Tag 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.

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.

 

 

Many Lebanese Will Be Stripped From Canadian Nationality

Have you ever heard the story of those smart ass Lebanese who “immigrate” to Canada and then return to Lebanon without having their passports stamped on their way out to make it seem as if they’re still there?

Well, those Lebanese are taking their smart asses all the way to courts as the Canadian federal government is stripping many of them of the Canadian nationality which they obtained fraudulently.

Do they deserve it? Hell yes. Not only is what they did giving a bad reputation to all the Lebanese who work hard to get the Canadian citizenship but it’s also illegal and it’s high time someone taught those Lebanese who think they can take their illegal ways abroad a thing or two about rules.

No, I’m not a bitter person who’s upset that my passport is next to rubbish but I’m a Lebanese who believes that if I were to get somewhere, I’d want to earn it and not cheat my way to it.

Many of those involved in the scam are from the Middle East, particularly Lebanon. While they do not wish to actually move to Canada, they want an escape hatch in the event their home countries become unstable, according to internal documents.

“Anecdotal evidence suggests that a percentage of applicants from the Middle East obtain permanent resident status, then Canadian citizenship, with the goal of acquiring a second passport as insurance in case of instability in their country of first residence,” reads a federal study.

Such an honorable thing. (Source).

 

Observations of a First Timer at Casino Du Liban

Casino plans somehow came up yesterday afternoon and we actually acted them out – for the first time ever. So we drove to Lebanon’s only casino in order to waste away some hard-earned money (or not).

Aside from the parking being beyond expensive – whether you’ll be there for an hour or ten, the fee is 10,000LL, we entered the casino and apparently you need to have a membership card in order to get access.

Getting a membership card isn’t problematic but you have to be above 21 to get it. They take your address and phone number and an ID. They then fill out a form which you have to take to another counter in order to print your membership card.

Then, if you’re Lebanese, you have to pay 10,000LL to get access to the casino. If you’re a foreigner, you get free access. Yes, you read that right. So if the one million reasons to get a foreign passport were not enough for you, add this up to yet another reason why our passport is of meaningless value – you even have to pay to access the only casino of your country.

Once you’re inside, you go to the cashier where you buy chips. And then you hit the machines. The first thing I noticed about the game rooms is that they are very dated. Casino du Liban might look fancy from the outside but inside might as well have been out of the 1950s.

The crowd that frequents the casino is also cringe inducing. Apart from the dress code being a myth by the looks of it, I don’t mean the way people looked as much as their mentalities. When I saw a man win $7,000 at a roulette table, I felt happy for him. Only then he decided to gamble his entire winnings and lost everything. How stupid can one get? If I had won $7,000 I’d make such a big fuss that security would throw me outside – the fall would be cushioned by the money and I wouldn’t care.

It is then that I decided I could never do that. I could never risk that much money, even if I had made it. And for what? to feel an adrenaline rush? I’d rather go bungee jumping instead. I guess I’m not a gambler at heart – or I’d rather not gamble my money away at a game of odds (roulette).

Contrary to popular belief as well, poker is not the most popular game at the casino – or it could be that I thought it would be seeing as it’s the only game that I play. In fact, the area reserved for blackjack and roulette trumps the space for poker tables significantly.

While observing the games, like I did, or playing your money away like some other people did, you get waiters circling the tables offering you drinks. Apparently those drinks are free and for you can ask whatever you want – after all, you are indirectly paying for them.

The casino was also smoke free. I had been once at the slots machines I was 19 (yes, we pulled a few strings to get me in) and smoking clouds were present all over the place. The carpets smelled of it, the machines smelled of it and once you got out of there, you smelled of smoke as well. This time around, I saw a few men with cigarettes that weren’t lit. A way to pokerface, perhaps? But “No Smoking” signs were plastered all over the place and you could smell the difference.

What I also found interesting was the fact that I saw so many veiled women there. Somehow I thought gambling was against Islamic rules. I guess not.

Would I go the casino again? I would assume so if I could find friends to go with. If not, I guess I could live without it. But I definitely need to fine tune my poker skills because they’re getting a little rusty.