Comments on: Syrian Embassy In Hamra. Bold Or Clumsy? http://beirutspring.com/blog/2008/12/22/syrian-embassy-in-hamra-bold-or-clumsy/ Blogging Lebanon since 2005 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 07:42:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Fouad G Marei http://beirutspring.com/blog/2008/12/22/syrian-embassy-in-hamra-bold-or-clumsy/#comment-12863 Fouad G Marei Thu, 19 Mar 2009 13:07:35 +0000 http://beirutspring.com/blog/?p=1637#comment-12863 Hamra, unlike Dahyé, Achrafiyé and other places represents more of a confessional and cultural mix. Despite the crowdedness and vanity of its shops and shoppers sometimes, it's the hub of intellectualism, activism and the youth movements. Let alone pan-Arabism and leftist movements: think of Hamra from the AUB, to LAU, from Barometre to T-Marbouta and others. Even though I dislike the crowdedness of Hamra, as an English-Egyptian, I always choose Hamra to stay in when I'm in Beirut and it's where I'll be staying next time I come to town. Understandably, the Syrians would want to have a presence and infiltration in this cross-sectarian melting pot. That is of course not to rule out the suggestion that they probably also wanted to convey the message to the Saudis on Bliss Street and the Hariri and Amine families whose palaces are off the road from there! Since we're at it: let me ask this! Why is the Egyptian Embassy still in Beir Hassan? I think the Gaza war and the subsequent anger it triggered against Egypt might suggest the embassy needs to be moved... Hamra, unlike Dahyé, Achrafiyé and other places represents more of a confessional and cultural mix. Despite the crowdedness and vanity of its shops and shoppers sometimes, it’s the hub of intellectualism, activism and the youth movements. Let alone pan-Arabism and leftist movements: think of Hamra from the AUB, to LAU, from Barometre to T-Marbouta and others.

Even though I dislike the crowdedness of Hamra, as an English-Egyptian, I always choose Hamra to stay in when I’m in Beirut and it’s where I’ll be staying next time I come to town. Understandably, the Syrians would want to have a presence and infiltration in this cross-sectarian melting pot.

That is of course not to rule out the suggestion that they probably also wanted to convey the message to the Saudis on Bliss Street and the Hariri and Amine families whose palaces are off the road from there!

Since we’re at it: let me ask this! Why is the Egyptian Embassy still in Beir Hassan? I think the Gaza war and the subsequent anger it triggered against Egypt might suggest the embassy needs to be moved…

]]> By: Leafless Eve http://beirutspring.com/blog/2008/12/22/syrian-embassy-in-hamra-bold-or-clumsy/#comment-12862 Leafless Eve Thu, 05 Feb 2009 06:51:30 +0000 http://beirutspring.com/blog/?p=1637#comment-12862 Hamra is already too crowded... Why not in Dahyeh? Hamra is already too crowded…
Why not in Dahyeh?

]]> By: Aiman http://beirutspring.com/blog/2008/12/22/syrian-embassy-in-hamra-bold-or-clumsy/#comment-12861 Aiman Fri, 30 Jan 2009 21:58:48 +0000 http://beirutspring.com/blog/?p=1637#comment-12861 Syrian Embassy in Beirut will represent the mutual respect that Syrians and Lebanese have for each other. Forget the politics we are neighboring countries and we need each other to progress forward. May god bless Lebanon and Syria with peace and stability in 2009. Syrian Embassy in Beirut will represent the mutual respect that Syrians and Lebanese have for each other. Forget the politics we are neighboring countries and we need each other to progress forward. May god bless Lebanon and Syria with peace and stability in 2009.

]]> By: Lama http://beirutspring.com/blog/2008/12/22/syrian-embassy-in-hamra-bold-or-clumsy/#comment-12860 Lama Mon, 12 Jan 2009 10:22:26 +0000 http://beirutspring.com/blog/?p=1637#comment-12860 Syrians in Hamra street, close to pubs cafes, SSNP headquarter but also close to MP Hariri's palace... hummm I don’t like the Saudi Embassy in Bliss.... soon their religious police is going to be chasing us girls on our way to Barometer or so... Syrians in Hamra street, close to pubs cafes, SSNP headquarter but also close to MP Hariri’s palace… hummm
I don’t like the Saudi Embassy in Bliss…. soon their religious police is going to be chasing us girls on our way to Barometer or so…

]]> By: Pazuzu http://beirutspring.com/blog/2008/12/22/syrian-embassy-in-hamra-bold-or-clumsy/#comment-12859 Pazuzu Sat, 10 Jan 2009 16:28:34 +0000 http://beirutspring.com/blog/?p=1637#comment-12859 Ouh! My friend is the uy in the red shirt on the left of the screen :D I know that was random, sorry Ouh! My friend is the uy in the red shirt on the left of the screen :D
I know that was random, sorry

]]> By: razouk http://beirutspring.com/blog/2008/12/22/syrian-embassy-in-hamra-bold-or-clumsy/#comment-12858 razouk Thu, 01 Jan 2009 05:10:10 +0000 http://beirutspring.com/blog/?p=1637#comment-12858 Food for thought. We in the March 14th, as we enter the contest for March elections, should neither fear nor worry of the outcome whether favorable or unfavorable. Why? Under hell & high water, If we stick to our principles of Independent, Pluralistic, Democratic and Just society we can inevitably carry the day. How? In our system of government no coalition can rule entirely unless all are on board. Wether M14 or M8 carries the day each group has the obligation of holding the other accountable. I would argue, in fact, that M8 victory could be a turning point for the better for all of us. When they have the reins of the gov't, when they have weight of the society on their shoulders, when they have the responsibility of the different ministries which provide services for the nation we'll have ultimately two general outcomes. 1. They will meet the demands/needs of the people - we win 2. They will fail and eventually lose the legitimacy they garner from their current (wayward) constituency - we win Our focus & priority must be on cleaning our house (M14). Let us not divert our attention by lecturing or complaining about what M8 does but only making sure we can get our house as clean/transparent as we possibly can (difficult as it may be). Your thoughts: Food for thought.

We in the March 14th, as we enter the contest for March elections, should neither fear nor worry of the outcome whether favorable or unfavorable.
Why?
Under hell & high water, If we stick to our principles of Independent, Pluralistic, Democratic and Just society we can inevitably carry the day.
How?
In our system of government no coalition can rule entirely unless all are on board.
Wether M14 or M8 carries the day each group has the obligation of holding the other accountable.
I would argue, in fact, that M8 victory could be a turning point for the better for all of us. When they have the reins of the gov’t, when they have weight of the society on their shoulders, when they have the responsibility of the different ministries which provide services for the nation we’ll have ultimately two general outcomes.
1. They will meet the demands/needs of the people – we win
2. They will fail and eventually lose the legitimacy they garner from their current (wayward) constituency – we win

Our focus & priority must be on cleaning our house (M14). Let us not divert our attention by lecturing or complaining about what M8 does but only making sure we can get our house as clean/transparent as we possibly can (difficult as it may be).

Your thoughts:

]]> By: Jester http://beirutspring.com/blog/2008/12/22/syrian-embassy-in-hamra-bold-or-clumsy/#comment-12857 Jester Sun, 28 Dec 2008 00:11:50 +0000 http://beirutspring.com/blog/?p=1637#comment-12857 Bold And Clumsy Bold And Clumsy

]]> By: anonymous http://beirutspring.com/blog/2008/12/22/syrian-embassy-in-hamra-bold-or-clumsy/#comment-12856 anonymous Fri, 26 Dec 2008 12:03:56 +0000 http://beirutspring.com/blog/?p=1637#comment-12856 This is the worst news for people who know Hamra well and spend time there. Makdessi street especially has been recently seeing more and more activity, restaurants, bars and cafes opening... this could be very bad for business. Personally, as a student of a university in Hamra, I feel like this will be very bad for public safety: any demonstrations will block the activity and businesses in Hamra. I would have preferred to have any building subject to face riots as far away from the crowd as possible. The government is retarded to accept this. This is the worst news for people who know Hamra well and spend time there. Makdessi street especially has been recently seeing more and more activity, restaurants, bars and cafes opening… this could be very bad for business.
Personally, as a student of a university in Hamra, I feel like this will be very bad for public safety: any demonstrations will block the activity and businesses in Hamra. I would have preferred to have any building subject to face riots as far away from the crowd as possible.
The government is retarded to accept this.

]]> By: Anonymous http://beirutspring.com/blog/2008/12/22/syrian-embassy-in-hamra-bold-or-clumsy/#comment-12855 Anonymous Wed, 24 Dec 2008 08:52:40 +0000 http://beirutspring.com/blog/?p=1637#comment-12855 ugh Politics aside - Hamra's streets are too tiny and its already gridlocked the majority of the time... adding an embassy with the inevitable roadblocks and saudi-style checkpoints is just going to make matters much much worse. And with the saudi embassy moving to Bliss soon the whole area is going to be choked off. ugh
Politics aside – Hamra’s streets are too tiny and its already gridlocked the majority of the time… adding an embassy with the inevitable roadblocks and saudi-style checkpoints is just going to make matters much much worse.

And with the saudi embassy moving to Bliss soon the whole area is going to be choked off.

]]> By: Hearty http://beirutspring.com/blog/2008/12/22/syrian-embassy-in-hamra-bold-or-clumsy/#comment-12854 Hearty Tue, 23 Dec 2008 13:59:02 +0000 http://beirutspring.com/blog/?p=1637#comment-12854 Being close to: Starbucks/Costa; Kebabji; several decent restaurants, and some good bookshops, with a decent range of unrestricted reading material, are all perfectly good reasons to be in Hamra. Being close to: Starbucks/Costa; Kebabji; several decent restaurants, and some good bookshops, with a decent range of unrestricted reading material, are all perfectly good reasons to be in Hamra.

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