Global Voices » Layal Al Khatib

Lebanon: Jeita Grotto… To Vote or Not to Vote

Layal Al Khatib — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 19:08:46 +0000

A few hours are left to vote for the New7Wonders of Nature today (11.11.2011). And since the famous Lebanese Jeita Grotto is a finalist, online and offline campaigns (check this clip and two ads) are flooding the country encouraging people to vote for the Grotto.

However, some Lebanese are calling upon people “not” to vote and an online debate emerged now on whether it's a national duty to vote for the Grotto or not. Below are some of the reactions of Lebanese netizens.

Many netizens voted and urged people to vote continuously through Twitter:

@BeirutTalks: Today is one of the last chances to vote for our one and only solution against lebanese stereotypes. Make it real! Jeita to 1070(0.1$/vote)

@MJGharios: Voted 160times for Jeita now !!!

@KarimAbiSaleh: you gotto love the “vote for Jeita” movement. I just hope that Lebanese can feel patriotic for important issues as well… #Lebanon #Posers

Jeita Grotto, Lebanon. Image by Flickr user Hibr (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0).

Even Prime Minister Najib Mikati and former Prime Minister Saad Hariri voted and asked people to vote through their Twitter accounts:

@Najib_Mikati: Hopefully, #Jeita #Grotto will become 1 of the #New7Wonders of nature. Keep voting: results are expected tomorrow 11.11.2011 (#Lebanon)

@HaririSaad: Everyone please vote for jeita, I did already but I want everyone to do their best good night everyone

Many others were skeptical and some even urged people “not to vote”:

@Plus961:You just need to google “new 7 wonders scam” to see the wonders

@saraHsh:I really am so sick of this whole Jeita mania! ياريت بتعرفوا تصوّتوا لممثلين الكن بمجلس النواب احسن من هالبهايم يلي مبسوطين فيهن!

I really am so sick of this whole Jeita mania! I wish you people know how to vote to better parliament members than the morons you're currently happy with

@arzleb:lets say Jeita won… what next? Lebanon's debt is paid? we get our salaries doubled? our future is secured? watermalons grows on trees?

@LebaneseVoices:I'm sick of every radio host, tv host, figure, cat, and sticker that tells me to vote for #Jieta! #Lebanon #Fail

Bloggers against voting shared many reasons. Gino said that the competition is a scam and that Lebanon should get itself out of it immediately and listed his reasons:

Why Is It a Scam?
Multiple Votes
[…]
Voting Since 2009
[…]
UNESCO does NOT Support It
[…]
The Maldives Have Withdrawn Their Entry Because N7w Wanted HUGE Sums of Money

Racha declared that she won't vote in her post and said that all of this effort made by the people and the government should be wasted on more useful things:

Jeita Grotto’s revenue won’t save our crumbling economy, however some hard work and less wasting money on useless sms-ing would! Of course, some government care, laws and actually work would be savior as well, but who are we kidding!
The Lebanese obsession with world records has got to come to an end!

Mustapha actually thinks that this whole energy and attention to the competition serves the dormant government:

Actually, that’s precisely why everyone is in such a lather over Jeita. Politicians love Jeita because it creates an illusion that they’re working on something. The Lebanese people love Jeita because it creates an illusion that their vote matters, and the media loves Jeita for the same reason they love reality TV shows where the viewers vote: Everyone wants to tune in to see if they won.

Khodor also said he won't vote and asked his readers not to vote as well. He stated his reasons in his post [ar]:

لن أصوّت لجعيتا، لأن رسم الدخول اليها يقارب العشرين ألف ليرة،يضاف اليها كلفة الوصول اليها التي تقارب تنكة بنزين واحدة تفوق الثلاثين ألف ليرة، ما يجعل كلفة الزيارة تقارب الخمسة بالمئة من دخل اللبناني العاديّ جداً، ولن أصوّت لجعيتا، لأن حكومات الطائف الحريرية الممضية بخط يد المعارضة أيضاً، سلمتها لشركة خاصة بقوانين مبتكرة تخالف نص القوانين اللبنانية، يستنفع منها أزلام النظام. [….]

صّوتوا يا أصدقائي لكهرباء لبنان المقطوعة الغالية على قلبكم، عجيبة، ولاتصالات لبنان الغالية على جيبكم، عجيبة، صوّتوا لمعارضة تقبّل الموالاة في صفقات الفساد، عجيبة، ولرؤساء ثلاث، يخرجون في فوضى المنطقة والمنعطفات التاريخية التي نمر فيها، والحالات المأساوية المعيشية، والغلاء العارم، والفوضى الأمنية، يخرج رؤسائنا الثلاثة مع موظفيهم ليعلنوا موقفاً تاريخياً واحداً: صوّتوا لجعيتا.

I won't vote for Jeita because its entrance fee is about 20,000LL, adding to it the fuel cost which exceeds 30,000LL for one gallon, making the visit fee cost almost 5 per cent of the average Lebanese citizen's income. And I won't vote for Jeita because the government and the opposition as well handed the resort to a private company with made up laws against the Lebanese ones so the regime people are the only ones with benefits.

Vote my friends to the dear non-existent electricity in Lebanon for this is a wonder. Vote for your dear and expensive telecom system, this is a wonder. Vote for your opposition which becomes friends with the government when it comes to corruption, this is a wonder. Vote for your presidents who come out ignoring the chaos, horrible living conditions, security problems just to tell you “Vote for Jeita”.

Seif, on the other hand, said the competition will eventually bring the country tourists and revenue. He visualized it in his post “Dear Lebanon, Grow Up“:

So I have something to say. Who cares if it’s $20 to enter Jeita? Most of you have been to Jeita, just like me, twice in your life – 4 times MAXIMUM, so complaining about this is just RIDICULOUS. It’s owned by a private company someone tweeted. Big deal. I think there is something that people are forgetting, whoever owns it or not – it is still Lebanese. Bringing recognition to Jeita, brings recognition to Lebanon, which in turn would bring tourists and revenue to the country. I will show you how.

Elie as well voted and stated to his readers “13 Reasons to Vote for Jeita” in his blog. He also disagreed that the competition is a scam and gave his proof in this post in response to Gino's post.

People are criticizing the whole “Vote for Jeita” campaign, with about 3 weeks left on the vote. They can’t even accept that the competition is NOT scam.
“Jeita doesn’t deserve to be a wonder,” is one of the things I’ve heard. “Why charge for the SMS to vote?” is another. “If the government wants Jeita to win, why don’t they vote?”

All of us need to want Jeita to win. Not the government. Not anyone else. We, as a people, should be proud that our country has something that has gained enough international recognition from international panels that judged Jeita as being worthy of being one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature.

Everyone today, -against or with the competition- is waiting for the results. Will the Jeita Grotto win a place among the new seven wonders of nature? And if it does win, will the country's economy get better? You can follow the hashtag #Jeita for live updates on Twitter.

Lebanon: Gender Discrimination while Buying a Car

Layal Al Khatib — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 17:23:52 +0000

Lebanese blogger Rita Chemaly was shocked to be discriminated against by another saleswoman while buying a car with her boyfriend. She shared her story in this post.

Lebanon: The Ridiculous Increase in Wages

Layal Al Khatib — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 17:23:24 +0000

Lebanese blogger Rami thinks the increase which the cabinet agreed to issue to the wages in Lebanon is ridiculous and unfair. He explains why in his latest post.

Lebanon: New Blog about Football

Layal Al Khatib — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 17:22:46 +0000

Disappointed to discover that there were very few, if any, English-language websites or blogs dedicated to soccer in the land of the cedar tree, Fitzroy Morrissey hopes to rectify this situation through this new blog, Football In Lebanon.

Lebanon: Public Transportation Do's and Don'ts

Layal Al Khatib — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 10:13:14 +0000

Lebanese blogger Racha at Lebanese Voices posts a list of Do's and Don'ts for tourists for taking taxis in Lebanon.

Lebanon: New Internet Prices

Layal Al Khatib — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 10:12:47 +0000

A new decree has finally passed by the Lebanese cabinet to create new internet packages and lower prices. Here's how Ontornet saw it in their latest post.

Lebanon: Thousands of Old Photos of Lebanon

Layal Al Khatib — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 08:39:43 +0000

Lebanese blogger Rami at +961 posts about his new finding: Thousands of old photos of Lebanon and the Middle East.

Lebanon: Racism in Banks

Layal Al Khatib — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 08:39:30 +0000

The Terrorist Donkey posted a new story[Ar] about racism in Lebanon. This time it happened in a very well known bank where they refused to open an account for a man from Nepal.

Lebanon: New Migrant Center Opening in Beirut

Layal Al Khatib — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 08:38:54 +0000

Lebanese blogger and Nasawiya activist Nadine shares some exciting news for the migrant communities in Lebanon: their Migrant Center is in the final stages of opening and it needs your help. Read all about the details in her post.

Lebanon: Perceptions on Lebanon’s recent protests

Layal Al Khatib — Fri, 06 May 2011 09:58:18 +0000

Lebanese media outlet Hibr posted the results of a survey taken by 185 people online about the different perspectives that people in Lebanon have about the recent protests which took place in the country.

Lebanon: Road Trip to Jezzine

Layal Al Khatib — Fri, 06 May 2011 09:56:38 +0000

Lebanon-based Dutch blogger Sietske shares her experience (with photos) of her trip with her family to the southern town Jezzine, Lebanon, in this post.

Lebanon: Claim your Parking Spot

Layal Al Khatib — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 08:48:51 +0000

Dutch Blogger Sietske asked the Lebanese people in her latest post to claim what's rightfully theirs: “their parking spots.”

Lebanon: Ontornet instead of Internet

Layal Al Khatib — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 08:48:26 +0000

Frustrated with the very slow internet connection in Lebanon, a group of Lebanese bloggers started a campaign calling it “Ontornet” (”Ontor” in the Lebanese dialect means “wait”) to do something about it. They explained it all in this blog post.

Lebanon: Women's Anger At New Tourism Campaign

Layal Al Khatib — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 12:04:56 +0000

The Lebanese Ministry of Tourism has just launched a new campaign called “Lebanon Blues” that targets potential tourists from around the world. The idea behind the campaign is to show what tourists who have just come back from a holiday in Lebanon will be feeling.

In the American version of the television advert, a man is depicted as having completely lost focus at work because he is still thinking about gorgeous, scantily clad Lebanese women:

Screenshot from "Lebanon Blues" television advert. By Lebanese Ministry of Tourism.

The television advert has caused a lot of annoyance and anger online, and a women's group has written a letter of response to the Ministry of Tourism, which some bloggers have put online:

جانب وزارة السياحة،
نحن مجموعة مواطنات لبنانيات منذ أكثر من عشر سنوات، ونشهد منذ مدة على عملية اهانة ممنهجة لنا كنساء في الأغنيات والاعلانات وشاشات التلفزيون والمقالات المختلفة في مختلف وسائل الاعلام وعلى اللوحات الاعلانية في الطرقات. مكانتنا محسومة: ستات بيوت، مع احترامنا لكل ستات البيوت، شكلنا محدد سلفا ومفروض: شقراوات، نحيلات، ذوات صدور عارمة وشفاه منفوخة، وأجسادنا منتهكة اعلانيا بغرض الاستهلاك وزيادة الأرباح. وقد كنا ولا زلنا نحارب ونكافح لمنع مثل هذه الاعلانات والرسائل المهينة.
في بلد كلبنان، نتوقع كل شيء وأي شيء في أي وقت، نتوقع اعلانا من جانب وزارة السياحة يدعو الى “الضحك رطلا تا يجوا السواح ضحكتهن رطل ويفلوا ضحكتهن رطلين”، مع أن لا شيء يسر في هذا البلد ويبعث على الضحك، واعلانا آخر يدعو الى عدم استخدام الزمور. لكن ما لا نتوقعه ولا نقبله، هو الاعلان الأخير الذي اطلقته وزارة السياحة لتستثمر فيه أجساد اللبنانيات ل”شد” السياح والزوار والمغتربين. فهل يعقل أن تلعب وزارة السياحة على وتر “لبنان كاباريه الشرق الأوسط” كي تجتذب السياح؟ ألا يمكن ان تنشط السياحة من دون الاتجار باجساد النساء؟ كيف نرضى وترضون، يا وزارتنا الكريمة، أن تصبح أجسادنا هي الهدف والمقصد لشهوة أصحاب المال الآتين؟ كيف نفهم ونتفهم أن يصبح “الحنين الى الوطن” مرتبط بأجسادنا العارية الممشوقة؟ كيف تروج وزارة السياحة لرسالة ترسخ في أذهان الجميع في الداخل والخارج، أن لبنان هو بلد يعرض نساءه للبيع كرمى لعيون السياح؟

Dear Ministry of Tourism,

We are a group of female Lebanese citizens, a group that has existed for more than ten years, and for some time we've been experiencing continuous insults and humiliation to us as women from video clips, advertisements, our television screens, all kinds of articles in all kinds of media and on billboards as well. Our occupation has been predetermined: housewives (with all due respect to housewives). Our shape has been predefined and imposed on us: blonde, skinny, with big breasts and pouting lips. Our bodies are violated in the media to increase profits. We have been and still are fighting these kinds of humiliating ads and messages.

In a country like Lebanon, we expect anything and everything at anytime. We expect an advert from the Ministry of Tourism that tells us to “Smile to tourists so they can leave smiling more”, although there's nothing to smile about in this country. And we expect another advert that asks us not to use the car horn. But what we don't expect or accept is the latest advert published by the Ministry of Tourism which uses Lebanese women's bodies to “pull” tourists and the [Lebanese] diaspora to the country. Is it acceptable for the Ministry of Tourism to promote Lebanon as the “cabaret of the Middle East” to tourists? Can't it revive tourism without selling women's bodies? Dear Ministry, how can either we or you accept our bodies becoming the goal and target of the lust of the arriving spenders? How are we supposed to understand that “Lebanon Blues” is connected to our naked bodies? How can the Ministry of Tourism promote a message to the whole world that Lebanon is a country which sells its women for the sake of the tourists?

ثم أن اعلانكم هذا ينضوي على تناقضات خطيرة، نود لو تجيبون عنها:
أولا، نحن كنساء لا يمكننا منح الجنسية اللبنانية لأولادنا وأزواجنا، نعتبر بنات لرجال لبنانيين ولسنا لبنانيات، وبالتالي لا يمكنكم استغلالنا في دعايتكم السياحية.
ثانيا، انطلاقا من احترامنا لعاملات الجنس، ومطالبتنا الدائمة بقوانين تنظم عملهن وتحميهن وتحمي سلامتهن وحقوقهن وكراماتهن وسلامتهن الصحية، نطالبكم كوزارة للسياحة، اما بوقف هذا الانفصام الذي يروج للبنان كبلد للسياحة الجنسية فيما عاملات الجنس فيه يعانين أسوأ الأوضاع وأبشع انواع الاستغلال والاهانة والاستبداد والظلم، أو اطلاق حملة لتنظيم عمل هؤلاء النسوة وتشريع عملهن بمراقبة واشراف السلطات المختصة بعيدا عن الفساد.

Your ad contains serious contradictions that we would like you answer:

Firstly, we as women cannot pass our nationality to our children and husbands; we are considered daughters of Lebanese men and not Lebanese women. Therefore you cannot use us in your tourism advert.

Secondly, based on our respect for sex workers and our ongoing demands for laws to regulate their work and protect their safety, rights and health, we ask you as the Ministry of Tourism either to: stop this two-sided stance whereby you promote Lebanon as a country for sex tourism while sex workers in it suffer and are exploited horribly and subjected to humiliation and injustice; or launch a campaign to organize the work of these women and legalize it with proper supervision by specialized and non-corrupt authorities.

ثالثا، انطلاقا من ايماننا بحرية الملبس والحريات الجسدية، بعيدا عن الاتجار بالجسد والاستغلال لأجسادنا كنساء، نود أن نسأل عن موقف وزارة الداخلية من اعلان كهذا تطلقه زميلتها وزارة السياحة، في وقت تجهد هي لتطبيق “قانون الاحتشام” ومراقبة أجساد النساء اللبنانيات وتغريمهن في حال “تجاوزن خطوط الاحتشام الحمراء”. كما نود ان نستفسر، واعذروا جهلنا، كيف تروجون للبنان على انه بلد “الحريات الجنسية” وان لم تكتبوها حرفيا في نهاية اعلانكم، في وقت لا زال جميع المواطنين والمواطنات تحت سيف المادة 534 وغيرها من المواد التي تراقب حياتهم الجنسية وتقرر ما هو “الجنس المقبول” وما هو “الجنس غير المقبول”، وتفتح الزنازين لل”مخالفين” و”المخالفات” من صاحبات الاجساد الممشوقة الواردة في الاعلان، وغيرها.
رابعا، كيف تسمح وزارة السياحة لنفسها باستفزازنا كنساء والاتجار بنا، في وقت ما زلنا فيه نتعرض للعنف والتحرش والاغتصاب ولأجور غير عادلة وغير مساوية، في غياب أي قوانين تلغي التمييز الجندري ضدنا وتحمينا من عنف وتسلط المجتمع الذكوري؟ كيف تستفزوننا بهذه الصور الوهمية والكاذبة عنا لجني الأرباح على حساب آلامنا وحقيقتنا البائسة؟

Thirdly, based on our beliefs in physical freedoms, far from human trafficking and the exploitation of our bodies as women, we would like to ask about the position of the Ministry of Interior regarding such an advert published by its close associate, the Ministry of Tourism, at the very same time it is striving to impose the “decency law“, watching Lebanese women’s bodies and fining them in case they “cross the red line of decency”. We would like to also ask, and excuse our ignorance, how could you promote Lebanon as a land of “sexual freedom” (even if you didn't write or say as much explicitly at the end of your advert) at a time when every citizen is still subject to article 534 and others that monitor their sex lives and decides for them what is “acceptable sex” and what is “unacceptable”? And also opens up its jails to the “outlaws” amongst the owners of the bodies portrayed in their advert, and others?

Fourth, how dare the Ministry of Tourism provoke us this way and “sell us”, when we are still subject to violence, harassment, rape and unfair and unequal wages, with an absence of any laws prohibiting gender discrimination against us and protecting us from the violence of a male-dominated society? How could you provoke us with these delusional and lying images to simply make profit, disregarding our pain and miserable truth?

The letter concludes:

الحقيقة ليست أننا نساء “متحررات” نرتدي البيكيني ونسهر طوال الليل في المنتجعات. الحقيقة هي اننا محرومات وفقيرات ومظلومات ومقموعات، وأجسادنا التي تتغنون بتحررها، ما زالت تخضع لألف قيد وقيد اجتماعي وأسري وقانوني واقتصادي.
اننا كنساء متضررات ومهانات، نطالب وزارة السياحة بسحب هذا الاعلان فورا، والاعتذار عنه، لأن أجسادنا ليست تفاحا بلديا تعرضه وزارة السياحة على المشترين كي يزوروا “الوطن” ويختاروا منه ما لذ لهم وطاب.
كما نؤكد اننا سنكون بالمرصاد لأي اعلان آخر سيء لنا ولحريتنا وكياننا الشخصي المستقل، وسنحرص على ملاحقة المسؤولين عن هذه الاعلانات قضائيا من الأن فصاعدا.

The truth is that we are not “free” women wearing bikinis and partying all night. The truth is that we are deprived, poor and oppressed. Our bodies which you say are free, are still subject to many social, domestic, legal and economic restraints.

We, as injured and humiliated women, ask the Ministry of Tourism to recall this advert immediately and to apologize for this insult. Because out bodies aren't delicious fruit to offer to consumers so they will visit the “homeland” to pick out what they desire.

We also assure you we'll be watching out for any other adverts offensive to us and our independent and free selves. And from now on, we'll be after whoever is responsible for this type of advertising and will be prosecuting them as well.

Below are some of the reactions on Twitter to the advertisement:

@SamerKoussa: Is this what you think #Lebanon is all about? #Tfeh

@migheille: oh wow lebanese ministry of tourism has officially put leb women on sale http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Siovanti2u0 #mustCheck #WTF

@abzzyy: Shame on Lebanese Ministry of Tourism http://goo.gl/fb/tJHIa #Fail #ImpactBBDO

@UxSoup: Lebanon is not exactly mecca or the vatican. They are advertising what is really happening.Sex sells. Live with it.

@migheille: @UxSoup no country is mecca or vatican - all ladies in all countries are hot - show me another ministry that did same ad?

@Fishful_Thinkin: Creativity has taken a back seat to capitalism. http://abzyy.com/?p=669 #Fail. Shame #Lebanon.

Lebanon has now spent a second month without a government; will Lebanese women feel more respected by the upcoming one?

Lebanon: Protests Against Sectarian Regime

Layal Al Khatib — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 22:02:35 +0000

“The people want to bring down the regime” is a statement that has been echoing across Arab countries for more than than months. It has reached Lebanon last Sunday with a small amendment: “The people want to bring down the sectarian regime.” More than 2,500 Lebanese citizens marched on February 27, 2011, in the capital Beirut against the sectarian system governing Lebanon and they're planning to march again after tomorrow (March 6).

Smoker holds sign, translation: "Sectarianism is bad for your health. We suggest avoiding it." Beirut, Lebanon. Image by Dana Ballout, copyright Demotix (27/02/11).

The demands of this movement as posted on its Facebook Event are:

نحن مواطنون ومواطنات نتحرك اليوم

ضد النظام الطائفي ورموزه، أمراء الحرب والطوائف

ضد نظام المحاصصة والتوريث السياسي

ضد الإستغلال الإجتماعي – الإقتصادي، والبطالة، والهجرة

ضد الفقر والتهميش

ضد الإنماء غير المتوازن والحرمان المناطقي

ضد العنصريّة والتمييز

لذلك نريد:

دولة علمانيّة مدنيّة ديمقراطيّة، دولة العدالة الإجتماعيّة والمساواة

الحق في العيش الكريم لكل المواطنين من خلال:

رفع الحد الأدنى للأجور

تخفيض أسعار المواد الأساسيّة

تخفيض أسعار المحروقات

تعزيز التعليم الرسمي

تكافؤ فرص العمل العامة والخاصة

إلغاء المحسوبيّة، الوساطة، والرشاوى

الحق بالمسكن اللائق

تعزيز الضمان الإجتماعي وإقرار ضمان الشيخوخة

هذه هي بعض من ظواهر الفساد في النظام الطائفي القائم، لهذا كله ولأسباب أخرى، يجب ونريد!
إسقاط النظام الطائفي

لذا، ندعو جميع المواطنين والمواطنات، وكل أفراد المجتمع الللبناني إلى التحرك.

We as Lebanese citizens are:

Against the sectarian regime and its warlords and leaders
Against the regime of quotas and political succession
Against social and economical exploitation, unemployment and migration
Against poverty
Against the imbalanced regional development
Against racism and discrimination

Therefore, we want:

A democratic, secular and civil country. A country of social justice and equality
The right of a decent to every citizen through:
- Raising the minimum wage
- The reduction of the basic commodities prices
- The reduction of fuel prices
- Enhancing public educational system
- Providing equal access to public and private employment
- Abolition of patronage, brokerage, and bribes
- The right of proper housing
- Enhancing the Social Security and Old Age Security systems

These forms of corruption are only some of the consequences of the current sectarian regime. And because of that, we want and must bring down the sectarian regime.

Therefore, we call every citizen of the Lebanese community to move.

The protesters were of all ages, genders and religious beliefs and refused to be related to any political party in the country. Here are some of the supporting tweets:

@justimage: Sunni, Shia, Christian, Secular and other, the rain comes down on all the same in #Lebanon. #unitelb

@mdghamloush: انا مني ضد الدين انا ضد الطائفية #feb27 #unitelb

@mdghamloush: #unitelb I'm not against religion, I'm against sectarianism #feb27

@habibh: All those who are sick of sectarianism, nepotism, corruption, political apathy, please wake up, stand up and demand change NOW! #UniteLB

On the other hand, Fadi didn't like the idea of the protest despite his support of a secular state. He said in his post entitled “Lebanon is Drunk on Revolution Wine“:

I believe no good will come of it.
I've never been a fan of the system in Lebanon. In fact, a secular system is very much what I would hope for, but the best I can say about this uprising is that it is Naive.

[…]

Tell me, if the system was changed tomorrow:

- Will the issue of the special tribunal for Lebanon and all the disagreement around it go away ?
- Will the issue of Hizbullah and the conflict with Israel go away ?
- Will the sectarian lines that divide us as a people and make us vote for corrupt politicians within our sect instead of the capable deserving ones go away ?

Mustapha of the Beirut Spring asked “What Next For The Anti-Sectarian Movement?” and said:

As long as they’re using the revolution model and talking of things like “breaking the barrier of fear”, they won’t get anywhere. Because behind that thinking is the false assumption that the majority of the Lebanese are eager to “take down the sectarian order” for whatever that means.

He added:

If I were sitting with them, I would have advised them to focus all their energy on individual issues like civil marriage and the rights of Lebanese mothers to pass their nationality. These issues have a wider base of support among the Lebanese and can be pointed at as concrete achievements to give momentum to future action.

Word is spreading about a weekly protest until their demands are met. Moreover, independent Lebanese youth have already started two open-ended sit ins in Sanaye'-Beirut and the southern city Saida for the same cause this week.

Between the next anti-sectarian regime protest after tomorrow and a March 14 protest on the following Sunday calling for an end of Hezbollah's armament, what do the Lebanese people really want?

Stay tuned to the hashtag #UniteLB on Twitter for more insights and reactions, for it has now become a portal to different Lebanese voices and opinions on how we can have a United Lebanon.