Sunday, October 2, 2016

Bechir Gemayel - fill in the blanks

In the customary place on Sassine Square in Achrafieh where the usual Lebanese Forces/Bechir Gemayel ads usually hang a new one has showed its head "1982 - .... Fill in the blanks". As a reminder Bechir Gemayel was our president elect in 1982 before being assassinated, the ad is both an invitation to fill the president void in Lebanon and one that suggests that since 1982 we have not had a president per se. In addition and this comes from a tweet by Mahmoud Ghazayel it also goes back to the famous slogan "Bechir 7ay fina" (Bechir lives in us) which has become a cornerstone of Lebanese Forces communication. Well, propaganda only works with those ready to receive it and this audience is present.