

Syria doesn’t want to be “just friends”

Breakups have always been a messy affair; just look at Lee and Sarah.
Lee has been going out with Sarah for 15 years, but he had a secret: He never Liked Sarah, he hated her bossiness and endless demands. This is why he was never satisfied with the relationship and has been bottling resentment since they started going out together.
Sarah, on the other hand has been quite satisfied. She became increasingly dependent on Lee not because she loved him (although she did kind of get used to him), but because having Lee made her feel important. Lee always told her how beautiful she was and put her on a pedestal. Sarah became so comfortable she started taking Lee for granted, and Lee kept on appeasing her because he didn’t like trouble…
One day however, Lee decided that he had enough.
Very nicely, Lee told Sarah that he likes her, but only as a friend. In fact, Lee tells everyone that he likes Sarah, but just as a friend. Sarah didn’t take it very well. At first, she thought that Lee was playing games, until she noticed that he was flirting with other girls, Amy and Frieda. Sarah now realized that she was indeed dumped, and that she was in denial. How unfaithful of Lee! She thought. How could he do this to me?? She wondered. She begins breaking Lee’s CDs. She takes away his car keys, she attempts to burn his house.
And now, she’s telling everyone that in fact, it was SHE that dumped Lee.
Relationship advisors always advise to make a breakup very clear and to snuff away any expectation for resuming the love affair. “Just friends” doesn’t work, they always say. It will make the other person think there’s still hope.
The best medicine? Well, the experts advise that there should be a period of complete disengagement directly after a breakup, and with time, after the emotions cool down, a friendship could be built from scratch.
This is my suggestion for a symbolic breakup. At the beginning, it was a crazy idea, but now it seems it needs to be done.
Hello, my name is Mustapha and I blog in The Beirut Spring about Lebanese society and politics. I started in February 2005 after the killing of P.M. Rafik Hariri.

Ahhh, reminiscenses of your Prince Hariri post.
I just saw Rice’s convoy pass by.
I’m posting on the matter right now.
Very hilarious and good analogy dude. I just have on thing to add, that maybe Lee is a bit conceited and feels entitled to affection and admiration from Sarah, Amy, Frieda or anyone in the world for that matter (including his imperialist subjects you allude to in the next post, one of whom is a roommate here in the US and has seen an ugly side of Lee). One would wonder if Lee has a few identity and self-worth issues of his own. I’m not pulling an As’ad Abou Khalil Lebanese self-hate thing here, just reflecting out load and putting it out there.
As’ad Abou Khalil, I’d like to see you photoshop that mo-fo.
As’ad Abou Khalil does not require potoshoping, God ( if you believe in her) did it!
well mustafa, all i can say is that you’re incredibly hilarious!
you’ve got me laughing my lungs out over that post!!
great one dude.
nah firas, i think lee just knows he’s hot.
sarah was bringing him down… can’t let the stock plummet now, can you? ;)
sorry unrelated, mustapha– omg i just saw your firefox banner! you have a mac AND use firefox?? we’re like, twins!! :)
Ahem, ana kaman!! imac, G5, Tiger!!!
Mac OSX