The Verdict

So, What about those pins?

Guys, thank you all for your precious input. The debate was a real education for all of us.

When I decided to hang the pin of Bashir Jmayyel. It was because he and Hariri represent two symbols of two extremes that got killed because they decided to transform their allegiance into that of a unified and independent Lebanon. After Bashir got to power, he implicitly repented on his old ways by speaking of a unified Lebanon of Moslems and Christians.
Hariri, a man with no blood on his hand, was also perceived to have collaborated with the Syrians –although people like me would argue that he always had Lebanon’s best interest at heart-, but was also killed when he started working towards a unified and independent (Syrian-free) Lebanon. The implied message is this: you can kill as much people as you want, you can be corrupt, you can be whatever you want, but the red line is this: do not preach independence and unity.

The two pins next to each other would have been symbolic. They would have said: remember, the killings have nothing to do with the nature of the victim. It’s all about killing the idea of a unified and independent Lebanon. From Rene Mouawwad to Hassan Khaled to Moussa el Sadr, all visionaries who looked beyond the limited scope of their sects, to the wellbeing of one strong and unified country. The pattern seemed the same.

But on the other hand, you have made some very good arguments on why Bashir’s pin would be offensive to a lot of people. Some of you even questioned the whole idea of “worshiping” dead people.
I don’t agree. Some people do represent visions and philosophies that still apply today and to which many people subscribe. To a lot of people, Hariri symbolized hope, a bright future, resurrection, international presence, growth…etc.

I will take the pin of Bashir Down, but I will also remove Hariri’s after the truth is known. I will keep the picture used in this post as a souvenir.
But we should always remember why those people died. This is why I’m going to add a “hall of fame” table to The Beirut Spring. It will carry the names of all the people that died, or disappeared for a unified and independent Lebanon.

(PS: Mabrook for the Lebanese Basketball team)