Say The Truce

The Beirut riots over the “satanic” cartoons have caused strong feelings in many Lebanese. Most of us are angry, afraid, and utterly shameful. People like Johnny, however, are trying to see what we, and the world, can learn from these tragic events. In his contribution to The Beirut Spring, Johnny suggests that the world can learn from how Beirut managed to be a Muslim/Christian melting pot.

As Eastern Christians living in an Islamic environment, we are all aware of the sanctity of some basic Islamic values and beliefs. Among those are the one concerning the drawing of the Prophet: Not only portraying him is prohibited, the thought of putting him in a cartoon is certainly an offense that no one would even dare think of doing.

We are aware of it, because we are surrounded by Muslims. We had our hard times dealing with each other and we also had our good times.

Although the image that the world is getting from us today — an image of a divided people — is bad, Lebanon’s unity, ever since Prime Minister Hariri’s assassination, has never been as consolidated as it is today.

A bunch of non-believers have insulted Islamic believers by waging their barbaric acts against the Danish Consulate in Beirut as well as casting stones at a Maronite church, all that under Islamic flags.

The nobility and righteousness of any cause becomes void when it exceeds peaceful demonstration and becomes violent and extreme.

However, the Lebanese people are united today to condemn these acts. They are also united in condemning the cartoons.

Here’s how Lebanon can become a source of truce for the whole world.

Lebanon has been a good example to prove that there is a clash of civilisations. Today Lebanon can be a counter example to prove that there can be a harmony of civilisations.

Danish embassies and consulates are being attacked in Islamic countries. Danish products are being boycotted in these countries as well. Meanwhile Christian churches have been burnt, attacked and bombed in Kosovo and Iraq during the past year. And today, Lebanon is added to the list.

Since the barbaric acts in Beirut have been condemned unanimously, Lebanon can now offer this sign of hope to the world and be a source of truce between Western leaders and Islamic leaders.

This truce shall be based on a compromise: Western leaders should apologize for hurting the Islamic Umma’s religious feelings while Arab and Islamic countries should condemn any violent act against churches in the Middle East or Central Europe.

They shall agree on the respect of holiness and tolerate everyone’s religion. The Western countries will have to concede part of their freedom of expression and set its limits. The Islamic countries will have to treat all religious minorities equally and protect them.

Johnny Kairouz