When the Arabs come out of Hibernation

Our eyes have been directed with anxiety and hope towards Egypt for the past days, like they were directed towards Tunis before. Being proud of what the guys are doing over there is something beyond description. We've never thought that a day will come for us to witness something like this happening in an Arab country to make us feel "proud" of being "Arabs". We've always looked at ourselves as failures, not able to do anything useful for our nations and countries, not able to make any good change whatsoever, simply because we are afraid of saying NO . Now after decades of living under tyranny, oppression and injustice, "the youth" have finally decided that it's time for a CHANGE, a big one! And this time it's for them, the youth, to choose how and in what way this change is going to happen. It's up to them now to choose the lives they want to lead, the way they want to be treated, as humans that is, to break the chains they've been bound in forever. It's about time to smell liberty and fill their lungs with the breath of freedom!

We stood up for this revolution, we embraced it. It was like, deep inside, we've been longing for such a thing to happen since a long time. It's like, these guys, at Tahrir Square are speaking the mind of each one of us. They are representing us, and we are supporting them with all our mights, with our hearts, and prayers, trying our best to back them up against dictatorship, if not by being with them, which is something that many of us sincerely wish they can do, then through the internet and the social networks that are, undoubtedly, playing an important role in this glorious revolution. 

Bouazizi was the sparkle that triggered the revolution in Tunis, that spread afterward to other countries, mainly Egypt. While the Tunisian revolution ended up with the fleeing of the dictator to Saudi Arabia, the Egyptian Pharaoh, who has led Egypt for 30 years, will stay until September. Turning a deaf ear to the voices of his people and his allies that are asking him to step down, Mubarak is determined not to quit, causing more chaos and more bloodshed. More than 300 killed, thousands injured, hundreds captivated and tortured since the beginning of this revolution on the 25 of January 2011, revealing to the word the indescribable brutality of this corrupt regime.The regime that payed its thugs to attack and kill its own people who are there merely asking for their simplest rights in the most peaceful and civilized manner.

Despite all that, the Egyptian people, young and old, men and women, Muslims and Christians, stand united in the face of tyranny, fighting all attempts to kill their revolution, just to make us more proud. 

Tunisians and the Egyptians have taught the dictators a big lesson, we need more honorable and brave people like these so that all the corrupt regimes in our countries collapse one after another.

Before 18 Tag

I was tagged by Mais to list 6 things one must learn to do and avoid before he turns 18.

The rules for this tag are:

• Post these rules before presenting your list.

• List 6 actions or achievements you think every person should accomplish before turning 18.

• There are no conditions on what can be included on the list.

• At the end of your post, choose 6 people to get tagged and list their names.

• People who are tagged write their own blog entry with their 6 suggestions.

• Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged.

Alright, here we go:

1- Wear funky, trendy, and stylish clothes and accessories. Be fit and attractive.
2- Start to take care of your intellectual, spiritual and religious sides. Be on good terms with yourself, with God, and with the people around you.
3- Unleash your hidden superpowers and creativity. Do crazy and adventurous things as long as you're not hurting anybody including yourself. Read books, learn languages, choose a musical instrument and/or a sport and start learning and practicing it.
4- Think healthy and develop a healthy lifestyle. Do exercises frequently and eat healthy food. You can still enjoy having junk food from time to time.
5- Don't fall in love. Don't engage in a serious relationship. Don't take crucial decisions at this age whatsoever.
6- Start to enhance your life and your personality. Learn from your mistakes. Work on your weak points. Don't be stubborn and remember that you're still not wise enough to ignore your parents' advices. Listen to them, argue with them, but still, don't take things into granted.

and I have to violate one of the rules by not tagging anyone. Almost everybody was tagged already.

Reflections on Marriage

The parents meeting is one of the many occasions that prompts me to contemplate about life in general and marital life in specific. Meeting parents from different places, of different looks, tastes, and attitudes is an interesting experience that makes me think, analyze, and come up with certain impressions and concepts regarding marriage and man-woman relationships.

The appearance of each couple tells to some extent whether they make a happy family or not, whether they match or not, the nature of their relationship and its effect on their children; to the extent that we find answers to many questions that hover around the behavior of some children that is directly and undoubtedly related to the family atmosphere. At many instances we came to a conclusion that with parents like these, how can the child be blamed?

The issue that I'm going to tackle here, however, is not the effect of unsuccessful marriages on children. I'm going to talk about one of the causes of a failed marriage and vanished love.

Among the couples who came to meet us, I can tell that in most cases the men looked prettier and younger than their wives. We wondered how a man like this can accept a wife like that, they just looked odd together. Most of the wives are fat and old fashioned which tells that they don't give themselves any kind of care, and like typical wives, their main concern is focused on their house, children and husband, leaving their beauty, personality, confidence and even femininity to fade away...

Their husbands on the other hand, looked pretty and elegant, well dressed for "the occasion?", obviously prepared for the mission of searching for beauty that they can no more see any trace of in their houses. Hmm, can they be blamed?
Some of them were not really listening to what the teachers had to say about their children, they were only nodding their heads pretending to be concentrating on the speech while their imprudent eyes were concentrating on somewhere else, examining the teacher from top to toe until she finds herself obliged to avoid them and direct her talk to the wives who seemed to be the only ones who cared and who attended the meeting for the real purpose of it.

"Marriage is more complicated than I thought it was" I thought. "What if I became like one of these women after a few years?!". The mere thought of it freaked me out! "NO WAY , there's no way I'm going to neglect myself like that!! There's no way I'm going to engulf myself with the household and then I get fat and ugly, and my husband starts gazing at beautiful ladies, and he may even think of remarrying!! :" :P. And my stream of thoughts goes on before it gets interrupted by the arrival of a new couple.

"Now that is the family that I'm going to have!" I thought to myself whenever I saw a cute happy couple towards whom the looks of admiration were directed. She's the wife who does not put aside the fact that her rule in this life is not restricted within cleaning and cooking, and is well aware of the other things that she needs to pay attention to in order to not leave a space for her husband to lose interest in her and look for his satisfaction else where. And he is the husband who's proud of having a smart, educated, up-to-date and appealing wife. (Knowing that some kind of mean men who can't resist but gaze or even cheat no matter how beautiful and great his wife is!)

We have to admit, even though good looking is not the only thing to admire in a wife, but it is a very important factor to have and take care of. Believe me, it can cause the family to fall apart! It's the man's right to have a wife of at least moderate beauty who takes care of herself if not for her sake then for the sake of her husband, instead of totally neglecting herself and turns into a complete disaster a couple of years after marriage; and then starts lamenting her fate when she finds out that her hubby is having an affair with another woman. It's an inseparable part of the wife's rule in taking care of the family and the husband and work for their satisfaction is to have more time in front of the mirror. Knowing that the husband must take into consideration that his wife has other priorities to take care of and consequently he should not be very demanding.

Moderation after all is the best choice.

أحلى المرّين

image posted by a Lebanese blogger

A couple of people blamed me or drew my attention, to be more precise, to the fact that I blog about Lebanon more than I do about Palestine and Jordan, to the extent that some thought that I'm Lebanese. Shame on me I know, but come on, I live in Lebanon, bi qalb el 7adath ya3ni, and the latest events impose themselves that I cannot think of anything else to talk about. So, I can't be blamed, at least for now, can I?

Anyway, let's shift to the main issue…

Being non-Lebanese, I think that I can look at matters more objectively than a Lebanese citizen who belongs to or supports a certain party does, and who is more likely to look at matters from one perspective and follow his leaders blindly in most cases.

Since the assassination of Rafiq Al Hariri, things in Lebanon are becoming more and more complicated and confusing, until they reached this critical level. Those who intended to destroy the country, by getting rid of Al Hariri, apparently achieved their goal; and those who were trying to implant the seeds of hatred, sectarianism and bias among the Lebanese, obviously succeeded. Alas…

The followers (because they are far away from being leaders) of Lebanon are leading the country to the abyss. In a country like Lebanon, with the variety of its sects and religions, things cannot be solved this way. The only way to get out of this crisis is by dialogue, by understanding and cooperating, by love and care for the country and its people, not by selfishness, stubbornness, hatred, and protests. None of them really cares for the benefit of the country and the public, their own benefits always come first. Lebanon will never achieve its independence and sovereignty and stand on its two feet as long as its "followers" are nothing but pawns in the hands of certain countries, and consequently will always be living under some foreign domination. And eventually the poor public is the one who pays the price, as always.

Both the opposition and the government have dragged their supporters into a frenzy of sectarian animosity that is translated into violent verbal and physical attacks. Both of them have sunk into a very low level in their speeches whether in addressing their supporters or their opponents. The sad part is that the religious personages have also been dragged to this low level, and instead of hearing them calling for peace and love, they became an inseparable part of this vicious game, inciting the people against each other. Our Sheikhs, with all due respect, but Shame on you :)
If I were Lebanese, I will stand alone, I will be neutral. But if I had to choose between "a7la al morrayn", I will definitely stand with the opposition forces. Why? Ok let me tell you...

If I were to choose between between: 1-Samir Geagea, Foad Al Saynora and his ministers, Walid Jonblat, and Saad Al Hariri, and 2- Salim Al Huss, Omar Karami, Osama Saad, Nabih Birri, Hasan Nasrallah, Michael Aon, Sleiman Franjeyeh and Talal Arsalan. I will choose number 2.

If I were to choose between 1- the theif, the hypocrite, the dishonest, the criminal, the cheater and the kiddo, and 2- the honest, the patriotic, the loyal, and the nationalistic. Number 2 for sure.

If I were to choose between 1- the American (-->Israeli)+European domination, and 2- Iranian+ Syrian domination, I'll go for number 2.

If I were to choose between : 1- Israel's right to live in peace and kill the owners of the land and 2- Hezbollah's right to defend its land, its people and its freedom. Number 2 will be my choice.

If I were to choose between the one whose weapon killed thousands of the Lebanese innocent people and the one whose weapon was directed only towards the enemy, I'll choose the second one.

Not to mention that I hold a big admiration for Al Sayed Hasan Nasrallah, and I truely think that he is one of his kind, a respectful wise man, although he has been acting "unwisely" lately, I still love and respect him.

Anyway, these were my two cents, let me not go into more details. It's hard to predict where this crisis is leading to, and how they are going to put and end to it, who will win, and who will score more goals. Stay tuned :D