We also adore our country of birth and of ancestry. It unifies us when we are far away, even if when we disagree. It breaks our heart to see Lebanon so mismanaged, littered with corruption. While we are adamant, most of the Lebanese are still in denial, that they/we share the brunt of the blame for having allowed Lebanon to reach such dire political, economical, and uncivil situations.
The Lebanese are obsessed with fortune telling, and wonder about the future all the time. They’ve had visions during all their chats and news following of what the status quo of their country will look like. They have literally anticipated the repercussions, watched them unfold, collectively allowed them to happen, and then took it all, fatalistically, on the chin. Most blame the neighbors, the brethren, and the foreigners, for their worsening situation. Not many agree to partial responsibility.
We are middle class. We feel the pain of all those Lebanese who surely deserve better. We are in our sixties or approaching them. We reminisce about the past, and wonder what our retirement years or what’s left of our lives will look like. We wish to stress these facts, in order to assure everyone that we have no horse in the local Lebanon race. We live in The United States of America, our beloved adopted country. We are among family and friends here, and have no political ambition, whatsoever. We find it, however, very sad that the groups within the popular movement. calling for political change in Lebanon. have already been charged with being power-monger seekers, and agents of foreign powers. It is remains, however, wonderful news, and an inspiration to us, that these young men and women, and perhaps most of those yet within the silent majority, remain determined to move forward with their demand for change.
In our opinion, the greatest challenge facing the Lebanese is their ability to overcome that feeling of extreme sang-froid and defeatism, entrenched in their mind for over 40 years, since the start of the 1975 civil war. On two occasions, however, the people of Lebanon have proved their ability to stand up, and right the wrong. These occurred on 25 May, 2000, when the South of Lebanon was forcibly liberated from 22 years of Israeli occupation, and on 14 March 2005, when the popular movement (Cedar Revolution) prompted the withdrawal of the Syrian troops from Lebanon. These events are high proofs that the people of Lebanon are capable of achievement, when they decide to take matters into their own hands.
The Lebanese now find themselves, once again, ever so divided. Politics are in the hands of traditional, mostly corrupt politicians. These men and one woman, in the parliament, have been unable to elect a new President for almost 2 years. They have furthermore; on the pretext of not agreeing which electoral law should the next parliamentary elections be based on, extended their own expired mandate, twice.
In the interim period, even with tens of billions of dollars spent on rebuilding the infrastructure, politicians have no results to show. The people of Lebanon still lack power supply, clean water, decent roads, and have now succumbed to living among tons of trash, accumulating (let’s be honest, mostly in plastic bags) on the streets, between the buildings and next to schools.
Against this background, the Lebanese look to have, overwhelmingly, caved in. They have chosen to continue living with a leadership which lacks basic public administration skills, yet excel at personal wealth management. Some, in the government hierarchy, look to have been “inoculated” to achieve the highest possible level of corruption.
Overall, the Lebanese look to have totally conceded to the “relevancy” of their lords. The Lebanese have elected them, time after time, and have even gladly chosen their kin to succeed them. Why bother to change?
In our mind, it is because the younger generation has decided that it is not going take it anymore. We strongly share and support that same feeling.
This site key message singles out the one unique culprit that has led the people of Lebanon to fall all the way to “hell”, as per the description of a senior official. The culprit is the Electoral Law. That is exactly what prompts the people to elect and re-elect the same warlords and elect their next of kin, when the father passes. It never fails.
In all electoral districts, the divisions between the clans are so deep, the voter will stick with one warlord to vote against the other. Thus, a vote for a change, though so desirable, is seen as a tossed-out vote.
Lebanonese.org which has been inspired by the popular movement in Lebanon, intends to serve as a motivation and a platform to all those seeking a way forward to Lebanon, and her Lebanonese Citizens.
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