“But They Are Just Poor People Demonstrating Against Economic Hardship”
Arguments that today’s demonstrations have nothing to do with politics are misguided.
A protester takes the car keys of a taxi driver to prevent him from working (AFP)
On the face of it, today’s demonstrations seem like a rightful act of activism against economic hardship. Inflation is high and business is obviously slow for many of the farmers and public transport syndicates. Indeed, many of the people demonstrating believe that they’re not doing it for political reasons. The border pressures from Syria against farmers and haulers are not helping matters either.
But a quick look at the geography of the demonstrations today reveals how superficial that assessment is. Opposition areas like the south, Dahieh and Bikaa have a lot of angry youths and empty streets, while Majority areas are leading normal lives with normal business activity.
In a country where soccer games are closed to fans in fear of clashes, it can only be prudent not to unleash angry masses of one party in the neighborhoods of the other party. No matter what the driving force is, the outcome would be disastrous. March 14 MP Ammar Houry put it well: With such high levels of tension, dancing around the brink cannot remain peaceful forever.
It is also not a coincidence that the “economic” demonstrations are taking place at the same time opposition leaders like Michel Aoun and Sayyed Hassan Nassrallah are asking for street actions against the government. Let alone that today marks the anniversary of last year’s infamous “demonstrations”, which violently forced the country into a standstill.
There are many ways to solve economic problems. But forcing the economy into a standstill is not one of them.
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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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“There are many ways to solve economic problems. But forcing the economy into a standstill is not one of them”
Yes, but there are much less ways of keeping guns and being a vassal doing your suzerain’s biddings.
It’s just a question of perspective – or lack of one….
Mustapha,
I disagree with the idea that: “Opposition areas like the south, Dahieh and Bikaa have a lot of angry youths and empty streets, while Majority areas are leading normal lives with normal business activity”…How did you come to this assessment?
I think the reverse is correct. HA areas are covered by the bags of $$$ HA distributes to its “soldiers”, be that civil or military uniform. To some estimates it has 150,000 people on Salary, also they scam off government ministries without working (ghost workers on HA/amal controlled ministries)…
So how can the other side be better. This is falling into the stereotyping!
The difference is that the other side tries to work and gets $$ from people who are working abroad.
As mentioned by S.L.Y. above, you cannot kill the economy and rape it then blame the victim!!
Just another opinion!
just my opinion
I think that regardless of your affiliations, you must protest.
Both sides should feel the pressure of the people to agree. I really don’t think that either M8 suppporters of M14 supporters are happy with the status quo.
Yet, the leaders of these movements seem to think that they have all the time in the world. How long should we let this continue?
I still don’t understand why don’t we go for early parliamentary elections to determine the true majority and opposition.
Sami: sure thing dude, if things are not going well – you must protest. The problem is to protest because you’re ordered to do so.
I don’t think the mullah-money that rains on some parts of the country, as pointed by Danny, comes without a price tag: “no free will”
While on the topic of “ghost workers”, if counted both M14 and M8 ghost, even the cast from poltergeist would be scared.
But, as said countless times before (yeah BV, it’s you) with M14 you CAN VOTE and remove them IF you don’t like them, renewing the parliament, while NOT stopping the country. Of course, this works best when you’re free to choose your candidate and not the usual “do as I say” that feudal lords from both sides of the divide do.
I just hope that both the M8 and M14 supporters don’t turn to an old party “M16″ – against each other (never mind the ak’s).
I find it odd that people are protesting economic hardships against the government and not against those who started a destructive war that cost billions in dollars, and losses in tourism. Or those who paralyze all the state institutions. Or those who paralyze downtown Beirut. Or those who close the border to incoming imports of food. Or those who burn tires and prevent people from getting to work and earning a living.
I find it odd.
The Lebanese people are stupid, apparently. Here’s a newsflash, folks: As long as you promote a culture of instability, death, martyrdom, resistance, and as long as you prevent the institutions from working, and law and order from prevailing, you WILL incur economic hardship.
Nothing brings economic prosperity like stability, a functional state, peace with your neighbours, and a civil, democratic way of resolving differences at the polls.
Nothing brings hardship and unemployment quicker than war, resistance, paralyzed institutions, lack of law and order, and burning tires.
Word to the wise.
As usual, BV and I are on the same page. Sami wants everyone to demonstrate? I agree. Let them all go to downtown and “demonstrate” against those who have brought such misery on Lebanon.
It’s time – time to take a very hard look at who is causing all this misery and put a stop to it. Time for the people to “demonstrate”. Great idea Sami … I approve.
BV, many thanks for the most acute and sensible comment I read on this blog in a while.