Category Archives: Lebanon

The Pope Is In Lebanon. You’re Upset? Bite Me.

Pope Benedict XVI is coming in a few hours to Lebanon in a visit that has been hyped up for months and which wasn’t even certain at a certain point as the situation in Syria escalated. And yet the Pope still decided to come here, as he should, in order to check up on his congregation or at least the part of it that cared.

Of course, the BDS can’t really complain and start campaigning against the Pope’s visit just because he visited Israel a few years back so at least we’re safe on that front. But in typical Lebanese fashion, you have people complaining. Complaining about what? About the Pope coming here in his expensive papamobile, wearing his expensive garments, holding his expensive Golden cross and preaching from expensive-looking churches.

Money, money, money… and none of it is for the poor. How Christian is the head of Christianity? Let’s go protest!

People seem to be forgetting that the need for an expensive papamobile only arose when assassination attempts targeted previous popes. But, you know, the pope doesn’t have the right for self security like everyone else. In Lebanon, the politicians that the people complaining about the papamobile follow have these massive 20 car convoys just to ensure their safety. When they give their speeches, they do so behind bulletproof glass. Why don’t we complain about them spending money? Yeah, because it’s much easier to target a pope who’s not allowed, supposedly, to spend money.

And the list goes on and on. What people seem to fail to realize is that the Catholic Church specifically has so many charities spread all around the world to help. And help they do. What people seem to fail to realize is that the Catholic Church gives money away but it doesn’t advertize it like the charities these people are madly in love with. Why? Because that’s not something the Catholic Church boasts about.

What these people fail to realize is that even in Lebanon, the role of the Catholic Church is more far reaching than they can think of. Do you know how many children have gotten discounts in Catholic schools just because their parents were passing through economic difficulties? But it’s very easy to criticize. “These catholic schools charge so much” is one of the things you keep on hearing. Yeah, because the teachers and employees working at those schools are doing so out of charity, right?

If any of the people complaining had been teachers at those schools, they would have forever held their peace. But it’s always easier to preach.

Did you also know that the Pope’s Cross isn’t made out of gold? It used to be. But now it only has a golden crust. Why? To symbolize the ongoing current in the Vatican to lessen the materialistic aspect of the Catholic Church while still keeping a grandeur to the position held by the pope. And if you have a problem with that grandeur then your insecurity is not really the problem of the Church. If you also have a problem with the grandeur of the Churches in Rome, then I advise psychological help.

When it comes to the people criticizing, I have to ask: before you preach about donating, how about you donate? What are YOU doing to the children of Africa lately? Is your brand new phone or laptop or car helping the children of Somalia eat?

When it comes to the people criticizing, I have to ask: why is it so easy for you to use the presence of Christians in the East in your political debates to either support or refute certain revolutions and then frown upon the visit of the head of the Church who’s coming here first and foremost to let these worried Christians know that they are not forgotten?

As far as I’m concerned, the Pope visiting Lebanon is such a welcome change from all the political uselessness we’re being bombarded with lately. At least now you’ll know that all the roads which will be taken by the Pope will be newly paved and for these three days Lebanon will be the most secure country on the planet and the Christians will lessen their nagging and the Lebanon he’ll see is the utopia of coexistence we dream about. And that is the miracle of Pope Benedict.

The Angelina Jolie in Lebanon Effect

So Angelina Jolie was in Lebanon yesterday. She was here to check on the Syrian refugees in the country and she had some nice things to say about us as people. Some very nice things to say actually. Check that out here.

But some Lebanese didn’t have nice things to say about Jolie. Why? Because she wasn’t “jolie” enough when she came over. Why? Because she was wearing what she was wearing in the picture above. Why? Because they think she’s helping fuel stereotypes of women being oppressed in an Islamic country in Lebanon.

Because some people are just plain silly, yes that’s why.

I’ve written about an identity crisis (check here) that Lebanon suffers from and with each passing day, it becomes clearer. To many, Angelina Jolie doesn’t represent our culture. To many, she is helping disseminate the idea that we are a non-open, deeply conservative country. To many, what she did yesterday was unacceptable.

What those many are forgetting is the following:

  1. Angelina Jolie’s attire was more than respectable to the purpose of her visit, which is visiting the Syrian refugees in the country. Anything else would have been offensive to these refugees and an insult to their dismal living conditions.
  2. Angelina Jolie wasn’t in Lebanon to promote a movie or film one or to be a tourist. She was over here to do something that even our government isn’t doing.
  3. Some Lebanese are forgetting that Lebanon is not the party district of Beirut that they’re using to build this “culture” they’re talking about. Some Lebanese are forgetting that you will find women wearing what Jolie was wearing in other sides of the country, even in Beirut in the areas they don’t frequent.
  4. Some Lebanese are not realizing that these stereotypes they so desperately want to change will not disappear overnight, especially not when they have no problem in having a country that can fall into anarchy so frequently (click here) or when they oppose laws that the countries they want to be like have had for decades now (click here).

Yes, we are a deeply troubled people. We are so messed up in the head that a humanitarian visit has to be twisted into an issue of fashion. I think it’s high time some Lebanese people remain silent for a while – take things in, think about them before spitting them out. Perhaps then you can start working on those “troubling” stereotypes.

Angelina Jolie is in Lebanon

Source: Daily Star

As part of her UN duties as a special envoy, THE Angelina Jolie has visited Lebanon to check up on the Syrian refugees in the country. She has also spoken with our prime minister Mikati (such a lucky person, isn’t he?).

“The Lebanese people themselves are dealing with their own problems… it is all the more meaningful that they are so generous and so kind, and I hope the world acknowledges that.”

Well, I hope so too.

So while the region’s Goodwill ambassadors promote their music albums, she’s going around doing what is supposed to be done. Such a shame for our “artists.”

Michelle Tueini on Lebanon’s Smoking Ban

Finally.

We have someone talking without having a history of sarcastic plays that resonate true today with a staunch following. Just because your foot is in sewage doesn’t mean you can’t wipe the dirt off your mouth – and Michelle Tueni says so very eloquently in her piece in Al Nahar. Check it (click here – Arabic).

She says and I translate:

“Those who say the law is being applied at an inappropriate time and that Lebanon has bigger problems should know that Lebanon is a country that faces frequent tensions and if we were going to think that way we won’t move forward. And even if Lebanon has bigger problems, we can’t ignore the smaller issues because that is how we effectively hit rock bottom.”

In other news, I invite you to check this awesome Thai ad to fight smoking. I think it’s very smart.

 

 

Nancy Ajram’s New Song For Kids: Ya Banat

Nancy Ajram has released a song off her upcoming album for kids, Super Nancy.

The song is Egyptian and called “Ya Banat.” The theme is apparently part of what Ajram was trying to go for with her second album for kids: an empowerment for little girls.

Good intentions and me being obviously not the target audience aside, I’m not sure what I feel about the song. While the first verse is something that I got my mom to hear (I’ve been asking for a baby sister for such a long time now), the overall song feels lacking. It could be that it’s way too short or that I’m tired of Lebanese singers singing one Egyptian song after the other.

Does the miserable state of music in this part of the world really need another album for kids from one of its biggest stars? I’m not entirely convinced with that. But hey, at least it’s not candy-coated sex for kids.

Interesting observation: my Australian cousin thought the album promo billboards, which are plastered all over Lebanon’s highways, were ads for a dollhouse.

Listen to “Ya Banat” here – with annoying “Arabica” voice overs and all.

The album will be released on Thursday.