At first glance, this string of thoughts may appear either as a very negative rant and bashing of Arabic Society or an attack on specific individuals mentioned here and there. It is difficult to conclude otherwise given the tone of the video. In fact, this is just the beginning. What I didn't like about the video is that it did not offer any solutions.
I believe that it is only by asking the tough questions and uncovering the root causes beneath the surface that people can start changing themselves and ultimately chaging things around them. With that in my mind, I think we have a long and difficult journey ahead of us. But, I hope to keep the dialogue focused on the issues at large and not let it deteriorate into a meaningless argument about who said what or when. So, if you are looking for a place to defend one party (or individual) or to attack another party (or individual) please move on. If, on the other hand you want to join a group of adults who are not nit picking every single detail, who are not offended by all the generalization that they will see and who can take constructive criticism well, than you have found a new forum to voice your concerns and, more importantly, your ideas for working solutions.
Please join me in keeping the dialogue clean and let's keep uncovering and facing the dirty truth. Ultimately, I hope we can start putting something truly big.
Too naive? Too lofty? Perhaps you never heard the Black Eyed Peas singing "Union". Let me know what you think and please pass the Tabouleh!
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I am still racking my brain to see what I can agree upon with a fellow Lebanese: food and money are the only common platforms. All the rest (child-rearing, historical facts, religion, key calendar dates, ways of dressing up...) is different. It would not be a problem though if people were not fundamentally convinced their way was superior to the others (e.g. 'mislim sinni wu bass!'). Of course, even within a single community, the grudges are huge: 'sunnit beirut' look down on 'sunnit trablous' as some kind of unevolved creatures coming from the middle ages with rough accents and a propensity for homosexuality... 'Sunnit trablous' have always to justify they are not gay and look at the 'sunnit beirut' as some kind of degenerated people havinf strayed away from the right path.
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