 By: Colonel Fayez Karam (Translated freely: By Elias Bejjani) The great people of Lebanon responded to General Aoun's call of national obligation and got together at the "People's House" in Baabda (Presidential Palace) to defend their country's honor, identity, civilization independence and dignity. General Aoun called and the People responded spontaneously and authentically. They joined forces and openly supported his stance on freedom, Sovereignty and liberation. Since that day the national torch was rekindled and the Lebanese hopes and aspirations were re-ignited. That day the people's participation was unanimous, natural, distinguishable and collective. Participants were Lebanese from all walks of life, males, females, youth, elderly, professionals, tradesmen, businessmen, farmers, clergymen etc. That day the honor of affiliation to Lebanon was great. Citizens revolted in the face of tyrannies, corruption, collaboration and collaborators, opportunists and commercial politicians. Patriotic zeal spread among the people like fever and the Leader's calls appealed to their minds hearts and feelings. They felt he was authentic, speaking their own minds, and capable of understanding their hardships and sufferings. On that day the people's responses were collective and unanimous in support of Aoun's stance on liberation. People were able to communicate intellectually prior to talking with one another. They exhibited a unique code of patriotism through civilized, national conduct and got acquainted by symbols, slogans and signals. That day the "FREE NATIONAL CURRENT" was born. In fact, it was deeply dormant in people's minds, conscience and thought. The leader was paramount in awakening these feelings and bringing them to the surface. People believed in the Leader's stance, trusted his honesty and envisioned hope in his platforms positive, future perspectives. This emergence of the "Free National Current" was not the first for this patriotic manifestation; it was deeply rooted in the people's minds and conscience since early days of pre-history. Lebanon's geographical and natural location in its Middle East milieu has always been a problem for the Lebanese. Neighboring and powerful countries envied them and looked on their Holy Land with ambitions of expansionism and vicious urges to conquer the country and control its distinguishable role. All the Middle East people looked on Lebanon as a refuge for persecuted minorities, an oasis for democracy and freedom, a market for jobs, a heaven for human rights, a land of prosperity and a nation of multi-culturalism, pluralism and coexistence. The great people of Lebanon for the last 6000 years of their rich history, civilization and education have strongly fostered these characteristics and made their country the focus and envy of the whole world. All through its history, Lebanon has suffered badly because of its geographic and natural location. It has been used and abused by big and neighboring powers either as a crossroad to serve the west's interests or as bait for the East's benefit. Foreign embassies and their countries have always been active to strengthen their influence in Lebanon and among the Lebanese. Their dirty game includes manipulation, bribing, dividing, mortgaging, favoring and pitting people against each other. The opportunists and weak-willed so-called Leaders flourish in such milieu to appease foreign powers and serve their interests on the account of Lebanon's national welfare. East and West countries, Lebanon's friends as well as its enemies, have always used local collaborators and joined forces to get rid of any patriotic, honest, courageous, loyal Lebanese presidents or high ranking officials. They still follow the same vicious strategies every time Lebanon manages to put in office a president with national conscience and dignity, a president who believes in human rights, law and justice and is capable of sympathizing and empathizing with his people's, feelings, aspirations, hopes, happiness, difficulties and hardships. The objective is to keep away from the presidency any Lebanese who threatens their interests and their areas of influence. In every such event all through the 6000 years of their deep-rooted history, the people of Lebanon witnessed the emergence of a new "Free National Current". Always the same aspirations and the same objectives, the same eagerness for freedom with a strong will for independence and liberation from all kinds of foreign influence. The same cycle repeats itself. The people of Lebanon, as a manifestation for their affiliation to the independent, democratic, state of Lebanon and its distinguishable identity, pass the will to fight for just national causes from one generation to another. All these historic, deep-rooted, well-nurtured national and patriotic factors are for Lebanon's liberation advantage. It is a proven fact that as long as these factors remain active and healthy in people's conscience, Lebanon shall by God's will reclaim its natural status and position. The Lebanese also, shall reclaim their usual pioneering role not only in the East, but also in the whole world. Lebanon's enemies want to abort all possibilities for the emergence of a national free movement. Accordingly they encourage corruption, collaboration, treason, drug trafficking and install in office unqualified, non-patriotic, opportunist leaders. They impose bizarre conditions to serve their scheme in keeping Lebanon under the control of both the East and the West. Based on this imperialistic criterion their requirements for a new Lebanese president are collaboration and weak personality. The occupation powers are putting in practice the saying "Lebanon's strength is in its weakness", while disintegration is a guarantee for its continuity, occupation a guarantee for independence and death a guarantee for decent living. The great people of Lebanon refused to accept this imposed status and manifested their rejection unanimously and bravely when the time and circumstances were appropriate. They united their national concepts and stances and became more and more eager for freedom. Their understanding for national choices are ambiguous and dream of a state of law and justice. They choose their patriotic, experienced, qualified and courageous leaders wisely and support them. Time changed, but the people's agony did not, foreign powers changed, but their evil intentions did not, infamy is polluting viciously the land of love, peace and civilization. One occupation hands over Lebanon to another occupation, Turks, French, Egyptians, Palestinians, Syrians, Israelis etc. all steal the country's resources and the people's progenies each in its own way and style. Each occupant followed different ways to spread its influence and hegemony. Armed troops, intelligence services, embassies, spies, collaborators, bribes, intimidation, displacement, imprisonment, assassination etc are some of the vicious means used by occupants to control the country. Although means and styles were somewhat different, the occupation was and always will remain humiliation, oppression, hardships and shame. Under the occupation umbrella, national policies imposed are based on deception, not honesty, collaboration, not building, conspiracies not planning, corruption not correction, selling not buying. Policies are forged to foster widen and strengthen puppets' influence, power and fortunes. These puppets are completely alienated from people's dreams, welfare aspirations and hopes. Their destructive policies are with no hope or future perspectives. The following characters appease who ever is in power to serve their own interests, pleasures and riches: 1-Clergymen abused and used religions deprived the needy, never practiced mercy, rhetorically preached love while practically nurtured hatred and divisionism. They established fake earthy powers based on fanatism, evil interpretation of religion and turned religions into sects, cults, factions and denominations. They governed under the religion umbrella to increase their power, wealth and influence. 2-Political parties although seemingly different in platforms, all paved their way into politics and power by taking advantage of people's differences. They were founded by individuals whose sole interest is to fatten their fortunes, increase their properties and spread their influence. They joined forces to corrupt and dismantle the state's authority and when failed to substitute its role, they all agreed on sharing revenues and exchanging roles. 3-Fuedelists and capitalists and by occupation leaders and officials pose with empty "Turkish Titles" and inherited leadership positions. They believe the people are their own property and try to dictate choices, lifestyles, political affiliation, and confiscate their future. Their objectives are fattening their fortunes and solidifying their positions and titles. On the other side stands the majority of the Lebanese people. They unanimously responded to the leader's call and came to the "People's House" from all regions of Lebanon, from all religions and from all walks of life. They met with their trustworthy leadership with love, authenticity, harmony, hope and equality. Among those were: 1- Good clergymen, who fear God, preach, work, pray and act in accordance to genuine religious teachings. Clergymen who lead the people spiritually as role models of love, concentuality, forgiveness, devotion, openness, honesty and cooperation. The people respected them, trusted their teachings, followed their directions and embraced them with arms, spirits and hearts. 2- Members from different political parties who were authentic in their choices, without fear of openness. They enriched the integration process with their people and generously provided them with means of intellectual prospects needed for development and evolution. They all met around the objectives and ignored the unnecessary details. 3- Families who envisaged in the national framework adopted the philanthropic virtues practiced as a succession for their deep-rooted traditions, history and struggle. 4- Citizens from all walks of life who are creative in their thinking, spontaneity, solidity, endurance, ability, will and education. After all, is there still a need, to say who we are in The "FREE NATIONAL CURRENT? We are all of the above. We are partners in happiness and in pain, capable to sympathize and empathize genuinely with each other, share the same objectives, hopes and dreams, believe in the same national and patriotic code, and most importantly hate to see our country occupied and controlled by foreigners and local collaborators. In general we do very well as individuals and fail as groups. Our main aim in the FREE NATIONAL CURRENT is to put an end to our people's sufferings and hardships and to liberate our country from occupation. My dear fellow Lebanese who believe in your distinguished heritage and identity and in Sovereignty, independence, democracy, human rights and a FREE LEBANON… let us join forces and learn how to work as groups as well as individuals, our oppressed people and occupied country are calling us, let us not disappoint them. Long Live the FREE NATIONAL CURRENT Long Live Free Lebanon |