Great article, and oh so very true. And guess what HA’ response was? Yes the group has “affinity to Israel”. Here we go, the same old card. It’s like they think they can throw that down as their permanent get out jail free card, at least PSP was trying to counter the facts of the argument, as well as Tachnag. Hizbullah’s approach: you have no right to question us, if you do you are linked to Isarel, thus traitors, and if you are traitors, well the punishment for treason is death… So much for a democratic force eh

We can talk all we want about independence, freedom and sovereignty. The sad fact of the matter,as corroborated by facts on the ground, is that Lebanon has yet to rise above tribalism.

(I wonder how large is the proportion of the population in “Sovereign Lebanon”, is it above 60%?

i think some parts of it are really racist. especially the armenistan part.

To be honest, it is understandable that armenistan exists, when you think that 3rd generation lebanese of armenian descent, are called armenians and are not considered lebanese.

well all that is wrong!!!! sovereign lebanon is not what u show at all!!! when saad el ahriri gives money in all the places where it is marked sovereign lebanon so just he will be elected.. we dont call this sovereign anymore!! and whats funny is that u didnt even put the lebanese forces in the map!!!!!! they are all met3assbin!!!! plus tell me… he gives millions of promesses saad and didnt do anything of what he said!!!! kella maskhara bmaskhara!!!!
moustapha

I do not agree with the Armanistan part.I think the Armenians are one of the most law abiding fractions in Lebanon,compared at least to the others. As for them still being called Armenians,well it has more to do with terminology.You can call them Lebanese Arminians or simply Lebanese. This issue of terminology needs to be directed by state directives.Its a problem of immigrants everywhere. In the UK, British of Indian origins are called British Born Indians(BBI’s). It gives a sense of racism but the state here is trying to combat this.Same goes with the USA so it is natural to have Arminians/Lebanese Born Arminians/Lebanese…

As for the different Stans within the country,i agree 100% with Hayya Bina.Its really depressing when you think of it. The situation in the 50’s and 60’s was better in Mt. Lebanon as there was the Lebanese rule there and not Jounblat’s, with all the respect i have for him. Its getting worse and not better. The reason is simply sectarianism. As long as we have sectarianism we will never have a truely one unified Lebanon. Untill then we will remain devided in to religous factions.

It would be prudent to remember Gibran Khalil Gibran’s words:

“Pity the nation that is full of beliefs and empty of religion.

Pity the nation that wears a cloth it does not weave, eats a bread it does not harvest, and drinks a wine that flows not from its wine-press.

Pity the nation that acclaims the bully as hero, and that deems the glittering conqueror bountiful.

Pity the nation that despises a passion in its dream, yet submits in its awakening.

Pity the nation that raises not its voice save when it walks in a funeral, boasts not except among its ruins, and will rebel not save when its neck is laid between the sword and the block.

Pity the nation whose statesman is a fox, whose philosopher is a juggler, and whose art is the art of patching and mimicking.

Pity the nation that welcomes its new ruler with trumpetings, and farewells him with hootings, only to welcome another with trumpetings again.

Pity the nation whose sages are dumb with years and whose strong men are yet in the cradle.

Pity the nation devided into fragments, each fragment deeming itself a nation.”

This criticism was written more than 70 years ago. It still applies to the present day…

In 70 years the West (for simplicity) invented airplanes,radio,TV,internet,cellulars,flew to the moon,explored Mars,genetic map,etc… and what have we accomplished.Well we are still debating which political formula or system would suit Lebanon (the factions to be more accurate). I don’t think it can be even called a debate! Apart from the blogosphere i can see no debate taking place but accusations and barking intead…
Well people if it is not secatarianism what is it then??? Plz can someone tell me…

Bravo Abed.As for the Armenians, tashnag are not saints.They really forced people during the elections,kept their voting cards.. Still in lebanon if you have to change Jumblat you will have to take Wiam wahhab.Jumblat then..You see what i mean.It’s because nobody has the guts to give a chance for real change.Did you hear about Pierre Hechache? everyone thought he was funny,a clown and maybe crazy.I was not convinced by him but at least someone stood up. I think we lack of substitutes.

I read that EDL employees were attacked in Jounieh!

Maybe that you’ll have to update this map soon :)

“u didnt even put the lebanese forces in the map!!!!!! they are all met3assbin!!!! “

The met3assbin part is applicable to everybody pal, but you should be aware that the LF don’t have any weapons and don’t control the Christian regions (hello there! ever heard that Michel Aoun won the last elections?)

Somebody help me out here. Is this a joke or are you seriously discussing splitting up Lebanon into cantons?

Pity this Nation indeed, Abdulkarim. Pity the mentality of some of its citizens. Pity the fools who have gotten us here (all our forefathers included). But I am going to continue believing there is light at the end of the tunnel. Maybe it will take another 70 years for a 22 year old to realize that calling an entire people racist is not the prudent thing to do. But we’ll get there eventually ~

mustafa i’m sorry but i don’t understand what is the thing that has been “exclusive domain of intellectuals”…
we all -sadly- know that this map is already stamped in the head of every lebanese.

on another note, and in reaction to the hayyabina initiative and to Lukman Slim’s statement quoted in the Daily Star article, i would like to declare that i consider EVERY SINGLE statement that emanates from Lukman to be dangerous.

The Daily Star article states: ‘The Lebanese are vulnerable to threats by internal factions, possibly more so than by outside aggressors,” said Hayyabina’s Lukman Selim.’
Why doesn’t Lukman tell that to himself?!?

You asked to hear our opinion; well mine is: Eversince i heard that Lukman is related to Hayyabina, i lost ALL interest in that latter. (this does not mean -in any way- that I am against a secular state).

Jimmy

Yeah…sure Mr. Mousse
Y como no?

Thanks Allah and Zeus, we the freewheelin Lebanonese avant-guard can rely on our famously objective and disinterested newspapers of reference (the envy of evil/backward/Baathist Ayyyrab Bedouins and other illiterate “enemies of freedom”) such as Al-Daily Star and The Naharistani Bugle…

In that pseudo-witty geo-strategic perspective of yours, may I suggest a few extra feudal statelets :
How about servile Saudi Mediastan or corrupt Citizen-Khân?

You might even want to send an e-mail to the Beiruti Emile Zolas of our time a.k.a. “Ahhrâr Al-Marhala-al-Râhina” as Lebanese media clowns like Tueyni like to say!

Lebanon will keep on this way for hundred years to come,and will stay a fertile ground to foreign affairs interference,unless we have a major cultural and social revolution,such as the political one that took place on 14 march.
Our main problems,are fanatism,intolerance,ignorance.Our leaders are keeping us under economical deficit,so we don’t look further for a change and for us to stay their slaves.
All our best young men are leaving this country to work abroad,our votes are done for the Master,not a program,or an idea.
Many lebanese laws must be demolished,there should be more money spent on education and culture.No more religious schools and universities should be oppened.The power in the hands of the religious leaders should be limmited in religion matters,and there should be a law that putts them in jail if they interfeer in the political matters.
Our leaders are all fake from Lahhoud to jumblatt passind by Saad HaRIRI AND hASSAN nassrallah,WE SHOULD LOOK FOR A REAL LEADER.