before his head reaches the pillow when he wants to sleep. My mom on the other hand is like me or me like her.

So sleep, when I returned from Lebanon last October I was exhuasted. I was up all day long in Lebanon and my flight was at 3:30 am or so Beirut time. That means I did not sleep all day long and all night long, I got some half sleep on the plane back to Germany dozing off and on and hearing all the noise around me, from the loud plane engine to people and kids chatting or making noise. Plus I surely wasn’t going to miss the food they gave because I was sleeping, food on those long flights is your free pass for atleast 30 mins of your flight going by without notice. Now if I can just sleep normally, I would take that. Once in Germany, I had to walk from one terminal to the other, I don’t know how to best describe this, but it was a long ass walk! So another 3 hours waiting for next flight, ofcourse no sleep. And finally the longest flight of the trip, Germany to Florida.

I think I got some half sleep on this flight, atleast my sister was me this time on the flight. The last time I flew back from Lebanon, a crazy Leb woman kept talking to me, and I had to PRETEND I was sleeping, but that didn’t stop her, she kept trying to talk to me to see if I would wake up. She even showed me gold she got for some body, I think it was for a guy, possibly her husband, and only after showing me the gold, did she need to go to the bathroom and leave her bag with gold with me. Great, did she detect honesty on me?

So finally arrived at Miami International. Having filled out my customs form, I thought I was already ready to zoom thru customs. It went smoothly, you would think by the time you go thru the questions and walking to get to baggage claim, that the bags would actually be there. So yes more waiting time for luggage, and because my sister was with me, there were six maybe seven bags, one belonging to me. After retrieving them all, I saw the exit and I was excited, I was finally getting past all the check points, I was going to be FREE. Things don’t always go as planned as the man at the exit gate wanted to know what sweets and nuts I brought with me that I listed on the customs card. Look they need to make this a policy, all Arabs bring back with them sweets and nuts! We used to bring cheese and meat too but you made such a big deal out of that, that we kinda stopped, but when we say sweets, it is so you don’t say wtf is baklawa? wtf is ghoraybeh or senora as the Lebs call it? And nuts are just nuts, a bag of mixed nuts, actually I had probably 12 bags of them, but that is beside the point! So he laughs cause I have nuts and says I must go to door number 13. I wanted to scream, or maybe yell at him, right in front of me was freedom, and he wants to send me to door number 13. Can I bribe him with a bag of nuts??? Door number 13 was another room with x-ray machines, they told me they wanted to scan all the bags so I placed them on the belt and they did, I think they probably scanned me too but I didn’t notice or I didn’t care and just wanted to get out already.

So what does all this have to do with insomnia? Well I ended up going to see my other sister, and stayed over and awake the rest of the day, arrived home around eight and go in bed at 9. What was amazing was that I instantly fell asleep, I had the best sleep I have had in years. So what did it? Was it the exhaustion of being awake for more than 24 hours, I was sooooo satisfied with my sleep, that I didn’t care to count how many hours I was awake to get this sleep, but then it continued for atleast 3 weeks, I would go to bed and SLEEP. It was amazing, sleep around 10 and wake up around 6, I was up in the morning for fajr (dawn) and I wasn’t tired. I was enjoying sleep.

With everything else, good things tend to come to an end. I slowly fell of sleep track again and landed back in insomnia. So what was it about the trip to Lebanon that made me sleep? I can conclude that I think I forgot everything, I was on vacation after five years of working without a vacation. I was able to to forget everything that I left here, mainly responsibility. Worries, bills, internet, video games … everything. Yes in Lebanon where a mob fight broke out over a tailor shortening someone’s pants too much in which the army had to get involved, I forgot all responsibility. But as is life, it slowly made it’s way back to me and took away my sleep. I want my sleep back, give it back to me!!!

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