The Lebanese blogosphere I frequent has been lately stingy in its posts in comparison to a few months back when feelings were still running high. May 7th brought back to many fears of yet another civil war. Yes we were allowed to have a peaceful summer, the tents were dismantled, a new government was formed, elections are a few months away; BUT here we are (by WE I mean our politicians) licking Syrian arses again, and this time with tongues well lubricated and very far reaching. Yes some of the players might have changed, but (yes another butt) the sectarian divide is more pronounced than it ever was. During the July war which brought (on to some “so called” Lebanese) a Divine victory, the finger of criticism was pointed towards those how kept on clubbing and partying, ignoring the plight of their fellow citizens. Some did say “they brought it onto themselves so why should we all suffer the consequences”, some had to flee (like they did more than once), and some were just “riding the wave” in the hope that it was nothing but a swift reprisal strike.
The current local situation (and by that I mean the Syrian arse licking by our rotten political class) has revived within my soul memories of the civil war and the refuge I use to seek within the walls of the Key Club whilst listening to Julia singing Grace Slick, trying to digest the best way I could the crimes I had witnessed the very same day. My entire generation went out, ate, and drank when others were being shelled. No one stayed 15 years confined at home or in a shelter.
In retrospect I do feel a bit guilty for having indulged in selfish acts of debauchery while others were confined to the walls of their neighbor's bathroom (because he lived on a lower floor) in order to survive. That very same table was turned more than once, and many times I was seeking shelter while others were out eating and drinking.
My guilt is of the type that lasts only for a few minutes, for this is the way it was, and we all lived through it. My worry now is that my son might have to go through it, just like I did.
The Key Club is no more, and Julia is no longer singing; could this somehow put my mind at ease and let me think that those days are past us?
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9 comments:
Julia..........
Julia S. ????
que de souvenirs .....
Yes Julia S, with her immense talent.
so we went out, we ate, we drank and we danced in the same places :)
yes: immense talent !
Yes indeed, but we never met then !
julia maurice claude serge ramzy emile myrna etc...
I can't seem to enjoy local live bands like I use to. I guess I have grown OLD !
Due to insomnia I have opened a new page dedicated to what I use to listen to. Hope you enjoy it .
It is a cruel irony: at the very moment Lebanese go quiet because they think they cannot do anything to improve the political mess, Israel tells them that they are collectively responsible if war breaks out.
But that's just what I've been telling Lebanese for years. Face it: nobody really wanted to listen, because that would involve sticking your neck out.
To fix things Lebanese - first individually then collectively, both expatriates and groundhogs - will have to go beyond their normal limitations. That requires courage and sacrifice - the kind that won't be immediately appreciated by one's fellows. Is anyone up to that?
Salomon2,
Althouh I do agree with you especially when it comes to Lebanese to heavily depend on others to clean their own shit; I must admit that your suggestion is very difficult to apply. The only way 3 generations down might see a free and independent Lebanon is if we start by educating our people first,by letting them understand that they have a duty towards the land and not the leader...etc.
I myself have started with my son and amongst friends.
And now, The Delirium closed his doors too.
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