February 14th in Lebanon: Should It Become Hariri’s Day?

Every year since 2005, February 14th has served a double meaning in Lebanon, as I’ve tried to convey through this meme. For many, it’s your regular Valentine’s day: a chance to take your loved one out, etc…. For others, however, it serves as a commemoration to the late prime minister Rafic Hariri. Schools and universities close, as well as governmental offices – the whole country is shut down for one day in mourning for Mr. Hariri.

And it is here that I have to ask a question: 7 years after his assassination, aren’t we overdoing it?

Simply put, yes we are.

Sure, Hariri was considered a great man by many. Sure, he was prime minister for a very long time. And yet, we do not mourn any other politician by shutting the country down on the memory of their death. Case in point? He’s not the only politician that got assassinated. I can think of at least two Lebanese presidents that met the same fate.

Isn’t it unfair to the memory of those presidents that the only thing that takes place on their day in the whole country is a mass? Weren’t those presidents as cherished in their communities as Hariri was in his? Don’t they deserve a day off as well? Don’t all the other politicians that died before and after Hariri also deserve to be commemorated in such a way?

I understand taking the day off the first or second year after the assassination. But 7 years later? I hardly think it’s justified. If anything, I think it’s high-time that we, as a Lebanese society, work on moving on – especially that the wheels are in motion to bring
justice for Mr. Hariri. February 14th has quickly become a day where Hariri’s assassination is used for a political agenda, more so than to actually remember the man who was killed on this day. And frankly, we cannot as a country afford to add extra days off to our already extensive list. And when the Hariri off day is being added and the government was speculating about removing Good Friday from the list, you know they’re doing it wrong.

If anything, the political meaning the occasion has taken on February 14th is a detriment to the memory of Rafic Hariri, a man who managed to bring together people from different sects and religions together under one roof to work for Lebanon. I’m certain he wouldn’t appreciate using the memory of his death as a way to increase the divide in the country.

And note, I’m a supporter of the current political movement that Rafic Hariri’s movement, headed by his son Saad, is part of. So take this to heart. Don’t hate. I’m not saying ignore the occasion. I’m not saying we should forget what happened to Rafic Hariri. On the contrary, we should always remember because his death has turned into a turning point for the nation. I’m saying remember without shutting the country down in remembrance. And that would be a first step in advancing as Lebanese society: make it less about glorifying individuals and work towards bettering the country as a whole.

Regardless, rest in peace Rafic Hariri. It’s been 7 years and the country is in a worse situation than ever before.

Lebanese Memes: February 14th for the Lebanese Population

This is a quick description of what to expect today from different parts of the Lebanese population…

 

The Vow – Movie Review

Paige (Rachel McAdams) and Leo (Channing Tatum) are a happily married couple living in Chicago and as with all couples, they are deeply in love. That is until a car accident takes place and Paige goes into a coma from which she wakes up with amnesia, not remembering any of the past five years: her years with Leo.

Struck by the fact that his own wife doesn’t remember him, Leo decides to make her fall in love with him all over again. Simultaneously, Paige’s parents: Bill (Sam Neill) and Rita Thornton (Jessica Lange) try to use this new opportunity that life gave them in trying to mend bridges with their daughter. Leo, however, doesn’t necessarily fit in their plan of getting their daughter back to law school and into the arms of a man they approve of.

What’s refreshing about The Vow is that it is actually based on a true story and as such the events that take place in the movie, albeit sappy and cliche at times, have an element of sincerity to them that other movies of the same genre lack. Apart from annoying voice-overs by Channing Tatum about moments in life and other useless balderdash, the movie doesn’t feel annoyingly sweet like your usual over-sugary romantic comedies.

Channing Tatum, however, is dull throughout. Even the moments where he has to express emotion come off as flat. He’s also in tears almost all the time. It gets grating at times. Rachel McAdams is the movie’s real draw. She’s a great actress who commands every frame she is in like child’s play. You keep rooting for her character even when she gets slightly annoying by falling for her ex-fiance, whom she doesn’t recollect breaking up with. Sam Neill and Jessica Lange, as Paige’s parents, are great in whatever screen time they get.

Simply put, if you are a guy wanting to take out your girl for a movie this Valentine’s day and you know she’s into romantic comedies, The Vow will work wonders with her without getting you to want to rip your hair off. If you’re into a light movie that will entertain you for its duration and the theatre you went to has no other options, then The Vow isn’t necessarily that bad. Although it might feel like been there, done that (imagine a romantic version of Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore’s 5o First Dates), you can’t but give the movie some slack for being a true story as is shown by the last frame before the credits start rolling.

6/10

2012 Grammy Predictions

I may not be staying up to watch the Grammy’s but I figured I’d give in my 2 cents as to what will be awarded big time tonight. Some of the categories are a lock, others are more of a toss-up. Either way, it should be interesting.

The night, however, will be tainted by the passing of Whitney Houston. I’m not sure if a last minute tribute will be planned for her.

Without further ado, and after checking out the nominees, here are my predictions for some of the categories:

Record of the Year: Rolling In The Deep – Adele

This it the year’s biggest hit. None of the other nominees comes close in terms of critical acclaim and public reception. Add to it Adele’s contestants being Bruno Mars and Katy Perry and she becomes more than a lock. Sure, the Grammy’s do not always reward the most successful act. But Adele managed this year to bridge critical acclaim with commercial success. It will translate in a few trophies tonight, this being the first.

Album of the Year: 21 – Adele

With other nominees including Lady Gaga’s Born This Way, Rihanna’s Loud and Bruno Mars’ Doo-Wops & Hooligans, not only is Adele’s critically acclaimed and biggest selling album of the year a lock for this, but it would actually be absurd to think anyone else has a chance. What gives Adele an edge over any of the other nominees in this is that she is an artist the Grammy’s can feel safe in showering with awards. She has album of the year in the bag.

Song of the Year: Rolling in the Deep – Adele

As I said, the Grammy’s this year will be Adele-domination night. She will be winning everything. End of story. The fact that this was the biggest crossover hit in the United States in the past 25 years will only add fuel to Adele’s dominating fire.

Best New Artist: The Band Perry

Country acts usually have an advantage when it comes to being awarded best new artist at the Grammy’s because they are usually the ones with the most secure future ahead. Case in point: in the last five years, 2 country acts have won this award: Carrie Underwood and Zac Brown Band. Other winners include Adele, Amy Winehouse and last year’s Esperanza Spalding. Why I think The Band Perry will win is because the Grammy’s tend to overlook pop/hip-hop acts that make it big (Nicki Minaj) and The Band Perry have a great hit under their belt in the form of If I Die Young. A very close second would be Bon Iver.

Best Pop Solo Performance: Someone Like You – Adele

Seeing as this is a category that rewards the vocal performance of a song, it’s easy to see how one can overlook Katy Perry’s Firework. Among the other songs/artists, no one has as big a momentum as Adele. Therefore, it should be an easy win for her – not to mention that Someone Like You is a stunning song as it is.

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance: Body and Soul – Tony Bennett and Amy Winehouse

You know the Grammy’s will want to award Winehouse a final time, four years after choosing her for Best New Artist, through her last studio recording.

Best Pop Vocal Album: 21 – Adele

She’s going to win album of the year. There’s no way she won’t win this.

Best Rock Performance: The Cave – Mumford & Songs

The fact that this is nominated for both record and song of the year gives this category away. My favorite is Radiohead’s Lotus Flower, though.

Best Rock Album: Come Around Sundown – Kings of Leon

This album may not have found the success proportions of their previous offering but I still see it winning this category.

Best Alternative Album: Torches – Foster The People

Although I prefer Radiohead’s The King of Limbs, it’s easy to see how the success of Pumped Up Kicks would translate into a win here.

Best Rap Performance: Look At Me Now – Chris Brown, Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes

Because Busta Rhymes’ verses are almost impossible to sing?

Best Country Solo Performance: Mama’s Song – Carrie Underwood

Carrie Underwood is what they call a Grammy’s darling. She has performed five times at the Grammy’s in the past six years, four of those being in four consecutive years. And when she attended, she never left empty-handed. With the Grammy’s merging several country vocal categories and Mama’s Song finding its way to a nomination, I think Carrie will win this. It doesn’t hurt that Mama’s Song is a great performance.

Best Country Album: My Kinda Party – Jason Aldean

Following a win at the CMAs for this award and beating the same nominees, Jason Aldean should win this as well.

Best Country Duo/Group Performance: Don’t You Wanna Stay – Jason Aldean & Kelly Clarkson

Similarly to the album category, this duet has won this same category at every country award show. Those wins should carry over here.

Best Folk Album: Barton Hollow – The Civil Wars

The Civil Wars have this in the bag. Their album has garnered critical acclaim and found its way to mainstream success, despite being part of an indie label.

Facebook Parenting: For The Troubled Teen

This video has gone viral in the United States over the past few days.

After having his daughter, Hannah, insult him and her mother via a Facebook rant, her father Tommy Jordan decided to teach her a good life lesson about values and responsibility – all through an 8 minute YouTube video.

Naturally, his “outburst” was met by people who thought he was being abusive to his daughter, which led to social services interviewing her.

However, all that drama-aside, this is one creative parent. American TV Stations are already contacting him about some reality-tv prospects. I really hope he declines.

Just one thing though… we’re lucky our parents don’t have guns.