So apparently your problem is compounded distrust and sectarianism.
I am not obliged to live in a sectarian jungle because of "what the Christians want" or "what the Muslims want". This goes to show we aren't yet a country and the people do not matter therefore. We are a collection of competing tribal forces trying to outdo one another and some people do not want change. They dwell in the past. It is apparent that your type are the reason why Lebanon is not democratic.
Yes you are right on this. Lebanon is far from being a country, and Lebanon is not a democracy. It is a democracy when compared to other Arab countries, especially countries before the 2000 era, but Lebanon is not a democracy if compared to western standards.
And you are right about the sectarian jungle, it’s a system that showed it’s failure. It’s the cause of most of Lebanon’s problem Since its independence in November 1943.
But Lebanon when created was never meant to be a democracy first. Democracy came second. First, Lebanon is a kind of agreement between Muslims and Christians to share power in this country. Lebanon was built on this principle of power sharing between Muslims and Christians, And this Since 1920. The 1943 pact enforced it, and then came the Taef agreement enforcing this idea again.
This is why you canot change, by running a referendum, the way the founding fathers Of Lebanon (to use a US expression) envisioned the country.
Muslims being a majority now, they will easily win any referundum, which means the 1943 pact could be changed (if we go by a referendum) by the will of Muslims alone, even if Christians are against. And this is far from the spirit of those who founded Lebanon, which is based on Christian/Muslim partnership and share of power.
Therefore if you wanna change the constitution, then you need the aproval of the sects, not the people as a whole. You want a referundum? Then you need a minimum of two referendums, one within the Muslim community and one within the Christian community, and both referendums should come back positive over any regime change.
BTW, the USA are a little bit like that. The USA was created as a union of 13 States rather than people. This is why the president is elected by an electoral college rather than directly by the people. The electoral college reflects the will of each state of the union, And not directly the will of the people. This is why Bush and Trump were elected President while losing the popular vote. They won cuz they won more States than their rival, rather than gathering more votes from the people. This system was made to keep the spirit of a union of States and forbid a State with a big population like California to influence or shift the balance over what smaller states might have decided.
Lebanon is similar. It was founded as a federation of sects. 18 sects within two groups: The Christians and the Muslims. And each of those two groups must agree over any change to the 1943 formula.
Today you have two realistic way to change the 1943 formula. Either through a secular state or a federal state.
- A secular State unless being really secular is a trap for minorities. If we just remove the Current sectarian laws, the only thing that will change is that Lebanon will be ruled by Muslims with a small christian participation. So for a true secular state to work it should be a full and total Secular state, with zero place for religion outside the church, the mosque and home. No Muslim clerics being on the state‘s payroll like it is now. No religious marriage. No religious personal status law. No polygamy. No religious signs whatever it is in schools or public institutions. No political parties built on religious agenda Etc. No religious Courts anymore.
- Second option is a federal system. A federal system is not a sectarian system. It’s not South Africa apartheid. It’s a way to live in the same country while admitting that big cultural differences and way of life exists between Muslims and Christians.
Rejecting a full secular system and rejecting federalism, means staying with the 1943 system forever.