What Turmoil?
What the holiday spirit tells us about Lebanon and the Lebanese.
When I left Tripoli to go to Beirut’s RHI Airport, I calculated that my trip will take the usual one hour and a half. I was wrong. I blame my nearly-missed flight (and the terrible prospect of having to wait a month for another available seat) on all the shopping going around; it took me an additional 30 minutes to cross the Dbayyeh highway facing the ABC mall, and an additional 30 minutes in the 500m strip before City mall.
I’ve driven on this highway for ages, but I’ve never seen so many people. Where did they all come from?
An article in today’s New York Times can help enlighten us.
…the Lebanese diaspora reverses itself on holidays, as the migrants who sustain the war-shattered Lebanese economy all year return from jobs across the globe to spend time with their families. Nothing will deter them — not bad weather, not interminable flights and certainly not the Grinch-like mood of Lebanon’s endlessly feuding politicians.
In other words, for all the talk of the Lebanese being “politicized”, we couldn’t care less about politics when the time comes for celebrating with our families. As the Ministry of Tourism’s clever ad puts it: The safest place in the world is in the arms of your loved ones.
Paradoxically, the people outside of Lebanon are the most concerned about the Lebanese “situation”. The biggest headaches for those inside on the other hand are finding reservations and parking spots. The politicians can squabble all they want, but they really do think twice before messing with is our “holidays’ inverse Diaspora”
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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.
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Hay’tak Jdid Hawn :-)
Merry Christmas Mustapha!
In Israel, we call it escapism. Even in the worst times, when you couldn’t know if you’re going to be blown be a suicidal son of a bitch, life never stopped, people kept going to caf?s and restaurants and shopping centers.
It indicates that the society is basically healthy and strong. Pity that Lebanese and Israelis are being forced to be enemies.!
Marry Christmas.!
.
have a joyous christ-mas everyone. peace on earth to all.
Is the Republic of Lebanon the only country which has named its main airport in its capital city (RHIA) after the most cleptocratic cleptocrat to ever “serve” in this rabid cleptocracy? i think the acronym RHIA should be rearranged to spell RIHA because the man’s corruption smells to high heaven, more than any other cleptocrat in the history of this country, and that’s a major feat to accomplish.
ibn bint jbeil
I bet you won’t mind if we call the airport the HAIA, or the hassouna IA. don’t worry you won’t smell it in high heaven, you will be way way below heaven. no room in heaven for traitors.
by the way cleptocrat is spelled with a k Kleptocrat. not bad for an Iranian/Syrian though, it must have taken you forever to look it up.
Ibn Beint Jbeil,
The smell of the corruption of your master in Syria is covering the whole middle east. Ask any Syrian and he/she will tell how smelly is the mafia regime.
Ibn Beint Jbel :
Hehehehe…GOOD ONE…..Tell them,tell them more about the Pick…hehehe…He was part of the conspiracy with the Saudis to make a Kingdom in Lebanon with him as the King with a fake democratic goverment,controling Lebanon by Economical means…Tell them, Tell this bunch of Losers the TRUTH…DAMM Losers…And one more note the RHIA has to go and most go back to BIA.Is an insult for the Lebanese people,to vindicate the biggest thief name in lebanon’s history and creator of our 50 Billion USD debt with such of high Honnor.Marry Xmas everybody and peace to all on earth in this Christmas Nativity.Long Live The General Aoun.God Bless Him.Amen
I want to puke when I read people like fadi usa praising a piece of crap like aoun. can’t believe people like that really roam and thrash the surface of the earth.
Disgusted :
Is ok.No problem at all dude.You Puke I Puke,We all Puke.What realy matter at the end is Who’s Shiit Smell the worst…hehehehe..And you Cant deny that your Cedar Revolution and your M14 Party and their Leaders with Mr.gay Hariri in front of it are the onces that Smells like Dog Shiit now….hehehehe..LOOOOSER..hehehe…Did you read what Berri told to M14 and the world ? He told them: “Dont come and talk to me or with HA.The one who is calling the shut is Mr.”AOUN” how do u like that?not even HA. can deny that he is the real solution to the country,not even them with all their weapon can go against the General.WOW !!!! how do you like that?Do you still thinking that he is a piece of crap or the second most powerfull man in Lebanon after Hassan Nasrallah ?Isn’t he the real leader of the Chistians? acctualy he is.Last poll around a mounth or so ago showed that 73% of Chistians are with him.Now,I’ll recomend you that you sitdown and relax because you sound a little disturb for what is happening to your Revolution and leaders.Is OK. to LOSE..is not the end of the world.After all the M14 pricks and thieft are gone you will see more clear and you will see the light at the end of the tunnel,so sit back and Relax Loser..hehehehhe..Long Live General “AOUN”.God Blees Him.Amen
Fadi,
Where is your Hassouna hiding? Under the houses of women and children! It really smells there!
Recent comments here read like two shoes: Bigotry and Hypocrisy
JAS, oh please show us how to be clean like you! We have the right to tell the truth about Hariri the thief, and mini-hariri the thief-apprentice.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone! Mustapha you are so right we all came back and am glad to say I havent listened to a single news bulletin for 10 days, unlike when am abroad ” hooked” on media feeds. So far so good, no divine bull-crap and no orangy “street rashes” and the cherry on the cake is that everyone I meet seems to despise and loath aoun and hizz even more :)
Ibn Bint Jbeil:
There are Givers and Takers everywhere. Maybe you are taking your freedom in Michigan USA for granted. After all, you knew no bombs would be falling on your head due to HZ acts of war. Neither have you suffered from the economic stress in Beirut. Your achievements and failures stem from choices you have made.
they’re thieves on a grand scale.