Gay or Straight??? Why should we care? #oum_ba2a

Please subscribe to our blog to get our latest update ------->>>>>

When I first heard about “Machrou3 Leila”, I was deeply surprised because I always knew that the tolerant atmosphere ruling our society is only a camouflage, and behind it lies a great mess of conservative ideas and concepts.

I always knew that the existence of a Lebanese Rock band with an openly gay man as the lead singer would raise a controversy, and I always hoped that the talent of Hamed Sinno and the rest of the band would push people to accept them.

Recently, the calls for intolerance are being heard louder and louder. Lebanon  with 19 different sects and the largest diversity in the world is showing some dangerous signs of narrowness and extremism.

Today, Mr. Faoud Al Adam, who turned out to be a public figure in Zouk Mikael, urged people to stop “Machrou3 Leila” from performing at Zouk Mikael International festival.

“We, the honorable free people in Zouk will not be silenced. We will be moving on the ground to stop this band from entering our town. Lebanon is a land for traditional families, not a land for faggots.”

Mr. Fouad insulted the band using expressions like “شاذين جنسياً”, “فرقة لوطيين”, and “أنصاف رجال”, and asked the religious and cultural figures to stand by his side to fight against Machrou3 Leila’s concert.

I was really surprised by Mr. Fouad’s statement because two years ago, Machrou3 Leila performed in Baalbek (one of the most conservative Islamic cities in Lebanon) and the concert went smoothly. I hate to talk this way but as I recall, Lebanese Christian citizens are the ones who used to be the least conservative of all!

While we are facing da3ech threat, such a statement reminds us that our society is already diseased and the great danger does not lie outside the boundaries but within. We live in a country that is facing thousands of problems and what some people care about is the sexual orientation of Hamed Sinno!

I am not sure how a musical concert may influence people’s “culture” or how the sexual orientations of a singer have anything to do with the audience. NOBODY has the right to forbid a Lebanese band from performing, no one has the right to teach people morals, and no one has the right to judge Hamed Senno or insult him.

I have a gay friend who used to correct me every time I used the word “gay” to refer to someone. “Rihab, you can’t address me saying “You are a gay”. Gay is an adjective and it does not define me”. While reading Mr. Fouad’s statement today I asked myself how would he feel if people addressed him by words like “Straight”, “Short”, “White”, or “intolerant”?

Defining Hamed Senno by one word is unfair and unhuman. Hamed Senno is not “a gay”, Hamed is a talented singer and a brave man. He is using his music to defend himself and stand by the LGBT Society.

Hamed Sinno, despite of the haters, believe me many people loves you are they are proud of you. Go to the Zouk Festival, shine as you always do, give your best performance, and spread love and happiness.

Rihab

Photo credits : Stop cultural terrorism 

https://www.facebook.com/STOPCulturalTerrorismInLebanon

Read More

Nokia’s next president is Lebanese!

Please subscribe to our blog to get our latest update ------->>>>>

Nokia has officially announced its next president: Lebanese Ramzi Haidamous will officially take the lead of the company on September 3, 2014.

Ramzi Haidamous. Picture property of Nokia

In its official statement, Nokia has stressed on the qualities of its next president: with a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in electric engineering from the University of the Pacific, Haidamous spent 17 years at Dolby Laboratories “which he helped to grow from a USD 72 million private business into a nearly USD 1 billion thriving public company”. According to the same source, Haidamous’ rich experience will be profitable to Nokia, as well as his “perfect blend of technology savvy, business leadership and innovation experience to head [Nokia’s] cutting-edge technologies business”.

“With Ramzi at the head of the world-class Nokia Technologies team and our continuing investment in advanced research and development, we are well-positioned to drive the innovation and licensing business needed to move us closer to our goal of technology leadership in a world where everyone and everything is connected”, concluded Rajeev Suri, President and Chief Executive Officer of Nokia.

Ramzi Haidamous is another international pride for us all in Lebanon. It saddens me to see how Lebanon cannot take advantage of its own citizens’ competences because it is ruled by incompetent politicians who are preoccupied in destroying an entire country to feed their own ego and interests.

Pascale Asmar

Read More

Lebanese Basketball Suffers another Blow

After being disqualified for some time by the FIBA, the national basketball team is suffering a new blow: the Lebanese Basketball Federation has officially withdrawn the team’s participation from the Jones Cup tournament that will take place in Taiwan from August 9 till August 17.

According to inner sources, the federation is suffering from financial problems: every trip costs around 75 000 USD and the FLB is incapable of financing the upcoming trip especially with a debt that is estimated around 100 000 USD. Resources are limited and the ministry of Youth and Sports contributes with tiny insufficient amounts. In addition, some players are refusing to participate in the tournament. Without its key players, and with the uncertainty of the participation of major players like Julien Khazzouh and Daniel Faris, the dream of dominating the Asian basketball is vanishing.

While all Asian teams are preparing to win the Asia Cup, the Lebanese national team is drowning. Who is to blame? First, politicians are the first to take the blame for interfering (as usual) and “politicizing” the game. I wonder why the ministry of Youth and Sorts as well as Lebanon parliamentary Commission for Youth and Sports do exist if they are incapable of supporting financially and morally the national team so it would achieve the best and regain its international rank after suffering major blows during the past months. Then, the FLB is also held accountable for not doing its job to find solutions to financial problems so its players won’t have to offer to pay their own flight, go overseas without pocket money and drown in sorrow and desperation.

Not only the national men’s team will be forbidden from participating; as a matter of fact, the junior men’s team (below 18) won’t be able to make it to Doha to participate in the Asian Championship for junior teams.

The Parliament can always find financial resources to pay illegal deputes who extended their own mandate, disregarding the laws, the Constitution and people’s will, but it seems always helpless and broke when it comes to giving rights to employees, teachers, professors, players, among many others. 


                                                                                                                                   Pascale Asmar

Read More

"اضرب يا عباس" oum_ba2a#

Please subscribe to our blog to get our latest update ------->>>>>

"اضرب يا عباس" عبارةٌ أثارت الرأي العام اللبناني نهار السبت الفائت.

في الفيديو الذي انتشر ليلة أمس على مواقع التواصل الاجتماعية، يظهر عباس ع. طفل السنتين وهو يقوم بضرب خالد ن. طفلٍ سوري الجنسية يبلغ من العمر تسعة سنوات. عباس الطفل الصغير يعنف خالد بناءً على تحريضاتٍ من أشخاصٍ لا تظهر وجوههم في الفيديو.

هذه الحادثة التي تعد خرقاً جلياً لحقوق الإنسان وتظهر بشكلٍ جليٍ حجم العنف الذي يتم تلقينه للطفل عباس فتحت سجالاً طويلاً في اليومين الفائتين، فكان لهذه الجريمة أبعادٌ طائفية وعنصريه كادت أن تطيح بأهمية الجانب الإنساني لهذه القضية. اسئلةٌ كثيرةٌ طرحت البارحة، اسئلةٌ حان الوقت لنفكر فيها ونسعى لإيجاد اجوبتها.

 هل الشعب اللبناني شعبٌ عنصري؟

كان من الطبيعي طرح هذا السؤال بعد حادثة البارحة، فخالد الضحية صبيٌ سوري الجنسية.

فهل إقدام عائلةً لبنانية على ضرب صبيٍ سوري تجعل من الشعب اللبناني بأكمله شعباً عنصرياً حاقداً؟  

كلنا نعرف الإجابة، لا يحق لنا تعميم حالةٍ فردية على شعبٍ بأكمله.

لكن هذا لا يرفع عنا تهمة العنصرية. فمع عباس أو بدونه، نحن شعبٌ عنصريٌ بأغلبه ينظر نظرةً فوقيةً للأخرين.

عنصريتنا التي تظهر بأقصى اشكالها تجاه الشعب السوري، تعود لأسبابٍ سياسيةٍ تاريخية ولنزعات طويلةٍ، وهي عنصريةٌ نتشاركها نحن والشعب السوري على حد سواء ونزوح هذه الأعداد الهائلة من السورين إلى لبنان ساهم في تعزيزها.

هل لهذه الحادثة أي أبعاد دينية أو طائفية؟

لكنة المحرضين في الفيديو بالإضافة إلى اسمائهم كانت كافية لمعرفة طائفة العائلة. وفجأةً تحولت القضية إلى قضيةٍ دينيةٍ طائفية، فأخد البعض يتهجم على الطائفة الشيعية وظهرت تعليقاتٌ على الفسيبوك اظهرت حجم النزاع الطائفي البارد الذي نعيشه. فبدل أن نسعى لتدارك الخطء الكبير الذي أرتكب وجد البعض في هذه الحادثة منفذاً لتطرفه الدني.

ماذا عن مصداقية وسائلنا الإعلامية؟

فور انتشار الفيديو المذكور سارعت وسائل الإعلام كافة إلى نشر الخبر. ووفي سباقها المحموم على السكوب الاعلامي نسيت إحدى المحطات أن مصداقية الخبر يجب أن تكون المعيار الأساسي. فقامت الجديد online بنشر صورةٍ لرجلٍ على إنه والد عباس ليتبين فيما أبعد أنه ليس الوالد ولم تقدم الجديد أي تفسير أو اعتذار على الخطأ الكبير التي ارتكبته.

هذا الخطأ الذي حول رجلاً بريئاً إلى متهم، يعكس قلة المصداقية التي تتمتع بها وسائلنا الإعلامية، وإن كانت الجديد هي من وقعت هذه المرة في شرك السكوب هذا لا يعني أنها المحطة الوحيدة التي تقع في هكذا أخطا.

من الضحية؟

عباس وخالد طفلين صغيرين هما ضحية لعالمٍ من الكبار الحاقدين.

خالد الصبي الذي تعرض للضرب والتعنيف الجسدي وعباس الطفل الذي تعلم أن يكره وهو بعد لم يتجاوز الثانية من العمر هما الضحية الكبرى لمجتمعٍ مريض.

أي مستقبلٍ ينتظرهم؟ وإلى ماذا أو من سيتحول كلٌ منهما؟

غداً يوم يفجر انتحاري جديدٌ نفسه، لا تستغربوا ولا تسألوا كيف أقنعوه وبماذا وعدوه لكن اسألوا أنفسكم كيف نشأ ومن تحكم بطفولته ليصنع منه مجرماً وقتلاً!

 "أضرب يا عباس، ما تخاف، أضربه على بطنه، أضربه بيدك... برجلك، على وجهه يا عباس" ...

 أضربه يا عباس لنجعل منك أصغر مجرمٍ في العالم...

أضربه يا عباس كي نحولك الى قاتلٍ صغير...

 أضربه يا عباس كي تموت طفولتكما معاً...

Rihab

Read More

A country on the verge of "FALATAN" or on the verge of intolerance? #oum_ba2a

Please subscribe to our blog to get our latest update ------->>>>>

Dear Elissar,        

I am writing this open letter to you and I would be very happy if you read it.

Two days ago, you published an article in Al joumhourieh newspaper and for no specific reason it becomes the "talk of the town".

In your article, titled “مسابح لبنان... الفلتان يَصِل إلى الذروة”, you told the story of four Lebanese girls who traveled to Greece for a vacation.

These four women were very astonished by what they saw there: People were walking naked on the beach and gay men were kissing each other in public. After these “disgusting” scenes, the four women came back to Lebanon and they were very proud because Lebanon is still conservative despite how modern it is and because homosexuality is not legal in Lebanon.

However, their confidence in the Lebanese morality disappeared after their visit to one of the Lebanese resorts. The unethical acts they saw there were worse than what they saw in Greece: Drunk people dancing and celebrating, and girls with bikinis dancing on a bar in front of others.

فلطالما تميّز لبنان بتحرّره وانفتاحه على غيره من الشعوب، ولطالما تربّع على عرش الانفتاح وتبادل الثقافات والتجارب وتبنّي قيم جديدة تساهم في تطوّره محلياً وعالمياً، إلّا أنه في الآونة الاخيرة وصل الانفتاح الى ذروته وبالغاً حدّ الوقاحة والفلتان.

I am very sorry to tell you that you based your whole article in a “silly” bedtime story and you committed some huge mistakes. You insulted people, hurt their feelings, and gave them a moral lesson on “how to intervene on others life”.

-First, you insulted homosexuals.

I would not mention this if not for your clear statement.

تجوّلت اللبنانيات في شوارع ميكونوس المتناقضة بين مظاهر الفقر والترف، بين البساطة والتكلّف، بين الانغلاق والتحرر، وزرن شواطئها حيث التحرّر المطلق. ففي شاطئ «البارادايز» مثلاً لا تتكلّف الفتاة عناء البحث عن شراء «مايوه» جميل يناسبها لانها تمشي عاريةً وتخضع الى حمام شمس وهي عارية، والامر مماثل بالنسبة الى الرجال الذين يتجوّلون بثقة على ضفاف الشاطئ مستمتعين بحريتهم وتحرّرهم، ولا يمانعون في تقبيل عشاقهم الرجال.

“عدنَ شاكراتٍ الدولة لعدم تشريعها المثلية نظراً لما رأينه هناك من مشاهد لا تقبلها العين”

So does this mean that you do not mind seeing a straight couple kissing in public?

Really, I would be thankful if you tell me how a same-sex kiss may be more dangerous than a straight couple kiss.

-Second, you criticized the eastern culture and mocked it.

Well dear Elissar, we are not the right people to criticize others. This culture, you refused and considered unethical, was behind the existence of civilized countries. I do not recall the day when our “conservative culture” helped us to evolve.

Call me a fool, but could you tell me why walking naked or fully closed have anything to do with others? The culture, you called unethical, is simply a culture that hallows the individual freedom.

-Third, you were worried of the influence of such behaviors on the children.

إستنكرت المحامية في محكمة الاستئناف لودي حسّون «مظاهر التحرّر تلك على الشواطئ اللبنانية والتي وصلت الى حدّ غير مقبول تجلّى بالفلتان الأخلاقي وعدم إحترام الآداب العامّة، خصوصاً أنّ الحرية الفردية تنتهي عندما تبدأ حرية الآخر، وهذا يسيء الى تربية الاولاد ويترك لديهم إنطباعاً خاطئاً»، بحسب ما أوضحت في حديثها لـ«الجمهورية».

Why would anyone take his children to a resort rated +18?

There are many places in Lebanon specialized for families and children. You cannot take your child to a nightclub and ask people to behave!

-Fourth, you generalized what happened in one resort to all the Lebanese resorts.

مسابح لبنان... الفلتان يَصِل إلى الذروة.

Generalization is a deadly sin. Just because, you witnessed “Chaos” in on place this does not give you the right to apply this everywhere.

-Fifth, you limit the culture of a whole country to your own point of view.

عدن الى بلدهنّ فرحاتٍ بمظاهر التطوّر والعصرنة التي تسللت إليه من دون أن تفقده هويته المحافِظة نوعاً ما، إلّا أنّ فرحهنّ لم يدم إلّا بضعة أيام معدودة.

Lebanon is a country with 19 different sects. It is a country where a shoulder touch between a woman dressed in burka and a woman in short pants may happen daily. Lebanon is the country of diversity and your personal point of view does not apply to all of us.

Blog +961 posted yesterday a video from a 1973 Lebanese movie. In the later, Actors were kissing and an actress went topless. Was our culture also under threat 40 years ago? Or are we becoming more conservative and less tolerant with time?

Dear Elissar, my grandmother used to say "من راقب الناس مات هماً" . If she lived until now, she would be 85 years old; I guess she knows better than us what our true culture is.

Rihab

Read More

Waiting for my Lebanese passport.

Please subscribe to our blog to get our latest update ------->>>>>

Last Saturday, I went to fetch my Passport from the center of general security. Although, it was not my first time there, I was very surprised by how messy everything was.

To be objective, the general security officers (or most of them) were truly doing their best: trying to organize as possible the procedures, insisting on respecting the waiting line and working quickly to answer the huge amount of requests. They were nice and polite, and they tried as much as possible to help us.

While waiting there, I discovered that the reason behind this “chaos” is our attitude and by “our” I mean the people who were waiting.

Most of us do not mind coming late and sneaking to the middle of line pretending that we did not really notice where the line ends. We think it is smartness to ignore others just for the sake of comforting ourselves. We do not respect each other morally of physically. We come with missing paper and ask for “machilna yeha” and when the officer refuse we object and we put blame on this officer because “eno jeyi tsta2wi 3layi”. Moreover, if we know any officer with a good rank we ask him without shame to help us first.

I totally agree that the system of the general security shall be more organized. The procedures shall be done using computers and numeric data; this will save us time and energy. We have the right to be respected as citizens and to get our papers quickly.

However, this does not give us the right to break the rules.

Blaming other for the corruption, we are responsible of, is something we do every single day. We want a modern and organized country but we are not willing to do any effort. We nag about the unorganized public institutions but we forget that the people we blame are part of our society; most probably, they are our friends, our neighbors or our acquaintances. We forget that we are the victim and the executioner, we are the sufferer and the disease, and we forget that we are the only ones capable of changing our lives and build a country for which we all ask.

Just let us think about this every time we cross a red light, every time we text while driving, every time we throw garbage on roads, every time we pay bribes…Let us think about it every time we vote for those who only care about their interests.

Think about it and you will see that we are responsible and nothing is going to change unless we decide to take actions.

Change does not come from nothing. We should work hard to deserve it.

Rihab

Read More

Lebanese reactions to World Cup: Personal conclusions!

Please subscribe to our blog to get our latest update ------->>>>>

Last Friday was the quarter final of the World Cup between Brazil and Columbia, so I went with my sister and some friends to watch the game in Beirut Water Front as we thought it would be a cool place.

When we arrived, and since we didn’t have a reservation in the VIP* part, and because we are not VIP, we bought our “ordinary” tickets and sat with the “ordinary” people at the stadium.

The place is nice, with two big screens, music and food and drinks kiosks, so we assumed that we will have a good time. What we didn’t foresee, was the age of the crowd that we were sitting with: 90% of it was aged between 13 and 20 years; I can safely say that we were the oldest group there.

I don’t need to tell you about how the Lebanese get overexcited during the World Cup, I’m a huge Brazilian fan myself, but what I witnessed Friday was far beyond a football game excitement. It was specimen of our society, of the young generation that will be responsible of our country in the future, and honestly, I was not impressed at all.

A brief description would include the presence of spoiled self-centered teenagers, many of them bragging about their smoking and drinking publicly, with expensive cell phones and cars (for those who are old enough to drive or maybe not), noisy as hell (not only when their team scores) and many of them are rude and disrespectful.

I’m writing this filled with anger and sadness. Surely, my generation is not better than theirs, nor the older generations are better than us; but the ugly truth is that our society is not moving forward, it’s recreating itself from generation to generation, recreating citizens who are only concerned by the trivial. Citizens who burn an obscene number of fireworks if the football team that they cheer for wins a game, and participate in ridiculous convoys  at 2am celebrating the achievement of another country’s football team without any regards to others.

If only we could just stop for a moment and think about our achievements. I’m not denying our right to be happy, but we owe it to ourselves above all, to build a country, a state and a modern society. We owe it to ourselves to care about what is really important for our future, and then maybe someday, we’ll burn fireworks and participate in convoys when we reach the moon or declare the end of corruption in our country.

*As you all know, in Lebanon, either you are a Very Important Person which means that you have a lot of money or willing to lavishly spend the little money that you have or you are a normal persons which is our case.

Abir Lebbos

Read More

تسعة أشهر من الأمان

Please subscribe to our blog to get our latest update ------->>>>>

عامٌ ونصف عاشت تمارا تتحمل عنفاً كان يطالها بشكلٍ شبه يومي، انتهى بمحاولةٍ للقتل وآثارٍ دامية من الصعب غفرانها...

تمارا، الضحية الجميلة التي سعى كثيرون إلى تحويلها إلى مجرمة، ستعيش الآن تسعة أشهر من الأمان بعد صدور الحكم بحقّ حسين فتوني، معنِّفها، بسجنه لمدّة 9 أشهر ودفع تعويض 20 مليون ل.ل. كعقوبة لاقترافه جرم الضرب والإيذاء.

تسعة أشهرٍ من الراحة ستعيشها تمارا، تسعة أشهر لن يكون الخوف فيها رفيقها الدائم، تسعة أشهر تستعيد فيها القدرة على الرواية بعدما حاول زوجها اقتلع عينيها... تسعة أشهر تنام فيها تمارا مطمئنة...

ولكن ماذا سيحدث بعد انتهاء المدة؟ من سيحمي تمارا وأبنتها من قاتلٍ لم يتوانى عن أذيتهما؟

تمارا الضحية تستحق أن تحظى بالعدالة الكاملة، عدالةً تحاسب الزوج وتقاضيه تحت جرم "محاولة القتل" ...تسعة أشهر من الأمان ليست كافية.

Rihab

Read More

وطني الشهيد.

Please subscribe to our blog to get our latest update ------->>>>>

أنظر إلى وطني ولا أعرفه... في عجقة الانفجارات والتعصبات الدينية لم أعد ألمح وجهه الجميل، وجهه الذي اغرمت فيه ولأجله أقاوم كل يوم...

اليوم قام مجهولون بإلقاء قنبلةٍ على قهوةٍ شعبيةٍ في حيٍ من أحياء باب التبانة. أربعة جرحى سقطوا ضحية أناسٍ يعتقدون أنهم يملكون ألحق بالتحكم بحياة الأخرين وبحّد حريتهم... أربعة جرحى جريمتهم الوحيدة أنهم لم يصوموا، أنهم لم يستمعوا لتلك التحذيرات الحاقدة التي حاولت لأول مرةٍ من تاريخنا أن تقاتل الصائمين...

لن أتكلم الأن عن تلك القرارات البلدية التي حاولت أن تفرض الصوم على الموطنين، لن أتكلم عن دولةٍ غائبةٍ تعيش حالة غيبوبةٍ طويلة الأجل، لن أتكلم عن نوابٍ باعونا بدل المرة ألف مرة، لن أتكلم عن تطرفٍ غدى وجهاً يومياً لطرابلس، سأتكلم فقط عن رعبٍ بدأ يجتاحونا، عن خوفٍ من غدٍ ظننا بسذاجةٍ خبيثة اننا بعيدون عنه...

سأتكلم عن وطنٍ يتقاتل فيه المتطرفون، عن انفجاراتٍ تندلع بغير هدى، عن ابرياء يموتون، وأطفالٍ يتيتمون... سأتكلم عن وطنٍ نعيش فيه بالصدفة ونموت فيه بالصدفة... سأتكلم عن وطنٍ قتلناه بخيانتنا المتتالية، بانتمائنا لأدياننا بدل الانتماء له، عن وطنٍ ذنبه الوحيد أنه وطنٌ بدون شعب...

لبنان ينازع، يتخبط على فراش الانفجار، أنفاسه ضعيفة، ودقات قلبه بالكاد تسمع...

لبناننا سقط ضحية مرضٍ عضال اجتاح جسده المنهك ورماه قشةً في مهب الرياح... لبناننا ينازع ونحن امله الوحيد. لكننا فقدنا ثقته بنا، خسرناها يوم أشحنا أعيننا عنه وتركناه وحيداً... لبناننا يحتاجونا فهل نلبي النداء هذه المرة.

Rihab

Photo credits: LBC

Read More

Chou khasso!!!

Please subscribe to our blog to get our latest update ------->>>>>

Do you know what makes Lebanon so special? It is this beautiful mixture of cultures.
Why some people are trying hard to change the identity of this country?
Respecting others is a golden rule! Everyone is free to fast or not and everyone  is free to eat in public or not!

Rihab

Photo credits: stop cultural terrorism in Lebanon

Read More

The Sad Story Behind a New Achievement by another Great Lebanese.

Please subscribe to our blog to get our latest update ------->>>>>

Lebanese University graduate and Mayfouq-born surgeon Dr Bachir Elias was awarded with the prestigious Philippe Mouret Award after performing a revolutionary endoscopic surgery. The award aims to honor below 40 years young surgeons who would present revolutionary techniques in endoscopic surgeries. This year’s jury was composed from the best surgeons of France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Italy and Switzerland. Dr Elias performed his surgery without cutting the patient, leaving only 3 incisions in the abdomen, whereas the conventional surgery leaves a 5 cm cut and 3 incisions. This kind of surgery is still very rare worldwide but it’s the best to assure the patient a quick and painless recovery.

 Dr Bachir Elias, receiving his award (Photo: AnNahar)

Dr Bachir Elias is 36 years old. He pursued his studies at the Lebanese University before moving to France to specialize in endoscopic surgery. He works at the Bel-Air hospital in Thionville, France.

The saddest part of his story is the lack of recognition of his competences in his home country, Lebanon. In his interview with AnNahar newspaper, Dr Bachir Elias assures that he is grateful to the Lebanese University and that he would have loved to work in Lebanon which he visits every once in a while. But every time he applies for a job at any Lebanese hospital, the answer is the same: “Maybe later”. He only got the recognition he deserved in France where he was hired according to his competences and hard work.

As Lebanon is drowning in its own lethargy, great minds are shining worldwide. Dr Bachir Elias is not the first and he surely won’t be the last to be awarded in foreign countries. In a nepotistic system based on political feudalism and favoritism, as well as on religions, it’s quite impossible to give to competent people what they really deserve.

The award Dr Bachir Elias received in recognition 

of his innovative surgery (Photo: AnNahar)

Pascal Asmar

Read More

قوّة الحقّ ستنتصرُ على حقّ القوّة...

Please subscribe to our blog to get our latest update. 

Today, Nadim Koteich shared a link about Samir Kassir on his page. Someone commented wishing Koteich the same fate as Samir Kassir.

Oucèma Karam, friend of the blog, replied by these few lines and I felt the urge to share them with you.

Thank you Oucèma Karam, I couldn't find better words.

"لستُ مِن محبّذي الثرثرة السياسيّة على وسائل التواصل الاجتماعيّ. بيدَ أنّ استمرار بعض شركاء الوطن باعتبار العنف من الشتيمة وصولًا للاغتيال وسيلةً طبيعيّةً يوميّةً مِن وسائلِ التعبير و الحرّيّة المقدّسة، باتَ يُلزِمُ رفعَ الصوتِ و القلَم (لا سلاحَ غيرهما لدى الأحرار). كرامةُ شُهداءِ الرأي و الصِحافةِ و الثقافةِ و النضالِ الديمقراطيّ أعلى مِن كلِّ متراسٍ و منجنيق و مدفع و صاروخٍ و طائرة، أيُّها البؤساء! حلّق عاليًا يا سمير قصير فالنورُ في الظلمةِ يُضيء!"

Your opinion counts, share it with us.

Read More

Stop Ruining Basketball.

Please subscribe to our blog to get our latest update ------->>>>> 

Who does not remember these days when basketball was all we cared about? When being Hkmewi or Riyadi was as diving as being 8 or 14 march?

It is sad to see that using basketball to conceal our eternal conflicts is still occurring.

Today, I was reading the news when this statement popped in front of my eyes.Two realities stroke me:

-Lebanese people are still intolerant and the struggle between Hekmi and Riyadi still exists. If it wasn’t for Hekemi’s president’s name, I would think that this piece of information is 10 years old.

-What did “Nadim Hakim” mean when he urged his club fans to stay polite because “there are women and children between the audiences”?
Should we conclude that it is very acceptable to shout and insult others if the audience was 100% male?
Mr. Hakim, with all my respect, but insulting the other club should not only be rejected to avoid penalties or to protect women and children.  The true spirit of any sport game is to know how to welcome winning and losing with the same amount of respect.

Rihab

Reference : Please check this link 

Your opinion counts, share it with us.

Read More