The father was planning to tell the boy about the South and its capital… about Muslim Saida resting peacefully in the tranquility of Christian Abra…

This is how Jean Aziz narrated the events he encountered the day Al-Assir and his allies took to the streets in Martyrs’ Square, thus prompting a counter protest staged by the Baath Party and the SSNP in a sick attempt to replay the scenes of the “Hamad Cell” and “Qornet Shehwan Gathering”.

“Sheikh Al-Assir shuffled the pages of Saida’s history book engraved in the father’s memory and tore apart the geography book in front of the eyes of the boy,” stated Jean Aziz, thus initiating what would be a beginning for a real dialogue between the concerned parties unlike their so-called “dialogue table”.

Let us start.

Did Sheikh Al-Assir commit all this?

Is he responsible for the failure, or rather the bankruptcy of the Baath Party, the SSNP and all the political bodies in Lebanon? Is he responsible for the false history woven and fabricated with the purpose of creating a non-existent reality in a non-existent nation? What should we tell our children? Let us tell them the bittersweet reality so that they can create a sustainable new one for themselves one day.

Let us tell them about Fakhreddine who kneeled down to the Countess of Tuscany, begging her to appoint him as Tuscany’s Consul for his “putative” country, Lebanon.

Let us tell them about the two Bashirs- Shihab and Jumblat- who committed endless atrocities with an aspiration to kiss the Sultan’s hand, not to mention the other parts of his anatomy, and conspired against each other to take over a few villages and control the lives of tens of thousands of people.

Let us tell them about the actual reasons behind the events of 1845, 1860, 1920, 1943, 1958, 1975, 1989, 2005, 2006, 2007 and all the worse that is yet to come without pointing out that a Christian attacked a Druze or a Druze shot a chicken, or claiming that the independence was achieved by heroic acts and that the Ain el-Remmaneh bus massacre ignited a 15-year long war. Let us study the correct version of history without the tales of theft or bravery and without glorification or accusation of treason.

Let us tell our children about the followers of Jamal Basha who turned against him when Turkey lost the war and about the French bribes given to the residents of Tripoli and Beqa’a who resisted being annexed to the new Greater Lebanon, and who, as the Syrian brutality culminated, became filled with grudge against Syria. Ironically, those residents are rallying in support of the Syrian Sunnis today.

Let us tell them about the Jewish Agency’s funds to the clerics, politicians, journalists and the so-called “men of knowledge” in this country, and about the ongoing finances provided to our media outlets since the 1920s. Had it not been for the Turks, the French, the Khalijis, the Iranians and the Americans, we couldn’t have had a single newspaper or a TV station. Likewise we couldn’t have dreamt of a USJ or an AUB if it weren’t for the Catholic and Protestant missionaries.

Let us tell them about the Patriarch who championed the “Arabism of Lebanon” against the so-called “Persian expansion”, and the Mufti who prayed at the Serail because it is a “Sunni property”. Let us tell them about the politician who, after yielding up the harvest of the Mufti’s prayer, repaid him by digging into the files of Dar al-Ifta while insisting that the documents of the Ministry of Finance slip by unnoticed. And ironically, the Mufti chose not to question him over the wealth he gathered and the hundreds-of-millions of dollars he amassed through the duty-free zone and Sukleen. “Can’t a man save from his monthly salary for God’s sake?”

Let us tell them about the Sheikh and the monk who ordered and justified the killing of the Palestinians at one time and at others of the Syrians or the devotees of one sect or another. Let us tell them about the secularist party, which took part in the game of manoeuvring for sectarian seats in Parliament and the Cabinet, participated in street bloodshed and rejoiced in its victory after turning a blind eye to the killing of its members all for the gain of one ministerial seat.

Let us tell them about the Za’im who said in the 1960s that there is no water pollution in Lebanon, for our country cannot but have pure water. Let us make them aware of the manipulation of medicines and food products, the misuse of water and air, and the corpses scattered throughout the streets and the victims of medical malpractice.

Let us tell our children that the 15-year civil war, which claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people and wreaked havoc on the country, ended with an amnesty law and kept us wondering how it broke out in the first place and whether it has ended for real. Let us tell them about the PSP, the Lebanese Forces, the SSNP and the Amal Movement who forged an alliance to vote against Hezbollah and the FPM in the elections of the Teachers’ Union and about the Zu’ama who call for democracy in Syria while holding on to their power in Lebanon at any cost. Let us draw their attention to the Labor Confederation, which stood against the Labor Minister for trying to fulfill its rightful demands.

Let us tell them about Saida’s garbage dump and about the 23,000 votes cast to him who promised to adopt a waste management policy and failed to live up to his promises. Let us recall the three kisses he printed on Condi’s cheek and about the assassination of Maarouf Saad and the involvement of officers who became champions and lecturers on statehood. Let us educate them on Yasser Arafat’s acts, the displacement of the villagers of eastern Saida, the assassination attempts and plots on over 230 people since 1943 and the ongoing serial murders.

Let us tell them about the French officer who killed dozens of Lebanese and buried them in Beqa’a but was later greeted with cheers and cries of welcome upon his arrival in Beirut. Let us speak to them of the 2006 July War and of those politicians who broke bread with Condoleezza Rice despite the rack and ruin inflicted on the country. And let us not forget how Hezbollah lavished their praise on the 2006 government, which they’ve always accused of conspiracy against Lebanon and described it as a “government of resistance”.

Let us highlight the quotes of Iskandar Riachi: “…It wouldn’t be even an exaggeration to say that the people of this country taught the Turks the art of bribery…”

Let our children know that the amnesty was given to the murderers rather than the victimized, and the compensations awarded to the displacers rather than the displaced. Let them know that the “Movement of the Deprived” is no longer deprived and that the preservation of Seniora’s billions has become a symbol of national peace. Let us sing for and with them: “Is this a country or a zoo!?”

Is Sheikh al-Assir responsible for all this?

The image wouldn’t be complete unless we point out the bright spots amidst the gloom. So let us speak to them of the resistance that held our heads high and about the civil servants who, although wallowing in poverty, said “no” to fraud and bribery. Let us speak to them of those who starved but refused to beg or steal and those who put themselves at risk to rescue a neighbor or a stranger during the civil war. Let us speak of the parents who lost their children but never lost hope, the people who forgave their murderers, the teachers and employees who showed up at their offices and classrooms even under the heaviest shelling. Let us speak to them of the bloodshed and the tears of those few who still believe that this country is worth it…

Let us tell our children how important it is for people to have a set of values to consult and refer to as a guideline and a main reference.

If we were to summarize the Commandments of Hammurabi, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad in only one, the choice would fall on “do not lie”. Lies are prevalent everywhere around us and within us. They lied when they said they sought to build a nation and we lied when we followed them against the whispers of our hearts.

The question of the boy ran parallel to a question by a seven-year old girl:

“You do not go to the mosque, nor does mom go to the church…What are we? Are we nothing?”

“We are the nothing that ascends beyond all the things”, the father replied.

“You mean that “nothing” is better than “everything?”, she said.

Jawad N. Adra

Proposed questions for the history test in the Lebanese official exams

Question 1: Iskandar Riachi quotes Harold Keplin: “The Mukhtara Palace, which was an English stronghold during the Ottoman rule, has become loyal to France. The rules of politics in Lebanon might transform the Maronites into English loyalists if the Druze were French…”

Explain the reasons for the above and write a paragraph detailing the current shifting alliances like the author did since 1989 to date.

Question 2: Is Saida’s waste crisis acceptable in the opinion of Sheikh al-Assir since the rulers of the Sunnis were behind the dump? Yes or no? Justify your answer.

Question 3: For how long will Hezbollah, the Amal Movement and the FPM continue to blame Hariri’s governments? How are they going to justify their opinion?

Question 4: Are the Future Movement, Sukleen, Solidere, and the duty-free zone considered red lines not to be trespassed? Yes or no? Justify your answer.

Question 5: Have you ever heard of a one case in which the Labor Confederation challenged the increase of salaries? Specify your answer.

Question 6: Why did Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, General Michel Aoun, and Former PM Rafik Hariri fail to become symbols of unity? And why were they incapable of being leaders for more than only one sect or one part of a sect? Is it too late to change this now?

Assem Salam is in hospital, a restless patient and an unyielding knight. His mid-nineteenth century house is still in Zqaq el-Blat- Batrakieh, surrounded by dominating towers of hideous concrete, as if his big heart of gold and the architectural nostalgia he has for Beirut insisted on keeping this house as a witness to an era of hunger, greed and oil. As if he is telling us: this is how I think and how you too should think. But as usual, his words fell on deaf ears in the Council for Development and Reconstruction, the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, the Ministry of Housing and even the Order of Engineers. Neither in A’anjar, nor in Parliament or the Cabinet did they listen to him.

“There are people in Lebanon who are above and beyond positions and posts”, he told Abd Halim Khaddam, Ghazi Kanaan, Rustom Ghazali and their followers at all times. Being blacklisted by them was a beacon of light, not a dread to him and a glimmer of hope for this country. He was forbidden from taking a post, for this would have been a threat to the so-called “investors” and “slave traders” of this country as well as Solidere. Unfortunately, those who do not play their Sunni-Beirut card may not be blessed with a moment of peace and tranquility. A noble friend of the late Nassib Lahoud and Walid Jumblat, after the 2005 demonstrations against Syria, he did not hesitate to state when the demonstrators denounced the Syrian enemy: “Calls for Lebanon’s independence from the Syrian tutelage and positions against the practices of Syrian and pro-Syrian officials were distorted by the March 14 Forces themselves due to their sectarian divisions and racist feeling towards the Syrian presence in the country”. (The Monthly’s issue no. 67 of March 2008)

On another occasion, he told a diplomat at the American Embassy in Beirut: “Banning certain Lebanese from entering your country simply because they expressed their opinion is a kind of oppression nowhere near democracy…”. Surprised at his words, she thought that he must be gloating over his tormentors’ punishment, but he proceeded by saying: “Your stance on the Palestinian issue is the problem.” “But you are Lebanese?” she asked, confused. “I am a Palestinian and a Lebanese. And my children are Palestinian,” he answered.

Assem Salam is a fine knight but a bad investor. He is a man of the Renaissance in an era of decline. He is a noble man and I had the privilege of sitting at his round table. The image wouldn’t be complete unless we quote his words on Solidere: “.. Around 135,000 Lebanese, including residents and right holders, were forced to leave the area and denied the right to return, and 85% of the capital’s urban memory was destroyed, which put an end to the history and unifying role of the downtown”. (The Monthly’s issue no. 67 of March 2008)

Assem Salam has never been far from the events and for the hundreds and thousands of us, he himself is the event. He is the custodian of our values. Great men are like eagles. They spread their wings in the winds and soar high in the skies. Assem Salam, you are the eagle and the president of both the Order of Engineers and non-engineers. Assem Bek Salam, it is to you we give the title and the glory. The Cedars of Lebanon, Assi, Dijla and Eupherates know you very well and, together with us, toast you, for aged wine was made for those moments.

Assem Salam is in hospital now but forever in our hearts.

Jawad N. Adra

It is true that since 1993 over USD 11 billion has been spent on electric power in addition to USD 2 billion on garbage collection, USD 615 million on water purification, and USD 1.8 billion in road rehabilitation, but the money has eventually yielded undisputed fruitful results.

The USD 940 million paid out for rehabilitating and establishing schools and universities and the USD 1 billion granted for teachers and scholarships did not go down the drain after all as the Lebanese University and the public education are upgrading their academic level and scoring epic results. As for the public health care expenses borne by the government, they are being shouldered thanks to real-estate interests and taxes. Accommodation is now affordable for everyone, immigration rates are sliding down and politicians are disclosing their bank accounts to restore credibility with their voters. They even abstained from running “private affairs” while in office, which curbed corruption in public administration and made Lebanon the fiercest rival of Sweden in terms of transparency and efficiency.

Our fellow expatriates are returning home and our green policies have paid off, for the air is fresh, the sea clean and the mountains lush. No more quarries and no more heavy tolls on our rivers, mountains and beloved Mother Nature.

The number of cancer patients and drug addicts is decreasing and even the pubs and nightclubs in Beirut are starting to play “ear friendly” music. The Lebanese have learned to address each other with the utmost respect and everybody’s wearing a big smile and savoring happiness and tranquility. People have finally realized that there’s more to life than smoking “Nargile” or spending a day at the over-crowded ABC mall and instead, most families are now opting for the public parks dispersed throughout the city. Villages are reviving their old glories and looking after their squares, woods and brooklets, and libraries are packed with avid readers eager to quench their insatiable thirst for knowledge. As for the TV channels, they have adopted a new policy preventing the airing of vicious political talk shows or degrading music videos and instead, have committed themselves to broadcast social comedies and tragedies and historical documentaries that stirred the envy of both Al-Jazira and the BBC.

Furthermore, the number of candidates running for elections headed downwards, and many seats fell vacant, for people chose to distance themselves from shouldering big responsibilities. As if Lebanon has become Heaven on earth!

Although these “achievements” delighted the Lebanese, something seemed to disturb their happiness and prevent them from relishing this bliss. Scientists struggled to explore the roots of this anxiety until finally their colleague shouted: “Eureka!” The reasons for anxiety lie in the much-desired remaining wishes the politicians have failed to fulfill. These are:

- Special Tribunal for Lebanon protocol

- Disarmament of Hezbollah

- Settlement of the false witnesses’ file

- Toppling of the Syrian regime

At this moment, the strange enigma was unfolded and people realized the roots of this anxiety and shouted all together: “Now we got it!”

Jawad N. Adra

After supporting the New 7 Wonders Foundation at the beginning of the campaign, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) distanced itself from praising Mr. Weber and reported that “Mr. Weber’s media campaign pales in comparison with the educational and scientific campaigns undertaken by the UNESCO to promote archeological and historic sites.”

Egypt had also refused to align its Pyramids with other sites such as the Statue of Liberty in New York and decided to boycott the campaign.

The exciting part is that some Lebanese did not “explore” Jeita except after the campaigns took over Facebook and Twitter. Most of the youth did not even realize that the grotto dates back to the nineteenth century, long before this recent “Twitter craze” and even before MEPAS company invested it in 1993 when Mr. Nicolas Fattoush was still Minister of Tourism. And speaking of MEPAS, it is noteworthy that this company was awarded prizes for “leadership in sustainable development” from each of Jacques Chirac, the World Bank and the World Tourism Organization (2002), who may collectively now lecture us on transparency!

Furthermore, the Lebanese are utterly heedless of the fact that the name “Jeita” is derived from an Aramaic word, meaning “water roar”. They do not know that the 1836 discovery of the grotto is credited to the Protestant missionary William Thomson whose endeavors to explore the “Holy Land” remain noteworthy, despite the prejudice he holds against us. Numerous were the archeologists who left their marks on this site, including the Catholic missionary Zomoffen and the Jesuit Father Auguste Bergy, of whom the people are totally oblivious. And following the discovery of the grotto, Thomson reported that “a magnesium wire was ignited, and the beauties of this subterranean temple of nature’s workmanship burst upon their view. The floor was a lake of purest water, whose reflection intensified the brightness of a roof and walls glistening and sparkling as with million of gems.”

However, people will certainly remember Mr. Weber, Mr. Fattoush and Twitter.

As for the surroundings of the site, glancing at this old picture is sufficient to explain what happened.

Thank you Twitter for notifying the “unyielding” and “proud” generation that a grotto named Jeita rests in the village of Ballouna. Thank you Weber for assisting us in exploring our natural resources and many thanks Minister Fatoush for serving the Lebanese Maza in Jeita’s restaurant to nurture the proud people of Lebanon.

Jawad N. Adra

“Jounieh’s police department was credited for establishing the identity of the deceased woman (only) after her daughter had recognized her”, the Agency added.

As if security officials’ only task is to collect our body parts after politicians strike their final blow. As for “inhuman remains”, it is a newly-coined term to justify the sickening game of running over cats and dogs, which the Lebanese master very well.

Plagued by poor maintenance and risky driving behavior, our roadways are sadly unsafe for both, drivers and pedestrians. And albeit “we”, the upper crust, find comfort in the thought that our drivers and bodyguards can keep us safe, we know full well how vulnerable we all are.

Ironically, our country is no different than our roads: dark like our streetlights, spiritless like our rugged roads, and perilous like our political system.

The remains of Nouhad said it all!

They told the story of the “Shia’a” when they were pit against the “Palestinians”, the “Maronites” against the “Muslims”, and the “Sunni” against the “Shia’a”. They bemoaned our pain, we, the rich and the poor hailing from the North, the South, the Beqa’a and Mount Lebanon. They spoke for every person begging employment and hospitalization of his/her “Zai’m”.

Her remains put a spotlight on the monopoly of oil and the violation of both, public and private property. Her remains put a spotlight on the excessive greed, on the immigration of our children, on our racism and narrow-mindedness and despicable behavior. Her remains unraveled the story of how we were stripped of our schools, hospitals, beaches, mountains and trees, how we were deprived of our friends and families, and how we ended up with no memory or legacy, turning to our “Zo’ama” for refuge or seeking visas to escape our misery.

The remains of Nouhad said it all!

Right before her death she cried out asking: “where are the pedestrian bridges? Where are the streetlights? Where are the traffic laws? Where is the urban and spatial planning? Where is the driver who first rammed into me and those who ran over my body afterwards?”

“As great as it is to enjoy bank secrecy and satellite channels… As great as it is to pride ourselves on having a Casino, an international airport and a cedar tree of over 1000 years old, it would be far greater if we could come up with a fair wage hike, provide a health care coverage and impose taxes on capital gains.

These are not my remains but rather the remains of my country.”

Such were the words of Nouhad Nasser Eddine, 49, in Byblos, the “city of the alphabet.”

Jawad N. Adra

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?

Why do we insist on such loose slogans that only serve to satisfy (and only probably) our yearning to be on top while we lay at the bottom?

Why speak of the problems of “Youth” or of “Women” and not of “our” problems. The problems we face as humans, living on this land. What do we expect of youth in a world of satellite channels and silly talk shows? What do we expect of youth in the absence of any collective memory? What does it mean to be a young Arab in a historical void? In the absence of knowledge? Memory loss or dementia in the elderly is terrifying but sometimes a blessing to its victim and those around him, but to be born old with no memory is a real disaster.

-  What does it mean to be Minister of Justice when you are member or a supporter of the Lebanese Forces? What does it mean to be Speaker of the House and the President of Amal Movement? What does it mean to be a member of International Socialist Party as well as Minister for the Displaced, a sectarian leader and Chairman of the Progressive Socialist Party?

-  What does it mean to be Prime Minister and agree to an electoral law and run for elections on that basis; call on the Mufti of the Republic to pray at the Grand Serail “in defense the Sunna” and end your term in office “bereaving” Lebanon and the increase of sectarian discourse and expressing “surprise” at the animosity between the sects; and saying all of this in innocence, of course after winning in a sectarian election based on a sectarian law that you participated or you were created by it. What does it mean to be member of “Hezbollah” or “Mustakbal” (Future Movement) and call for the creation of a civil state, even a secular one?

-  What does it mean for a taxi driver, void of both teeth in his jawline and gasoline in his car, to tell you: “God help Siniora; he cannot lower the price of gasoline because he has to pay public wages and also stand in the face of the Shia’a ..?

-  What does it mean to say that your mother was brutally killed at her door step and your father burnt, tied to his bed by the Phalangists in 1976 and then declare proudly “I voted for the Lebanese forces because the real threat is Hassan Nasrallah!”

-  What does it mean to defend the practices of the Syrian intelligence in Lebanon and give it legitimacy?

-  What does it mean to flood the Lebanese regime with incessant criticism and unconditionally defend the Syrian regime? What does the flood of criticism and even insults to the Syrian regime (This, of course, not in the very distant past) mean in the light of the continuous praise of other regimes in the Gulf, Egypt and Morocco?

-  What does it mean to have no media venue, visual, audio or written, or even Internet without funding from either Iran, an Arab regime and / or from the West?

-  What does it mean to disseminate ignorance and trivialities through the same media? What does it mean to find no space for free thinking, even in universities?

-  What does it mean to be born Shia’a, Sunni or Maronite? What does it mean to be born Lebanese, Syrian, Jordanian, or Saudi?

-  What does it mean to be young, groveling at the doorsteps of Leaders to build a future for yourself and your family? What does it mean to be a young Lebanese and not know Mustafa Farukh, Saliba Douayhi or Paul Giragorssian?

-  What does it mean to have a “Issam Fares Institute” or “Suleiman Olayan School” or “The Walid bin Talal Center” when there is nothing to commemorate Khalil Hawi, Gregoire Haddad, Ahmed Faris Al-Chidyak or Gibran Khalil Gibran?

-  What does it mean to sit around and study the situation of Youth and their directions; who is funding our studies and what are we doing with them?

-  What does it mean to be a youth from Saudi Arabia and head to Afghanistan in early 1980 to “liberate” it from the Soviets? And did any of the studies or surveys foresee that he will turn into what he turned into leading to the 11th of September, and its aftermath?

-  What does it mean for an Irani Youth to head for Ba’albeck in 1982? Did any study or survey predict that he would turn into a Party considered a threat by Israel, and proving it right by marking the first victory in the history of the Arab-Israeli wars? And couldn’t those who founded this party with the cries of “Ya Hussein” envisage that they would be answered back with cries of “Ya Abu Baker” and “Ya Omar” and that Bush, personally, would take the issue and “stand” by the Sunni in Lebanon?

-  What does it mean for the United States to invade Iraq in 2003 promoting inter Sunni-Shia’a strife (as part of the effects of the invasion); did any study foresee such effects?

-  What does it mean for a youth from Saida to go to Riyadh and come back as a wealthy man and Lebanon’s Prime Minister, be killed in 2005 with all the magnitude of events and popular demonstrations? Was this highlighted, or foreseen in our studies or surveys?

-  What does our situation mean to us all, young and old when faced with only three options: A religious-political jihadi path. A western-American ostracising path or social and political exile.

We have to, for the sake of memory, ask the delineators of borders and chanters of “international legitimacy” slogans: Did our youth know back in the days of the Sykes-Picot agreement and Balfour Declaration that their country was to be divided and Israel created? This is why our youth are the way they are, un-read, with no memory and yearning to immigrate.

Here we recall the words of Aos Ibn Hajar when he said:

What I have feared has occurred, Oh my soul go forth in trepidation!

Jawad N. Adra

This article was published in Issue No 85, AUG. 2009.

“…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.

In the 17th century, Fakhreddine II, we were told as children, was a “hero and the maker of Lebanon”. It is true that he faced an opposition force (“evil ones”) mainly Al-Saifa of A’akkar, who “collaborated” with the Ottomans and therefore he “reluctantly” killed a few of them and (forcefully) married their daughter. He went into exile to Tuscany “to plan for the liberation of Lebanon”, the school history book says.

In the 18th century, Haidar Al-Shehabi, Fakhreddine’s grandson, won the Ain Dara battle (1711) against Al-Alameddine and ascertained the rule of Al-Shehab. However, history books did not consider him a hero. Perhaps it is now a convenient time for some Lebanese tribes to rediscover him.

In the 19th century, there was Basheer Al-Shihabi II, “a just and powerful leader and another maker of modern Lebanon”. It is true that he rounded the “usual villains” who were “traitors conspiring against him and pierced his nephew’s eyes [not ears], but the man was great”.

In the 20th and 21st centuries, the number of “heroes” and “traitors” grew tremendously. Our children are now “learning”, how “great” or “miserable” Lebanon is because of “them”.

History books, not recognized by our schools, tell us a different story. Fakhreddine II and Bashir II were not the nation’s builders nor did they claim or even pretended to be. Lonely, daring and vain men doing what they know best: crush your opponent, bow to the powerful, bribe your way and survive. Fakhreddine was neither a rebel against the Ottomans nor was he trying to “unite Lebanon”, considering that some of his fiefdoms extended to what is now Syria and Israel. His luck or Fortuna changed when his friend passed away and his enemy became the advisor to the Sultan.

In Tuscany, Fakhreddine was almost a prisoner; perhaps an honorary guest and more accurately a decoy to fool the Turks into believing that a massive sea invasion of Syria (Lebanon) is under preparation, so they do not invade Tuscany first. His money, deposited in a bank called Monte di Pieta, is still unclaimed. His family, mother, sons and daughters suffered throughout their lives and he was killed in Istanbul.

Basheer II had one of his sons tell the Turks that his father is their ally and the other son tell Mohammad Ali that his father is actually fooling the Turks. He had his rivals, Basheer Jumblat and Basheer Qassim II, exiled and/or killed, and like them died in exile, penniless and homeless.

Basheer is now remembered for his palace in Beiteddine, which was built for him, and Fakhreddine for the Beirut pines, which perhaps existed before him; at least we can believe that they had good taste.

One question remains: why did Basheer or Fakhreddine become more famous and prominent than Haidar or their opponents like Al-Saifa and many others. The truth is they had stronger alliances, encountered and tapped into major international events, and yes, good Fortuna, up to a point.

All this came to mind when a colleague said that she will not fly from Hariri International Airport until its original name Beirut International Airport is restored. Another colleague advised her to wait until René Mouawad Airport in A’akkar is commissioned.

Al-Saifa would be thrilled to hear the news that their beloved A’akkar will have an airport, except they are no more. Lebanon’s fictionalized history will soon have two real airports. There are no saints and no villains, no heroes and no traitors but only lonely and vain men with big egos and innocent, ignorant, or opportunistic men who perpetuate the myths.

The question is, if Lebanon cannot afford historical self-deception, as stated by Kamal Salibi, can it afford two airports?

Let us all enjoy the flight and hope it is safe…

In memory of the late Dr. Kamal Salibi, The Monthly republishes Jawad Adra’s article which was issued in issue number 57 of March-April 2007 and contained excerpts from Dr. Salibi’s writings.

The discussions focused on the following:

Electricity: They agreed on the necessity to immediately grant a treasury loan to Electricité du Liban amounting to $2 billion to enable it to initiate the construction of new gas powered stations in Deir Ammar, Al Zahrani and other areas, and rehabilitate the electricity networks. They also agreed on closing down the pollutant Zouq station, which is harmful to Lebanon, Keserouane, the Maronite patriarchy, the beauty of the shore and ofcourse people’s health.

Full medical insurance: They agreed that the death of poor patients on hospital entrances and the inability of most people to receive or have access to good healthcare is humiliating. As such, around $500 million should be secured for healthcare. Since real estate profits have multiplied by tenfolds in the past few years, it should not be a problem to introduce a real estate tax profits by 20%, after calculating inflation. This would provide the necessary amount to ensure that around two million Lebanese who are currently uninsured become medically covered.

The Lebanese University and Public Education: They agreed that the amounts spent on public education should ensure the provision of a good level of education but this is not the case. Support provided to private education, be it from religious institutions or the assistance granted to cover the fees of children of public sector employees, namely teachers, will be halted and priority should be granted to the Lebanese University and public education.

Cheap Labor and Emigration: The agreed that money transfers from abroad, along with the emigration of youth and the import of cheap labor, are issues that should be of the utmost priority. Thus, measures will be put in place to increase the cost of hiring foreign labor so that it does not become a form of slavery, while ensuring better opportunities for nationals. Organizing money transfers from abroad so that they do not cause an imbalance in the economy, is also something to consider.

Road accidents and Public Transportation: They agreed that the death of two Lebanese daily due to road accidents is unacceptable and therefore speed violations should be stricter, roads should be improved and the use of public transportation should be generalized (buses, trams and maritime transport) as  is the case in all other countries around the world.

Environment and Construction: They agreed that environment and construction are intertwined issues and that Lebanon, from its shores and beaches to its mountains, should be treated like a vast beautiful garden. There should be no polluting factories, quarries, or garbage thrown in its valleys.

Conclusion: The Zua’ama, our princes and kings and “tarabeesh” on our heads, pledged that they would immediately implement the matters on which they reached an agreement. One of the attendees tried to discuss the electoral law and the independence of judiciary but he was told that these topics would be discussed in the next meeting. Another put forward the issue of the international tribunal and the weapons and the answer was that these two important matters would be discussed when what was agreed upon has been implemented.

Now came the time for iftar and Samir Geagea insisted on inviting everyone to his modest residence in Bcharri, remembering the quartet agreement and looking for a  quintet agreement.

Suddenly a scary sound was heard. It was Humbaba, the guardian of the Cedars’ Forest, screaming “the hero has died… he has fallen and he will no longer rise. Like a fish in a net and a gazelle in a trap the hero has died, perhaps the nation has died”. The dream is short and the nightmare is ongoing.

Jawad N. Adra

Zaki Al Arsouzi grew up in Sunjunq Iskendeun, during the Ottoman era. He taught in Antioch and Konia and was a director of education in Arsouz as reflected in his name. In the late 1920s, he founded a library by the name “Al Ba’ath Al Arabi” and in 1938, he founded a political movement that he also called “Al Ba’ath Al Arabi.” In 1945, he co-founded with Michel Aflaq and Salaheddine Al Bitar, the Ba’ath Party, which played and is still playing a role in the history of this region. Arsouzi is recognized by the Syrian Ba’ath Party as “the founder” while Aflaq is treated as “a pariah.” Interestingly, Arsouzi demanded of those wishing to become members of the Ba’ath Party “to write or translate a book contributing to the renaissance of the Arab culture.”

On the other hand, Antoun Saadeh stressed the importance of music and painting as well as Palestine and Iskenderun in the makeup of a nation. He also criticized Arsouzi for advocating nationalism based on religion and semitism.

Bluntly speaking, these two men didn’t like each other. Arsouzi ended up in Wadi Qandeel, Latakiyyah, not far from his beloved Iskenderun, which the French annexed to Turkey, and near Samra where a popular TV series, “Al Daiy’ah Day’ah” or “the lost village”, is being filmed. Antoun Saadeh was killed in 1949.

So what?

We end up with two important parties who have miserably failed and defiantly refuse to retire. Neither one wants to share with us their glories or their failures. The SSNP is now more Lebanese than the Phalanges, criticizing discussions of “internal Syrian affairs”, and praising the inauguration of diplomatic relations between Lebanon and Syria with the establishment of two embassies. The Ba’ath Party does not tell us why it has reached its current status in both Iraq and Syria.

More importantly, where is the scale of values of these two parties and what have they lately contributed to art, culture and the wellbeing of their people?

What if?

If Arsouzi and Saadeh meet again, they might perhaps have a friendly talk and share a tear or two pondering not over “a lost village” but over “a lost nation.”

Jawad N. Adra