Comments on: Nassrallah: Choose Between Compromise And Aoun

By: Compromise Compromised | The Beirut Spring, a Lebanese Blog

Compromise Compromised | The Beirut Spring, a Lebanese Blog — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 13:33:11 +0000

[...] – I argued in November 7 that All of the opposition’s threats are just bluffs — On November 6 I asked: Who on earth choses the Lebanese President? — I also detected on October 6 a certain double-speak on Aoun from Mr. Nassrallah [...]

By: Michael

Michael — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 11:31:21 +0000

Snake you got no idea what you’re talking about. All that waffle means nothing. The fact remains: if there was a democracy in Lebanon Nasrallah would be president. Don’t give us all that crap about “Iranian” flavour. If the Shiites want to live like they live, then so be it. Good for them and good on them as well.

And Nasrallah not only would be president – but a president with resolve, promise, clear intentions and an honest policy not prone to bribes and corruption. That”s what you call a man – not someone like the current prime minister who cries when Israel attacks

By: Snake the Jake

Snake the Jake — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 14:22:13 +0000

Jake, you suck too

By: jake the snake

jake the snake — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 13:44:30 +0000

snake, you suck!

By: Snake the Jake

Snake the Jake — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 12:57:56 +0000

Amir, Lebanon is a nation of minorities. I don’t care which community has the numerical upper hand. the fact remains that EVERY single “political” party in Lebanon remains a party NOT with a clear political/social agenda, but rather a PURELY ethnic/communal one. The PPS is overwhelmingly Greek Orthodox, the PSP is exclusively Druze, the Najjadah, Murabitoun etc.. are purly Sunni, Amal and Hizballah are Shitite with an Iranian flavor, the Baath in its “Iraqi” predilections is Sunni, the one with the Syrian bias is Alawite, the Kataeb are exclusive Christian etc…….

So there you have it, Amir! When politics and political movements in Lebanon become concerened PRIMARILY with universal-national social issues, instead of being the sanctuary and armor of specific minority groups, THEN we can begin talking about about 1-wo/man 1-vote universal sufferage kind of exercise. When certain “political” (really ethno-religious) formations cease attempting to dissolve Lebanon and melt it into some whacko regional entity that answers to their racialist preferences (Arabic, Islamic etc…), THEN, and ONLY THEN, can HizbAyreh begin preaching about universal sufferage.

Until that happy day dawns, Lebanon remains a nation of minorities, and the sectarian system remains the ONLY protector of minority rights and the only mechanism for concensus-building among minorities (where, for instance, a fascistic formation like HizbAyreh would be precluded from taking the helms by the others….. AND RIGHTLY SO.)

This IS democracy, Amir.

By: Tony

Tony — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 12:42:16 +0000

We already have suffrage. We elect our representatives.

By: Danny

Danny — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 12:36:29 +0000

Here we go agian about “sectarian” and democratic politics. If anyone wants referendum then OK…Let anyone holding a Lebanese ID vote..EVERYWHERE around the world. Let’s see if the Hizbo’s foaming mouth extends around the world. Then we’ll see the Madman of Rabiyeh attack the Moughtareebeen Everywhere… Hassan is a joke. Accuse Israel and absolve Syria? No logic at all. . Also it clears Syria of all future murders…

By: Andrew The American

Andrew The American — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 12:07:43 +0000

With Racial, ethnic and religious “quotas” built into the political laws of Lebanon – it seems that strife is also built in.

To Insure fairness and representation – do away with these quotas – and build in the need for %’s – meaning that in order to get things done – people MUST work and share with other groups to attain majority

By: Amir in Tel Aviv

Amir in Tel Aviv — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 10:12:02 +0000

“…In our established sectarian system, the Christian President is selected by a parliament which by law should be half Muslim, half Christian”.

You got the point that so upsets Hassan. And frankly speaking, it’s a twisted unjust system. Hardly a democracy, so promoted by the west. No one knows for sure what are the real demographic stats. May be, it is the most guarded secret in Lebanon. But let’s assume it’s 40% Christians, and 60% Muslims (some will say that in reality it’s 30/70 or even 25/75).
It means that in the Lebanese democracy, a Christian vote is worth 120%, compare to a Muslim vote of 80%.
You hardly can brand this as a democracy, which is usually perceived as one person = one vote.
This is the real Lebanese time bomb.
.