Hold Up Your Lebanese Flag!

As you all know by now, the opposition has called for an open demonstration till the government resign, starting from tomorrow. Beirut is witnessing a HUGE amount of army and internal security forces, specially in Achrafieh and downtown (and maybe other areas of Beirut that I'm not aware of).....

Cardinal Sfeir asked all the Lebanese NOT to take the political conflict to the streets, because "History taught us that opposing streets can NEVER fix problems". He insisted that the only way out is by sitting down and try to find a way out. One can't help but to see that he was taking the March 14th movement side, asking Aoun and Aounists indirectly NOT to divide the Christians...

PM Seniora had a speech moments ago, where he declared that the government is constitutional, and that it can't be changed BUT when the parliament says so, regardless of the opposition's demonstration. He stressed on the role of the government to protect the people and their rights no matter what, and it won't just stand still while others try to take over our democratic legitimacy....

He also asked all Lebanese to hold up the Lebanese flag on their balconies, to show the enormous support the government has. I for one I'm going to put the flag on my balcony first thing in the morning....

For all of you out there, who believe that Liban should NOT go backward to the dark ages, to all of you who believe that we need to know the dirty hands that killed our martyrs, to all of you who marched again and again and again to the martyrs' square defending our independence, I ask you to join us in raising up the Lebanese flag at your balconies. Let us show everybody that we are HERE, and we are defending our Liban in the most appropriate democratic way....

To all Lebanese, no matter which side you are with, PLEASE do NOT push things to the point of no return. Be responsible, and respect others' feelings the same way you like them to respect yours. If conflicts started between people in the streets, then ALL of Liban is loosing, and no one is going to benefit.....

Beirut At Maximum Tension!

Two days ago, a huge conflicts took place between LF and FPM supporters over "Political leaders' pictures". Many reports are talking about many conflicts between Sunnies and Shiites in Beirut, again over leaders' pictures.

I think serious measures should be done to avoid the increasing tension from reaching the point of no return; a point where no one will benefit, and everyone will loose. One step would be for internal security forces to work on removing all political leaders' pictures from the streets of Beirut, since the only objective these pictures are doing right now is to cause up rising conflicts.

Another ESSENTIAL step would be for the political leaders (Jeajea and Aoun) (Nasrallah and Hariri) to have a meeting where they declare that they are TOTALLY against the dangerous conflicts taking place every now and then. They are the main reason why people in the streets are on each others' throats.

Right now, it's NOT important whether you are anti or pro Syrian, because both people will loose if things got out of control, and the only people who will benefit are Liban's enemy.

I won't ask the people in the streets to "reason up", simply because the sound of reason is NOT being heard while the War drums are being hit hard. Measures should be done AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

It's Xmas Time!

On my way to Beirut this morning, I saw a lovely Xmas decoration done by ABC Dbayeh. The whole ginat store is rabbed in a gift shape. Very nice decoration.

"Baddi Moot Feda Lebnen!"

Every time we say good bye to one of our martyrs, and after the emotional reaction and marching to downtown insisting on continuing our struggle till the end, I sit by myself and start wondering!

I start asking myself, did we take the right choice? Is the decision to continue fighting is the suitable decision? Does our cause worth the great souls we are loosing? I will be honest here and admit that there have been times where I thought that maybe we should stop; we have lost enough, and it’s not worth it.

But then, I see the reactions of our political rivals (NOT enemies), and I realize that even though we love our martyrs, and we badly miss them, but at the end we love Liban even more! And there’s no way we can give up and stop walking down the road till the end.

It’s normal to sometimes hesitate, and it’s normal to feel that maybe it is enough, and that we have lost a lot. But I always realize that may love and passion for Liban is what always make me come back stronger than ever, and willing to continue till the end.

I remember back in March 14th, 2005, and while we were marching to Martyrs Square in the bus, we saw a very old lady (almost 80!) driving her old car with one hand, and holding Liban’s flag with the other! We were so surprised, and we asked her: “What are you doing?” I can NEVER forget the look on her face as she replied: “Baddi moot feda Lebnen!” ( I want to die for the sake of Liban!). When ever I recall that old lady, I just get more and more determined to continue our struggle till we reach the Liban we always dream about. It’s NEVER about people; because people come and go, and it’s only LIBAN that lasts for ever……

March 14th Babes!

Lovely babes from the huge demonstartion on freedom square.....

Gemayel's Funeral Pictures

It was a glorious day by all means. We proved again that we are the majority, the TRUE majority that calls for a true independent Liban. Nothing can express my feelings to see that after all these struggles, March 14th movement is still as strong as ever. Here are some pictures I took today.....

Beirut Now

I was supposed to go back to the north yesterday, but the assassination made me decide to stay in Beirut.

When you walk down in Beirut streets, you can see the tension everywhere. Wherever you look, you can see army men with their suits and guns, watching and trying their best to maintain a minimum level of security.

Achrafieh seems sad today, and every now and then you see small group of people in their cars with their speakers, asking people to be there at Martyrs square tomorrow, condemning the brutal assassination, and demanding a ONE-MAN stand in the face of terrorism.

You can see that everybody is worried and sad, no one can predict what's going to happen later on. It is the most awful feeling that any one can feel, to know that something is going to happen, but not knowing how to react, or what to do.

We were supposed to celebrate the first anniversary of Tueni's assassination in a couple more days, now yet another man to remember and treasure his sacrifices has been added to the list. Irony of life, we can't say good bye to one hero till we are obliged to say yet another good bye to another one....

I've spent most of the day at home, watching the scene outside my window, but I think I'm going to go down and visit some friends, maybe walk a little bit and check things out.

All I can say is that we should all be there at Martyrs square tomorrow. We MUST show these criminals that we are NOT afraid, and that we are willing to continue our struggle till the end. We have lost so many pure souls, and we are ready to see their sacrifices fade away just like that....

Need More Clues?

Al-Siyassa Kuwaiti newspaper mentioned that the Syrian news agency "SANA" called and asked about Gemayel assassination almost one hour BEFORE it took place!!! http://www.alseyassah.com/alseyassah/First_12.asp

And yet, we still hear voices accusing Israel and America! Not just that, but some people are even accusing March 14th movement itself! It seems that the new trend is to assassinate yourself!

That only shows that the "conspiracy Theory" against us is still overwhelming the masses, who still believe that all evil deeds have one source and one source only, US and Israel.....

Wake up people....WAKE UP

Yet Another martyr...

It seems we are a country that can't live without people dying defending it. We lost yet another martyr today, in a dirty attempt to make the government resign. How low can they get? a 34-year-old young promising politician, how cold-hearted and inhuman can you be to assassinate such a guy? And at such critical timing?

So many troubled emotions are burning inside me since I heard the news earlier today. This is a sad day. But yet, I have, no we all have a word to say: "WE WON'T FUCKEN GIVE UP ON LIBAN! YOU CAN KILL US ONE BY ONE, BUT WE WON'T STOP DREAMING OF BETTER LIBAN".

The least we can do is to pray for the rest of Gemayel's and all of our independence martyrs' souls. Rest assure your blood won't go in vain.....

Be there at martyrs square next Thursday. Our Liban is calling for us once again, and we all should be ready to answer its call, and show EVERYONE who are we and we are made of...

May your soul rest in peace Pierre, may God bless this country, and prevent farther huge losses of great independence-seeking men and women....

What the Problem is All About!

The problem is that the opposition thinks that all what is driving March 14th people is money, and desprate need to be in power! They still can't see that it was a VERY LOUD SHOUT to STOP playing with our future. And NO, it's not just the Sunnis that are making this movement, Christians are at the core of it, they have spent years asking and demanding for what March 14th is all about.

The problem I think is in the traditional Arab mentality. We always accept the fact that the whole world wants nothing but to invade us and stole our land. This idea is always successful and finds people who are more than welling to listen to and accept it. And this is exactly what HA is trying to do. They are selling the people what they love to buy through out their lives; that USA and Israel are coming to invade us, and that we should fight back, and everyone who is NOT with us is simply an American follower who is against us.

The Sunnis in Liban finally understood what this is all about, or maybe they are just fed up with the huge dept they have to pay for Arab and Islamic nationalism, and together with the Christians, they are now demanding that we should think about Liban first, a strong independent Liban, then start thinking and worrying about Arab issues.....

"The Hell with Independence, Welcome Followship!!" بئس السيادة و أهلا بالوصاية

Sorry our martyrs, they have uncovered us! They discovered what we are all about. We are American-dolls run by Jewish fingers! Yes, they revealed the true face of March 14th movement. We are corrupted, un-patriotic, money diggers and not worthy of the word "Lebanese".

They are telling us to forget you, to forget that they killed you because you were asking for our freedom, NO, because you were DEMANDING Liban's freedom and independence.

Independence???!! What an awful-American-Israeli-unpatriotic demand you lost your lives to, and we marched for two years ago! A truly-Lebanese-elected-government???!! What were we thinking? How could we do such a horrible thing?

How did we throw the Syrian regime out! How did we dare to stand in the face of dictatorship???!

But now, the true Lebanese patriots are here! And they are going to bring Liban back to the Syrian-era, to Karami's national government that allowed every single on of us to express his/her opinion, to the era where NO ONE was allowed to say anything but "YES" and "unity of road and destiny".....

But they did FORGET something, they forgot that we didn't made March 14th because we were blindly following our leaders, we didn't declare the "Cedars Revolution" because we were ordered to. We did what we did because we BELIEVE in INDEPENDENT LIBAN, because we refuse to be guided by Syrians and Iranians, because we are FED UP of Arab nationalism CRAP that kept holding us prisoners to open meaningless destructful wars with Israel.

Think again! If you think you can turn the table on us and take Liban back to the black past, then think again!

One word to them.... "Welcome Independence, and the HELL with followship"

If This is True

I just read an article by on http://beirutspring.blogspot.com called "The Plot Thickens". It talks about the last Al-Quaeda threat to the Lebanese government to be a March 14th inside job!

If what's Al-Manar TV saying is true, then it is a SERIOUS issue; though we are used to such propaganda coming out from our local media every now and then. Nevertheless, this should be investigated thoroughly....

Best Breakfast Ever!

For those who know "Abu Rami" foul and homos restaurant in Mina, you will know exactly what this article is all about, for those who don't, YOU ARE MISSING THE MEAL OF YOUR LIFE!

Since I moved to Beirut. I've started to miss the old habits of mine back in the north. So last Sunday, I decided I NEED to have a traditional Mina breakfast with friends, and that's EXACTLY what I did.

There is nothing that can describe the atmosphere, the place is always crowded with customers in the morning, people everywhere sitting and waiting for the wonderful breakfast, while the workers prepare everything in front of your eyes, and you can see the smoke coming out of the potts, with this magnificent aroma spreading all over the place......

And don't let me start talking about the bread, coming fresh out of the oven, hot and tasty you can't wait to just grab it and start eating, eventhough the man tells you to wait till it cools off or else you'd burn your fingers, but take my word on this, once the bread is in front of you, you can't resist but to touch it, even if you got yourself burnt!

And after along wait comes the tasty meal! Fatteh, foul and hommos b awerma, sfee7a...OMG what a meal!

And of course, the meal can't be completed but with the cup of hot tea at the end, where you sit and relax, trying to come out of the dream you were in, and loool trying to digest the HUGE amount that you ate without noticing...

It might sound silly, but believe me, if you ever came to the north, make sure to pass by "Abu Rami" in Mina to know what I'm talking about......

The view right before we started eating

The view after FIVE minutes ONLY

Two Ways to See Things

You can say: "the cup is half empty". Or you can be optimistic and say: "the cup is half full". Traditionally, Lebanese people would follow the first saying. But just to be optimistic for a change, I'm gunna go with the later this time.

We live in a democratic country. True we have our very own version of democracy, with all these religious sects in every single detail, but yet it is a democracy based upon free elections. And like in any other democratic countries, political parties disagree and sometime they just can't seem to find a middle ground. So they agree to disagree, and each team will do its best (within democratic regulations) to fulfill its project. And I'd like to think that this is how things are going now in Liban; HA and its allies decided to resign form the government as they don't agree with how things are going, and so they are in opposition now, and they have all the right to do whatever democracy allow to fulfill their goals. Both, Mr. Raad and Dr. Jeajea were pretty clear about that. Even if we didn't agree, that doesn't mean that civil war is on the way.

The opposition has all the rights to say "NO", and it has the right to organize riots and demand what it sees as right and just. And sure the majority has all the right to rule the country and make sure that security and stability are maintained at all costs.

Most people would disagree, and frankly, part of me find it extremely difficult to believe that this is how things really are. But nevertheless, you reach a place where you have to stick to hope and pray that good things happen to good people. And as long as all parties agreed that they are under the law, then hopefully this political crisis will come to an end without a huge loss like we used to see in previous occasions.

Call me a dreamer, but let's just hope that democracy is actually found in our community!

March 14th Movement

March 14th, 2005, we marched in MASSIVE numbers asking for our independence. We ALL went to the martyrs squares demanding a better future. Our huge movement shut all pro-Syrian mouths, even the great HA found itself obliges to accept the fact that a new era has begun.

Our movement continued, and we won in the election, getting the majority in the parliament. And all of a sudden, we started dreaming about a pink future, where we can build our Lebanon the way it should be build.

Then what happened? till this day I still can't understand why our political leaders decided to compromise!!! Why we ran after HA to join the government? And why we kept all this time asking for unity, national agreement, etc.....

I really can't understand that. Are we that weak? Are we that much unable to form our own government? We marched for the second time in February 14th, 2006, and we are more than capable of marching again and again and again.Our seek for compromising encouraged the pro-Syrian parties to start appearing again; they found a golden chance to get back into the scene by forming coalition with HA, and so they did. We gave them the chance to stand up in our way and in Lebanon way!!! And for what??? Can anyone tell me?

And now, our political leaders are welcoming Aoun in the government!!!! I can't even get that man, he was offered 4 ministers before, and he refused, and now he seem more than happy with the 2-ministers-offer, what the hell is going on?

My point is, we won the elections, and we are the majority, and so we have the right to rule the country, and we should form our government without asking them to join and put sticks in our wheels. We should have done this from the very beginning.

A word to our politicians, GET SOME BALLS and form a government capable of taking decisions, and be sure we all will be right behind you, and we won't let you down. Stop asking others to join and accept their constant indifference with our decisions. Why on hell did we had the elections if we can't rule when we win????!!!!!