I totally agree with you Muss…..They send us death,terror and pain…lets send them the best of what we got to show them that we are the total opposite of them,and to show them an immage they should look forward to….
And let such fools as Shehayyeb who was created and thaugh by the terrorist Syrian regime,show how retarded he is…..

I completely disagree with you Mustapha. Not many self-respecting artists performed in Apartheid South Africa. South African sports teams were shunned in international competitions. Sanctions worked in South Africa’s case. Why shouldn’t Syria be sanctioned in the same way? It has an equally evil regime. I think Fairuz should be ashamed of performing there.

Steph, idk what’s happening to you lately, but I do appreciate your new (though hardly refreshing) take on things.

fyi Fayrouz is not merely a Lebanese Diva, she is the voice of a very important Lebanese national school, the Rahbanis’!

As a representative and a “front” of that school, she has a responsibility to its tenets (and that responsibility seeps into her public and private life, not only her artistic ventures.)

I agree with Homo Libanus. Historically it has always been the artistic (and intellectual) community of a nation that has set the tone to that nation’s redemption (quickly come to mind Vaclav Havel, Ali Salem, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, etc..)

For Fayruz to participate in that silly exercise of validating and banalizing Syria’s brutality, is an insult not only to Lebanon (which has been festering under Syrian domination for close to a generation), it is also an insult to those Syrians who have been GENUINELY fighting for change in Syria.

I concur with the two previous comments. Giving any credence to the idea that an oppresive regime like Syria could host a “culture capital” is a joke, unless you think that art is somehow separate from the rest of society.

This is one of your best.

Btw, when 3assi el Rahbani became ill, during his last days, Syrian govt (Assad Sr) shared in treatments, while Lebanese govt, well you know, as usual, medals presented postmortem, Fairouz most Arab countries, her best were for Syria, Lebanon and Palestine.

*Fairouz sang for

“Political Correctness” seems to have taken hold at BS. Expressing solidarity with the Syrian masses and providing support to Syrian artists does not need to be in a venue that will extol the ‘achievements” of a dictatorial regime.
What is sadly nonsensical in this case is the position advocated by this blog. (When the United States boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympics they did so not to punish the Russian people but to send a message that Russian behaviour in Afghanistan was unacceptable. To have participated on the eve of the Russian invasion would have made mockery of any subsequent outrage).

One more thing, how does the call for a singer to boycott an event make a political party a Fascist one? Isn’t the term being very seriously misuse? I for one think that it is.

Right on

More power to you, Mustapha.

Fayrouz is a singer, who happens to represent a little more than the average singer to many Arabs; to the Lebanese, “Bhebbak ya Libnan”, to the Syrians, “Watani”, to Palestinians, “Ya Kuds”…

No one “owns” her, not least

Add to that the fact that MP Shehayeb and his master. They can hardly give lessons of nationalism to others! Yes, they are fighting the “good” fight now, but they had been all too happy with the Syrian regime in the past. They only disagree with with this part of the regime because it the “other part”, their pals Shehabi, Khaddam, and Ghazi, are out.

I wish our politicians did not try and politicize art and artists, it is one of the few things we can agree on with the rest of the Arab world.

Plus, it would be a nice “poke” if she sung “Bhebbak Ya Libnan” in Damascus.

I completely disagree with you. Damascus as a cultural capital for 2008 should fail miserably for the regime in place to get the message (like that’s going to make a difference).

Fairouz has a responsibility.

I agree with Homo Libanus, specially that many syrian officials will be present at the concert and will be perceived as a gloating or spiteful to lebanese sensitivity. Fayrouz is too much of a lebanese national symbol to allow herself to be placed in such a rough spot and for this reason she shouldnt’ve agreed to this performance in the first place irrespective of what Chehayeb said or hindered on in his address.

REALLY, Jeha? “Nobody “owns” her?”
Do you actually believe that platitude?
In any case, it is not so much an issue of owning and being owned as it is an issue of HER OWING a measure of responsability to AT LEAST the prevalent themes of her art (I’m thinking أيام فخرالدين, or المحطة, or جبال الصوان, etc…) i.e., Lebanese specificity and Lebanese sovereignty. There is a very powerful such vector in all of the pre-1975 Rahbani works.

check out how this moron describes her at one of America’s LEADING liberal arts colleges (4th paragraph from the bottom, before the Conclusion)

http://www.meforum.org/article/986

and I quote,

“Chris Stone, an associate professor of Arabic at Hunter College, delivered another lecture in which he addressed popular song in Lebanon. During the course of his lecture, he poured scorn on Lebanese folklore and the similes—and imageries of cedars, snows, harvests, and mountains—used in the music of Fayrouz, Lebanon’s foremost diva. His subtle prescription was that Lebanon should conform more to the landscape of its Arab surroundings. Fayrouz should instead have sung of the beauty of her neighboring desert-like scenery—not an ostensibly alien Alpine topography, evidently pilfered by Lebanon’s Christians. According to Stone, the music and metaphors of Fayrouz were seditious not only to Arab unity and uniformity, but also to Lebanon because they reflected the imagery and assumptions that led to the 1975-1990 Lebanese civil war.”

besides the fact that Fayrouz is apparently “seditious.. to Arab unity and uniformity”, it appears that Stone probably never set foot in Lebanon.

In any case, Fayrouz going to Damascus is an abdication of her duty and ditching her responsibility to the themes and legacy that SHE HERSELF helped propagate.

You’re perhaps right, Jeha, in that Lebanon perhaps does not “own” Fayrouz…. but as sure as hell, Fayrouz OWES Lebanon, IN A BIG WAY

Fascist?? come on Mus…I don’t give a rats ass what the silly HA losers like Raad/Kassem/Hassouna try to call march 14…Already they have been called Zionist traitors and many “animal names” by orangebutt…
She goes or not I do not care. It does not make any difference. As far as showing the Syrians that we act differently.WOW…
How do we act? As slaves? Let them dump on us and we say thank you??

i think Syria should be totally cut off. Arabs should cut off the petro $$$ and the rest of the world should blockade it economically, culturally and every God damned way…Stop trying to appease. Wrong timing!

Guys,

I appreciate and understand many of the arguments being made here, but let’s think of it for a moment.

Could it be that perhaps, just perhaps, Fairouz –who is more than capable of going to places like dubai and the USA and make much more money than the miserly Syrians could ever offer– was trying to send a message by attending that event?

Maybe Fairouz was trying to make a point. The question is, should we respect it, or should we lecture her and get on her bad side?

“get on her bad side”, Steph?
How long must we keep running scared of getting on people’s bad side?
Haven’t 2 years of “erring on the side of caution” taught us ANYTHING about “loss of momentum” and “losing credibility”???

Ok ok you stupid airheads,all of you objecting Feirouz in Syria….just stop listening to her and to Najwa Karam and to Dixie chicks….and simply listen to the song(i dunno who sings them but i keep hearing them through taxi drivers blasting the beat on the highest level in tripoli) Dakhle 3younak Sa3deddine,or Ne7na Rjal L Sanioura….there real lebanese art these days and you can make sure they wont go to Syria….what if May HARIRI sings them…it’s a temptimg name for you morons….it’s a more Pimpish name than 50cent…….

Just consider the headlines when it reads ‘a leading lebanese singer steals the show in Damascaus’ considering what Syria been doing to us the last 2 years.

Off course the pro-Syrian, or more accurately the anti-Lebanese crowd don’t see any wrong in this, but you Mustapha!!

Jeha,

“Add to that the fact that MP Shehayeb and his master. They can hardly give lessons of nationalism to others!”

You always seem to have a stone to grind with Jumblatt. Not to defend his stand throughout the Syrian hegemony in Lebanon, but you seem to have such a mighty standard when it comes to this guy.

Tell me in your infinite wisdom what political conquests or unattained wealth did Jumblatt achieve at the expense of Lebanon by ’selling out’ to the Syrians. His stand was simply a survival strategy, given his late father’s demise, in facing a ruthless dictator. If you still fail to grasp this fact then I think you’re simply naive to say the least.

30 years of occupation…
Billions of dollars stolen…
Thousands of Lebanese in their prisons.
Thousands of Lebanese died on their hands during their occupation.
They assassinated Hariri, Fouleihan, Kassir, Hawi, Tweiny, El Joumeil, Eido and Khouri.
They are blocking our democracy.

The answer is NO!!!!!!!!!!!!
We should NOT be nice to them.
Fairuz should NOT sing there.

Jay,

I understand Joumblat’s position all too well. But that does not give him the right to lecture others on nationalism. Or anyone else for that matter.

Louis-Noel;

I understand perfectly, but I still think we should be past that, and we should focus on solving our own (Syrian created) mess. So, if she chooses to sing, so be it. It’s her decision, and I should not deny her the freedom I claim for myself.

Ado;

There is a world of difference between Fayrouz and Najwa Karam; the latter sang a hymn to Bashar, and I recall dated his (late) brother…

Fairuz clearly has taken sides. During the civil war she was beloved by all because she remained neutral.

A supporter of M14 wouldn’t go to perform at any official syrian function at this time. The supporter of M8 clearly would.
A neutral person would have also avoided the festivities to prevent being identified with one group vs the other.

Hence Fairuz has shown us she is neither neutral nor M14, that leaves M8.
Her son is M8 leaning and the apple does not usually fall far from the tree.

She has a right to choose what side she is on, but if she performs, she will loose the “neutral” crown.

lalebanessa you’re right.
“Hence Fairuz has shown us she is neither neutral nor M14, that leaves M8.
Her son is M8 leaning and the apple does not usually fall far from the tree”

Feb 14ers always contadict people when they tell a truth,just because they’re stubborn,and are brainwashed by Future Tv….
When Feyrouz was wearing orange in her play at biel while the oppositon was protesting against Sanioura-Cry-Baby-Olmert goverment,i told Mustapha this was really on purpose….but Muss just said it was coincidence…
How can anything be coincidence in Lebanon anymore,when you have to be careful what you wear,or what u listen to,or you’ll be labeled……

We have a winner for butthead award: ADO. Get a life Jack. Do you want to be called Dodo?? Call political groups by their names. It REALLY does not make you smarter or better if you say feb14. What a Jerk!!

A few years back (6 or 7) Miss Lebanon during Miss World pageant shook hands with Miss Israel. All hell broke loose and she was not able to return to her country for a while. I see Fairouz going to Syria the same way people then saw that famous hand shake. Fairouz use to sing to Palestinians in the camps and raise money, that was very charitable on her part, I still wonder if part of that money raised then did not by bullets that killed one too many Lebanese on the hands of Fath and Sa3ika. Mrs Fairuz has long past her prime and should retire taking up knittingor anything else that tickles her fancy.

Danny dude…i hope you can be more objective and stop getting personal and irrational here…hehehe..
Well no one i say NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO one is allowed to steel and use by himself the glory day that is MARCH 14…no one not Hariri junior,nor walid jumblat,nor michel aoun,and surely not Assad Harmouch…..
I was there….more than half the Lebanese where there….it’s our day….not a day for a bunch of politicians who where mafia kings and traitors under the syrian occupation…and fooled their way to have speaches on that memorable day…..and then betrayed the soul of what we all came down for…allied themselves with the march 8 guerrillas,followed the syrian election law,and played it the syrian way….and gambeled on blood when saying everyone who votes against us is a Rafic Hariri killer….so much for democracy….so much for the soul of march 14…..God bless Gibrane Tueni,Samir Kassir,Bachir Gemayyel and Dany Chamoun’s soul….those are real lebanese martyrs….those where in the soul of 14 march….NOT SANIORA AND THE 40 THIEVES OF HIS…..

Fairuz is first and foremost a national symbol..when she sings she is singing on behalf of her country, she represents Lebanon first and before anyone else. Her presence is above all a representation of lebanese folk music and artistry which is highly admired in the arab world. It is only natural for her to represent her country in an event that is supposed to showcase cultural performances and artists from accross the Middle East. We should all stand behind her as a symbol of unity in the face of adversity to show that lebanon still takes pride in its artists and especially a renown jewel like her all over the world. Just because she is singing in Damascus, it does not diminish anything from her achievements and her merits and besides, through her music she always showcases Lebanon in a positive light something our political leaders can’t manage to duplicate.

Ado,

you probably went down and demonstrated based on your own free well, but if it wasn’t for the politicians we would have not amassed such a high number and started the course of liberation. so with all their faults you have to give them credit for taking a stand, and still do, in the face of a tyrant murderous syrian thug

For those that see nothing wrong in Fairouz going to Syria please read the following and ponder on it, including you Mustapha…

http://www.lebanese-forces.com/details.asp?newsid=3319

I have nothing but respect for you Mustapha. Thank you for this post very much. Fairouz has a long history with Damascus; it’s unfair to punish Fairouz fans in Syria because of the regime.
This is what Lebanon used to offer and will always continue to do: Culture, artists, and free thoughts.

CHEHAYEB AND JUNBLAT: SYRIAN FOLLOWERS SINCE EVER

I’m so glad fairuz is not commenting on the subject because compared to our lady’s MAJESTY, our icon, the LEBANESE IDOL, and the PUREST MEMORY of our dearest LEBANON, you all politicians look so small and stupid and not worth to answer you back; because a king never bends towards the little ones like you.
WE, THE LEBANESE IMMIGRANT PEOPLE, because of you and politicians like you, have left the country and find our identity only in someone as DIVINE and GREAT as FAIRUZ.
While you ! who are you !? do you think HISTORY will ever recall your name ? For you are either born a king or a filthy dirty dog…
I’m so happy fairuz is going to sing in Syria just to frustrate you.
And just for a reminder, lebanese politicians have always been chickens and never assumed their responsabilities. they are only good in blaming.
When ASSI RAHBANI got sick, hafez el ASAD (though i don’t like the guy) paid for his medical treatment while lebanese coward government sat and watched him die.
You csn never reach up to the level of ASSI and FAIRUZ for MAJESTY is something that can’t be acquired; you are born with it.
Fairuz has always sang in Syria and never took a party to any political view. So please don’t try to politicize her because you will look very silly and stupid in front of her AUTHENTICITY and GLORY and people will feel sorry for you.
Thank you and hope my comment reaches both of you

وفيه ظلم لشعب كامل عبر السعي الى عزله، ومطالبته بدفع ثمن باهظ نيابة عن حكّامه. هل اتخذ «دعاة الحريّة العربيّة» الموقف النبيل نفسه، حين قدّمت فيروز المسرحيّة إيّاها في عمّان؟ هل تثور ثائرتهم إذا غنّت في القاهرة أو تونس أو دبي (لن نقول جدّة أو الرياض، فالأمر حتى الآن ما زال مستحيلاً هناك)…؟ أم أن ساعة الديموقراطيّة يجب أن تدقّ، وبسحر ساحر، فقط حيث يقرر الكاوبوي الأميركي، وحين يقرّر ذلك؟
هي أيضاً رمز لأخوّة ما، روحيّة وحقيقية، بين لبنان وسوريا. سوريا، أي أهلها وناسها الذين لا يمكن اختزالهم الى نظام سياسي…

Does any of you Libanocentrist who do not want her to go to Damas know any Syrian person?! I think not.

[...] A reader emailed me this angry letter in response to the post where I criticized the politicians asking Fairouz not to sing in Syria: [...]

Simply I would say: Fairouz the Legend should and must sing in Syria….if we reconsider fairouz’s history, Syria played a big role in raising the fame of Fairouz….Fairouz is very smart, and she knows exactly what she is doing….She is not only a Lebanese Symbol, she is an Arab symbol….. she is a lady that must be respected and Honored by all people….She sang for Lebanon when Lebanon was in bad situations….and after that we honor her by just telling her not to go and do her job….and why is that…and for what…for our politicians that brought us here to this point….NO and millions No for the politicians that will stand in the face of Fairouz not allowing her to go and sing there…..and please Mr. politician, now you remembered that Fairouz exist…now after other countries are honoring her yo remembered that…OH my God you have to be ashamed of your self…and not even open your mouth, an d say anything about this lady, about this spiritual human being….Fairouz Go and sing….because am 100 percent sure that your charming voice will get peace and not our politicians…..Please Fairouz Go and Sing by the name of your Be lovers….

after all this barking BS about fairuz the lebanese SHOULD NOT sing in Syria, i just wanna remind u dummies that Fayrooz is after all half-Syrian but in ur unredeemable case, you will definitely reply by your usual assinine logic: No, No, No way, and “el ha2ee2a”, bla, bla, bla……….