 A country, any country, in the world would be considered independent when it fulfils certain national criteria. The most important determining factors in this domain are the following: 1- The Country's national decision-making process overseen by rulers and officials freely elected by the majority of the people. 2-The Country's sovereignty in its land is complete and indisputable. 3- The Country's borders with neighboring countries are policed by its own troops controlling those entering or leaving. 4- No foreign troops should be stationed on its soil. 5- No armed, illegitimate groups inside the country should be allowed. 6- No foreign power should in any way impose on the country or its people any agreement in any matter. 7- The country's national identity is respected, fostered, nurtured and protected. Many other elements are also important and must be taken into consideration. While Lebanon is approaching its forty seventh Independence Day, could we according to the above criteria consider Lebanon currently an independent country? Can we logically celebrate the Independence Day and act as if we are free and our country actually independent? Of course not, we will be ridiculing ourselves if we behave like an ostrich, burying our heads in the sand and pretending everything is okay. The fact is, since October 13th, 1990, Lebanon has completely lost all its foundation as an independent country. Currently, it is the only left-occupied country in the whole world, in an era where all the previous communist countries got rid of their dictators and became independent, free countries. Lebanon is not an independent country and will never be as long as Israel and Syria occupy its land, persecute its people and confiscate its freedoms. Israel occupies the south (ten percent) and Syria the rest of the country. Syria fully controls Lebanon's regime with forty thousand armed troops and thousands of secret service men scattered all over the country. The Syrian appointed Lebanese regime is just a mask for the Syrians whose ultimate aim is annex Lebanon. November the twenty-second, Independence Day, used to be a happy occasion for the Lebanese, both in Lebanon and Diaspora, people feeling extremely proud that they are Lebanese and that they have one of the oldest democracies in the world. They always considered Lebanon to be an example of freedom, pluralism, coexistence, and respect for human rights. The situation became completely different when the Syrians occupied the whole country in 1990 (except the south that is occupied by Israel) and dragged it back to the Stone Age. On this occasion we should all take a step back to thoroughly review what is happening. We must put our difference aside and join forces to free our country from all occupation, Syrians, Israelis and others. Our main focus must be on Liberation and only on liberation because no change will take place while foreign troops and local collaborators control the country and oppress its people. Basic dignity and self-respect will not allow us to even contemplate the idea of celebrating our Independence Day as if to mock ourselves while the country is still entirely occupied. All those who call for celebrations on the occasion will be ashamed of themselves. Instead of participating in the liberation struggle, they will feel like the other collaborators who are paid to do what they are doing. Nobody would dispute the fact that celebrating Lebanon's Independence Day, when the country is actually independent, is a national obligation. By the same token the celebration is a kind of national treason when the whole country is under the iron fist of two occupants, one of them alleging to be a brother. Any celebration under the current status quo is a kind of cheap cajoling and appeasement to the occupant and a credit to the collaborator-appointed Presidents, Ministers, MP's and high-ranking officials. Any Lebanese who cooperates with the imposed regime of puppets and gives them any credit will be betraying Lebanon's 6000 years of civilization, heritage and history. He will be also discrediting the thousands of martyrs who scarified themselves to protect our dignity, identity and independence. Dear fellow Lebanese: say "no" to subservience, collaboration and national humiliation. Say "no" to fake celebrations, and boycott all such facades and charade, or otherwise you will be like somebody who celebrates his execution day. One day we shall all celebrate Lebanon's Independence Day, but only in that day when Lebanon is truly free and truly independent with no foreign troops. Long Live Free Lebanon. |