The people in Lebanon seem to be thrilled by the prospect of a Sleiman Presidency.
Unplugging the news channel. Beirut graffiti…
I confess, my sample wasn’t in any way scientific. The people I asked about Mr. Suleiman were my Grandfather, two aunts, and many random people in my extended network. But the trend was clear. It doesn’t matter if the people I asked were partisan or apolitical, they all gave more or less the same answer: “That’s the best thing our political class came up with in months”.
Cedar Revolution intellectuals are indignant. The foreign press sees Mr. Suleiman as an American concession to Syria. But on the ground, people appear to be overjoyed by what they perceive as the end of a bitter political deadlock. Retailers see this as the key to a succesful Christmas season, the diaspora can finally hope to buy that ticket to Lebanon and moms can finally hope send their children to schools without having to buy each and every one of them a cell phone.
My neighbor Joumana spoke for many people when she said that she no longer watches the news. She and her husband are only watching the Cartoon Network, she told me.
“Any president is better than no president” the careful are saying. But many are also going out on a limb. “Mr. Suleiman is not any president, he’s the best man out there for the job” said a confident 80 year old. But that seems too ambitious. Anyway, only history can judge…
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The beirut spring is a blog that is interested in Lebanese society and its politics. It started in February 2005 after the assassination of Prime Minister Rafik Hariri
November 30th, 2007 at 7:19 am
mustapha,
I think people are just fed up of the situation, the anxiety,the perpetual worry and the tension. So yes, maybe not the ideal candidate, but not too bad, and definetly better than no candidate at all.
November 30th, 2007 at 9:07 am
Yabdou ennou mitl ma wadda3na ra7 nle’eh.
When you have something you know the client will hate, always show them something worse first then show the actual item, it’ll look amazing in comparison.
I guess we’ll buy.
November 30th, 2007 at 9:13 am
This is so déjà vu Mustapha. When Lahoud was elected, the same positive vibes were around. Everyone was so happy and proud. We saw posters of a cute baby with an army beret, with the words (our future), in bold all over it.
And look where that got us. We never learn. History repeats itself yet again. And we are sitting like imbecils applauding and celebrating Sleiman.
We deserve to rot in hell.
November 30th, 2007 at 10:31 am
I dont want to comment on Sleiman but rather thank u Mustapha for that graffiti.
November 30th, 2007 at 11:01 am
Certainly don’t blame them for turning off the news. From what your family and friends told you, do you think the broad support they have for Suleiman’s candidacy stems from the armys performance so far and it’s ability to remain neutral? I had noticed when I visited in sep-dec 2006 they seemed a lot more professional and disciplined than the ISF. How visible was the armys presence from the airport and drive up to tripoli? Do the people you’ve spoken to trust that the army will stay neutral and be able to keep a lid on any other disturbances that might occur given the fact that an agreement in the near future is seemingly unlikely? If all else it’s good to know that Lebanese still have faith in at least one institution. Thank you for the speedy posting and hope you can keep them coming. May the rest of your visit be somewhat uneventful, be safe, and thank you again for the post.
November 30th, 2007 at 12:35 pm
Like a scene from Groundhog Day, only much more pathetic.
I suppose this stupid country will keep repeating its past and present howlers until it
1- either gets it right,
or
2- runs itself into the ground
Sleiman = “Syria by other means”. It’s THAT simple.
My condolences!
November 30th, 2007 at 12:48 pm
Mus, e-mail re-sent.
November 30th, 2007 at 1:28 pm
The people are numb, they are worn down. Mickey Mouse would suit them at this point.
“Any president is better than no president”
They are also wrong. “Any” is not better than “none” a they should have all learned this by now.
November 30th, 2007 at 1:33 pm
Will Sleiman say something about what he stands for, what he will do, and why he should be elected?
It seems that suddenly everyone else is saying he’s a good candidate and he should be elected, except him.
So this means he’ll be a puppet trying to please everyone, while being innefective for the country.
Pleasing the politians is one thing, but pleasing the people is another.
November 30th, 2007 at 2:30 pm
The graffiti is quite telling.
The country is going to hell and the political class is failing miserably.
Response?
People respond by going home, turning OFF the news, and keeping their fate in the hands of idiots and traitors. That’s a sure recipe for MORE OF THE SAME CRAP.
SA7TEN!
November 30th, 2007 at 2:39 pm
Libanus,
If you read his statements you will see that his ‘platform’ is “Stability and security for the Lebanese people”.
This has been his line in almost all of his public statements.
November 30th, 2007 at 4:10 pm
Syria would never agree to a candidate that is not 100% favorable to their regime and policies. It did agree on Suleiman. What do you make of it?
Really, really sad. What crap did M14 led us to believe and be hopeful to. A free truly democratic Lebanon? Nothing but a dream. M14 gave us hope and took it away in a week.
November 30th, 2007 at 4:19 pm
Super Dude,
OK, security is good, but at the expense of what?
Security is a minimum. Let’s hope he can do more, like keep Syrians out, and Hezb in control for e.g.
November 30th, 2007 at 4:58 pm
Libanus and Super Dude, this bears repeating, “Stability and security…” are also some of the hallmarks of the Syrian regime (and any totalitarian racket for that matter.) IS THIS TRULY what the Lebanese people want?
I say fcuk “stability and security” if it they mean reverting back to Syrian “stewardship” and hizbtizi impunity.
November 30th, 2007 at 5:21 pm
Mustapha,
ouwet blog resembles “intellectuals”?
:-)
November 30th, 2007 at 5:26 pm
Of course, security and stability is a lame excuse and hallmark of dictatorships, because they can’t do anything more.
Mind you, security and stability can bring economic prosperity if done right, and if done without bad interference or influences; and without the uncertainty of a ticking-bomb like Hezbollah.
November 30th, 2007 at 7:36 pm
I have been very overjoyed in the past few days. It seems as the Lebanese are finally making concessions on both sides and getting a President which is truly wanted by the VAST MAJORITY of the people. Sulieman is a good guy, he will take care of the country, and he will be a good President.
Lebanon shows itself as ahead of the entire Middle East again!
November 30th, 2007 at 7:44 pm
Picking Sulieman for president is not giving in to Syria or HA. For those who are quick to write M14 as defeatist are not seeing the Lebanon problem as part of the regional issue. It’s always been and will remain.
Assuming an attack on Iran is in the works and will take place in ‘08 it would seem that M14 strategy (with the west’s blessing off course) is to neutralize HA without a fight.
November 30th, 2007 at 8:16 pm
his ‘platform’ is “Stability and security for the Lebanese people”.
Great. So he is going to disarm all militias and secure the border with Syria? That’s good to hear.
Or is he going to praise Hezbollah and claim that the only way to keep the country safe is with a heavily armed “resistance” that does not answer to him or his government?
It seems obvious that “stability and security” implies the former but this is Lebanon so the latter will most likely occur.
November 30th, 2007 at 8:38 pm
As usual, the Lebanese people (or in this case the random sample you queried) are short-sighted and getting caught up in the moment.
“Any president is better than no president” ?? How quickly they forgot Lahoud. I wonder if they’d still be saying that if they were given a choice of Lahoud or no president (as was the case in 2005).
As your commenters said, everyone is tired of the mess, so in typical “I don’t feel like dealing with this anymore” they’re willing to approve of “any solution”. These same people will be complaining in a year.
Hell, I recall the same reaction to the 1990 “takeover” by Syria. People were so tired of the civil war that they were willing to accept anything to end it.
I foresee not much will change under Suleiman, Hezballah will still roam free and start wars with Israel. We’ll still be subservient to every foreign inteference. The opposition will now start clamoring for a 1/3+1 veto and start this whole consensus game over the PM all over again.
Bravo, Lebanon! A failed state indeed.
November 30th, 2007 at 8:41 pm
This is so déjà vu Mustapha. When Lahoud was elected, the same positive vibes were around. Everyone was so happy and proud. We saw posters of a cute baby with an army beret, with the words (our future), in bold all over it.
And look where that got us. We never learn. History repeats itself yet again. And we are sitting like imbecils applauding and celebrating Sleiman.
We deserve to rot in hell.
Very well said, Leb Christian. I totally agree. We never learn.
November 30th, 2007 at 8:46 pm
Louis-Noel! Where have you been? Haven’t seen you much of late.
Needless to say, I completely agree with you. We never learn.
We have a history of short-term memory, and getting all excited about the “flavor du jour” simply because it’s being touted as the next best thing. We never bother to look beyond that. This same crap happened when Bashir was elected. All of a sudden, everyone thought it would be a magic bullet that fixes everything. Same in 1990, when “anything was better than war”, same when Lahoud came to power. And here we go again.
We truly do deserve to rot in hell and to suffer under the Syrian yoke.
November 30th, 2007 at 9:57 pm
Ha ha haaaa i can laugh about you fools now.
Feb 14 have sold u for peanuts,after the Syrian/Americain.
Where are all their false promises,about the stability of the constitution,disarming hizbolla,and the international tribunal….all gone with the wind…hahaha
After two years of living in economical and political insicutrity,because of their slogans of disarming hiz,and all their bulshit,now jumblat don’t want the application of the decisions 1701 and 1559 on the bodies of the lebanese….and seniora praises hiz…
hahaha what a shame.what a shame,follow them blindly
November 30th, 2007 at 10:13 pm
Uhm. If we were following blindly, we wouldn’t be questioning and criticizing their moves this whole time.
Whatever!
December 1st, 2007 at 4:29 am
Solomon’s throne.
Why all the regrets and sorrow! King Solomon (whose name means peace by the way) will sit on the throne again.
The Qur’an, calls him سليمان in Arabic and refers to Sulayman as a great ruler imparted by God with tremendous wisdom, favor, and special powers.The Quran states that Sulayman had under his rule not only people, but also hosts of Jinn. It also states that Sulayman was able to understand the language of the birds and ants, and to see some of the hidden glory in the world that was not accessible to common human being.
May God bless our ruler and bless Lebanon!
December 1st, 2007 at 2:19 pm
Umm, does the Koran say anything about Hiram building Solomon’s Temple and Solomon’s fleet? Anything about Jezebel,
http://www.onpointradio.org/shows/2007/11/20071106_b_main.asp
the beautiful Lebanese princess who brought to the Israelites Lebanon’s hybridity, pluralism, cosmopolitanism, tolerance and liberalism??? (Of course, Jezebel had also brought with her the seeds of her own destruction, and ultimately the vilification and the historical condemnation and damnation of the land of her birth… The resentment and envy that “the wretched other” often feels towards the ingenuity, power, sophistication and prosperity of the “culturally fortunate” never goes unpunished in our part of the world.)
BV, short answer to your question, broken spirit. It’s Habakkuk 2:17 all over again. (Sorry Dory it is not the Koran, but it’ll do just as well.)
“For the violence done to Lebanon will overwhelm you, the havoc done to its beasts shall break your own spirit because of the violence and bloodshed done to the land, to the city, and all their inhabitants…”
It’s all over again “L’aube de l’age de la crapule,” as put it our very own Charles Corm some 75 years ago!
December 4th, 2007 at 12:31 am
President Michel Sleiman is probably the best we could have gotten. I am looking forward to being shocked. The Christian community aspired to a more progressive balance and economy oriented background, than a president from a military tradition.
On the other hand, president Sleiman saw in his time as General:
- the widthdrawl of the Syrian forces from Lebanese ground,
- the expansion of the Lebanese army to the border with Israel,
- and the Leaded the only battle where defeat to Al-Qaeda in the Middle East. (if they truly are Al-Qaeda, or Fatah who knows what).
I can always get a clumb of shmicks and give myself a name.
Lets hope for the best.
I will be returning home for Christmas. Sleiman, hopefully will learn not to take orders anymore, and follow his own inner judgement.
December 12th, 2007 at 7:23 am
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