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| Make love not war - Artwork by Tarek Chemaly date 2018 |
Politics in Lebanon. You are always torn between a rock and a hard place. I know people who wanted to liberate Lebanon from Syrian influence but also loved Saudi Arabia which basically was the de facto power which gave the Syrians a free hand in Lebanon. I know others who hate Israel viscerally and also hate the hizb with the same zeal, even if technically if it is the hizb that chased the neighboring power away. Of course, the current negotiations between Lebanon and Israel are not going anything to end the beef between the two factions. Accusations of being defeatists to traitors, are slung from both sides.
So everyone is right and everyone is wrong. As Alexandre Dumas eloquently said in The Count of Monte-Christo, "The difference between treason and patriotism is only a matter of dates". Yet, take it from someone who no longer votes - because, no, voting with a blank vote means you believe in the process but not the candidates, when all the process makes no sense to me at this point - yes, everyone's point of view does make sense. Even if each side has no idea what to do with the other.
Recently, Ricardo Karam, who is a respected media figure, basically stated - and I am giving you the gist of it - that he considers Hezbollah a Lebanese political party that is represented in Parliament, arguing that this is a "factual reality" rather than a political declaration. Makram Rabah, assistant professor at the American University of Beirut was having none of it, in a recent publication (here), he went all out against Karam, emphasizing the many literal martyrs AUB has offered to Lebanon, and - considering Karam was part of the board of trustees of the university, and in light of the recent threats to the university to have it bombed - it being at the forefront of the American values in Lebanon (supposedly, and it is my Alma Mater too as a full disclosure) - to Rabah that a major no-no.
Which brings Alexandre Paulikevitch to the melee. Pauliketvitch, a Lebanese artist, is nothing but the major antithesis of everyone ultra conservative. Like him or not, he expresses himself on stage in ways that might ruffle too many feathers. Lately, in an interview, Paulikevitch dressed in what seemed like a Y2K floral feminine top, said that he hinds himself confused. He had always had a major hate-hate relationship with the Hizb. But he also finds that they are truly the only power capable of chasing Israel away. And now he finds himself defending them as a "resistance" all while understanding that he represents all the liberal ideals they hate.
Paulikevitch makes sense. The problem? So does Karam and Rabah. "I see both sides like Chanel" said Frank Ocean. And I can, I swear. Oh scratch that, I can see all sides, not just both.
Recently, I was hoping to do the major weed clearing behind my property and perhaps putting some cement to cut the weeds from returning, my Dutch friend said that "the government of the Netherlands is encouraging people to keep such spaces, so that insects can grow" to which I replied "can the government of the Netherlands please come and do the weed pulling then? I pay 5 USD per hour".
You see, away from the major threatening problems engulfing Lebanon, for some of us like Voltaire ended Candide, "but we must cultivate our garden".