I remember May 25th 2000, 12 years ago, when I came back home all giddy with them letting us off from school early. We had heard whispers at school: “The Israelis have left…. the South is ours again.”
I felt happy. I felt proud of my country. Even though I had never been to the South, I felt liberated.
So today, I salute all the readers of my blog who come from South Lebanon, however few they may be. Blame it on my political stance that drastically differs from theirs. I salute all those who fought for Lebanon’s freedom from Israel before that fight started being used for political gains here and there. I salute all the martyrs that died in the process of trying to take back every inch of Lebanese land.
But today, 12 years later, I can honestly say Liberation Day has lost some of its flavor to me. Not because of current political reasons, not because I utterly hate the political party which led to that day but because it reminds me that my own occupation is nowhere near to be acknowledged.
April 26th…. That day I saw the Syrian army trucks leaving my land, hopefully to no return. That day I saw my mom shed a tear as she drew a sigh of relief – the horror has gone. That day I saw my grandfather smile like a child as he breathed for the first time in his Syrian army-free hometown.
When will Lebanon truly admit that Israel and the South weren’t the only entities in the country occupied for years? When will we admit that Northerners and people from Mount Lebanon struggled almost as much as people in the South?
When will we admit that your “brother” becoming your enemy is much more dangerous than a stranger enemy with whom you barely have anything in common?
Today, May 25th is another day that reminds me of Lebanese hypocrisy, of how the deaths of those that fought to get the Syrian army off my land, prior to the Rafic Hariri assassination era, are all looked down upon: a bunch of traitors who aren’t worthy of being acknowledged.
And it makes me sad, really, that on a day where I should be happy for my country’s sake I can’t but feel sadness for the memory of those who fought for liberation and don’t have a day to remember their struggles.
You can’t understand liberation unless you’ve been under occupation.
May 25th, I’d salute you when you salute April 26th.
A Separate State of Mind | A Blog by Elie Fares 
maybe salute this one and hope to salute the other yea? step by step man
you can’t not salute this one you know, just cz the 26th of April ain’t saluted!
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I saluted it for 11 years. I’d say that’s enough of me saluting and them ignoring.
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So the two dates are a month apart. Why not have a celebration day in the middle of those two dates and call it “Day of national sovereignty” or just “Liberation day from Israel and Syria”? The President will make a speech praising all martyrs who faced various occupations both in the North and South. If Syria is too much of a friend to call an enemy then refer to it as the Assad-regime. Problem solved, if only..
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And pigs fly?
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Never said I was being realistic ;-). Just a healthy dose of wishful thinking. Still want my passport 😉 ?
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After long consideration, I have no idea :p Suggestions? :p
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Well written man, I concur.
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Thank you for reading!
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Bravo :). I myself salute you for being straight forward, and for your free mind.
Concerning “so today, I salute all the readers of my blog who come from South Lebanon, however few they may be”, I feel that I need to tell you that I am from the South, they don’t represent all the South (though they are trying ans sometimes succeeding) nor can they ever represent Lebanon.
Our real liberation might take long, but it will eventually come. Cheers!
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Thank you for reading Rachelle 😀
Then you’re officially my favorite constant reader from the South 🙂
We should never let anyone portray Lebanon the way they want. And that’s why we have an uphill climb for all of us.
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The post made much more sense before scrolling down to the comments. The comments are the true you- not a written text- a true interaction of U – so hope U interact with me.
1- Are our salutes a request of acknowledgment or a mere expression of what an abstract date or day or concept represent to us ?
2- Who is “they” ? Someone you aspire to be acknowledged by ?
3- Pigs never fly – i suppose you know this – still you always have the right to ask – i just thought i would reply ahead in case you might ask again in reply to my comment.
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