Latest posts by Moussa Bashir from October, 2007
Lebanon: Arts and Artists
The Lebanese blogosphere is not solely composed of political blogs you know, and thank God for that. Some artists are using blogs to display their paintings, music and other artistic creations. Moussa Bashir tours the blogosphere, opening up a whole new world of culture and arts.
Lebanon: On Facebook
“The beauty of Facebook is that you can add friends to your list who don’t have the least interest in staying in touch with you either! So, it is now your chance to take revenge and impose yourself,” writes Ahmad about the social networking website Facebook.
Lebanon: Westernized Lebanese
“It's very common for the Western journalists to talk about “Westernized” Lebanese. It seems, however, that with this term they are identifying only one part of what is the West […] In reality they are only identifying those middle class characteristics found across the globe in this globalized world,” writes...
Lebanon: Politics and Soccer
“The Lebanese treat their politics like other countries treat soccer. ‘All the props are there. You have team flags with various colors, you have buses that shuttle the fans, you have the bitterness and ecstasy that follow defeat and victory, and you always blame the referee,'” writesBeirut Spring quoting a...
Lebanon: Wine
“The wine industry of Lebanon: $25 million a year, of which $10 million are from exports. 7 million bottles a year, of which 3 million are exported,” reports Dr. Rami Zurayk.
Lebanon: On the pre-election meetings
“So Christian “leaders” can do little at this stage. Pace any past pretence at grandeur, they forget that their past divisions have reduced them to bit players in a widening sectarian fight …” says Jeha about the meetings taking place between Christian leaders to prepare for the presidential elections.
Lebanon: On how to become a political leader
Cold Desert dissects some political prototypes. In this post, he explains how to become a political leader: “there is a single prerequisite; you need to be the son of a political leader. This political leader should have a very strong public base who would follow him blindly.”
Lebanon: Row over billboard ads
“Hands off the chair!!! … Or so it goes among many politicians, at least those concerned that this little ad…” wrote Jeha about an ad from OGERO, the state Telecom company, that was considered demeaning to the presidency.
Lebanon: Amnesty on Palestinian rights
“Amnesty International has published a damming report on the rights of Palestinian refugees (or lack of) in Lebanon,” writes Sursock, who posted parts of the report.
Lebanon: Religion, the State and flexible politicians
“It was not me who changed, it was the problem that changed!”, Lebanon Update quoting a Lebanese leader while showing how politicians easily change positions and how religion and the state are mixed.
Lebanon: On Judaism and Zionism
“…in Lebanon that there are Lebanese Jews who enjoy the full right as anyone else. The problem of Judaism is Zionism, it transformed them from a sect to a race. […] A lot of the Lebanese factions think that a Jew and a Zionist are the same. When Finkelstein, Chomsky,...
Lebanon: A Lebanese Jew
“I am a Lebanese Jew [and] I was forced to change my family name because my family origins are from Wadi Abu Jmil. I still live there under a false name, my family did not emigrate during the war, we hid in a sieged town in the Shouf district …”...
Lebanon: We are sinking
“It’s like the ship is sinking, and everyone is trying to get off. Is the ship really sinking? I don’t know. When do you realize – while on a sinking ship – that the thing is sinking? When people are abandoning ship? In that case; we're sinking!” writes Sietske in...
Lebanon: Headed on a Spiralling Path
It has been relatively clear that Lebanon is headed on a spiralling path – back to revisit its own tragic past. The new generation destined to repeat the tragedies of their fathers and forefathers albeit with a new twist or two… posts R on Voices on the Wind from Lebanon.
Lebanon: Dark Days Ahead of Presidential Elections
Only dark days are coming to this forsaken nation when the presidential elections arrive, unless we have a strange “divine” miracle to get both camps reconcile for the future of the people who will suffer from another potential civil war, notes MFL from Lebanon.
Lebanon: Blogger Fights Cancer
“I am not going to be polite and hold it in any longer. I am not going to let my anger kill me. And I am not going to die of cancer because Lebanon is in agony,” says Dove who also asks: “Is cancer a disease of anger?”
Lebanon: Fires across the country
Lebanese news services are reporting the ignition of numerous brush fires across the country, causing residents in some areas to flee. Blacksmiths of Lebanon posts updates and photos.
Lebanon: Israel spinning nuclear threat
Israel, Israel Army Radio, and Haaretz are spinning the threat of a nuclear war in the Middle East to legitimise Israel's hidden military nuclear program, writes Sophia.
Lebanon: Upcoming Presidential Elections
Recent blog posts about the upcoming presidential election in Lebanon reflect the feeling of apathy and mistrust towards politics and politicians currently spreading around the country. You have posts ranging from questioning the actions of the leaders to posts questioning whether they really are the leaders. Anyway, expect more on this subject during the coming weeks, since the elections are expected to be held before October 24. writes Moussa Bashir.
Lebanon: Senate vote to divide Iraq
“It is Sykes and Picot all over again. This time dividing the already divided,” stated UrShalim regarding the U.S. Senate's vote to divide Iraq.