There's no denying that Muslims were underrepresented politically, but you'd think that after Taef they would become more Lebanon-oriented and worry about Lebanon first. This is not the case.
The country has been going downhill ever since, and it is mostly due to Druze and Muslims opposing plans of reform, and Shiites wanting to be in a permanent state of war with Israel.
I don't buy your reasons. No one wishes to be in a state of permanent war. War is imposed on Lebanon and israehell has never ceased to be the predator that doesn't mind chipping away some territories from its neighbors' lands. If we have no reason to be in a state of war with israehell - our land, sea and air are free from violations and we have no refugees imposed on us with the threat of naturalization and destabilizing the country's demographic and economic balance - then no one wants to start war or cause turmoil.
The chief problem has been the big mistake of French colonialism and the confessional/sectarian system initiated in the one sided interest of a community. That is the root of all vices. Then followed by the love for power and dominance by our nepotistic, feudal, sectarian and kleptocratic leaders, who divide the people for their selfish benefits and their strangle grip on power.
The human being in Lebanon has no worth as a citizen. The moment you find yourself in any situation, you are judged and treated based on your sect. Not as a citizen. And this isn't only in Lebanon. A relative in west Africa needed a form of assistance from a member of the Lebanese community. He was told to approach another notable member who is Shia. He was told straight up: "go to so and so person, he is a Shia like yourself"! That is dirty as a people who share the same country.
Our brains need transplant or maybe we need our blood cleansed and some fresh blood of nonsectarian and non-racist and non-bigoted creatures transfused into our system. Then, take a look at our reality in a country. If a black person or an Indian is visiting as a tourist without us knowing what he is in the country for, we judge him by his appearance and mistake him or her for a domestic worker until the shameful clarification is made. Then take a look at another reality: we see European tourists coming to Lebanon amazed by the high rise buildings and using their cameras to take photos and deceived by the nice expensive places. Later on, we still go to their countries to beg for loans.
Our debt is over or about $100 billion!!! Where are we heading to? What have our leaders used past loans to achieve? How have they benefitted the country? They haven't passed a law to cut down their salaries and benefits and retirement packages. They are about passing a law to cut down on the benefits of retired army officers. Leaders should lead by example if they care about the state of the country's economy. But our leaders are not leading by example. When they are at peace with themselves, they suck the blood of the common man. When they disagree among themselves, they use sectarianism to turn the people against one another.
We need laws to prevent the inheritance of political parties and govt positions and nepotism. We need laws to limit the tenure of the speaker, the PM and MPs. We need the people to feel empowered and the masters of their fate and their country's fate. The politician should not be a master of our fate but a servant to further goodness in our fate. There are needs for actual reforms and laws that will free the country for the sake of the country and set the country free. Not laws to protect the ruling class. We don't see all that. We are blinded by the crumbs the politicians throw at us like little puppies!!!
We paint success and failure with a sectarian brush. Lebanon was successful (according to some) because the Maronites ruled. Lebanon is in a mess because Muslims and Druze are in control. You're all sectarian b*****d a******s! That's what you are! Success and failure know no sect or religion. Build the human being and make him educated and mentally progressive and you will reap the labor of success irrespective of his/her religion. Treat Lebanese as human beings and not sectarian douchebags because of their religion and not as footsoldiers for the corrupt sectarian ruling class.
The Mufti is seeking political recognition and relevance by stirring up a topic, that looks like a call for equality from the top. He doesn't call for financial freedom, assistance and jobs for the poor in Akkar or Tripoli. He doesn't talk to the billionaire politicians he cheers for to provide jobs for the poor. He doesn't want to anger them and he does the bidding of Saniora, whom he labelled a red line. He never called the hunger of the people of Akkar a red line! We as Lebanese have lot of reasons to be angry with ourselves and with our leaders. But we are not.
We are always happy with being zoned into religious spaces and making every debate one group vs another. If a Maronite can make this country great, it is not because he is a Maronite but because he is great person and human being and a patriotic citizen. There are good and bad Maronites just as there are good and bad people in every religion and race. If it will take a Hindu Lebanese to make this country great, let's have a Hindu as our leader. India, with 80% Hindus, once had a Sikh PM and a Muslim president. No Hindu in executive post! And we racist Lebanese do laugh at Indians and look down on them. Let's feel ashamed! Its time for us to grow up as a people and as citizens.
