 By: Colonel Fayez Karam (Translated freely: By Elias Bejjani) The Lebanese are dragged these days into a unique situation, a picture containing past precipitations and current conflicts. A picture that contains a painful reality with consequences suffered, and a beautiful dream they had enjoyed during General Aoun's reign. Due to the fact that the dream does not mesh with reality, the occupant controlling Lebanon's regime decided to control people's emotions too. In his scheme, he overlooked the fact that people's reactions are not always similar when encountering the same scene. As a result, a state of public confusion prevailed and people's stances changed accordingly. People's reactions varied between feelings of interest, sorrow, sadness and contemplation, but their dream for the state of law, respect of human rights, accountability, equality and dignity has never changed. The picture, which is the focus of this article, is that of a capable, neutral, fair and accountable authority, an authority that safeguards Lebanon's interests and the welfare of its people. A beautiful portrait portraying contradictory stances in accordance to the corner from which the portrait is viewed. We have chosen three stances to focus on: 1- The stance is that of an accused citizen whose is cautious for Lebanon's higher interest, who calls adamantly for change and who is filled with sorrow and pity. He looks at the portrait, sees what is in, and behind it, fears for Lebanon's fate, feels sorry for its officials and understands with the majority of the Lebanese the following facts: 1st) Subservience cannot infect patriotic citizens with a strong will. 2nd) Freedom is understood and appreciated only by people with open minds, free in their thinking and feeling liberated inside. Accordingly the change taking place currently in Lebanon's regime has nothing to do with Lebanon itself. It is related entirely to a change of conduct in the Syrian leadership mentality. Those Lebanese-Syrian appointed officials are used by Damascus to make the picture look better, to bear the responsibility for Syria's atrocities and to play the role of guinea pigs after its occupying troops failed to swallow the country. 2- The second stance is that which carries sorrow and hope. Hope, in the will for change with the Syrians is authentic. Sorrow, for the pain, due to the fact that elements, peace and war in Lebanon are fully controlled and manipulated by the Syrian regime, and not the Lebanese will. The hope is to establish a mutual Lebanese-Syrian relationship based on equality and authenticity. A relationship, Lebanon has always asked and strived for its fulfillment. There will be a Syrian acknowledgment of wrongdoing in a genuine process of change, and recognition for Lebanon's on going efforts to establish such a relationship. Although all previous Lebanese efforts in this direction were aborted by Syria. 3- A stance of happiness and disgust. Happiness, for being saved from a cult of corrupted politicians and official, whose hunger was never satisfied. They looted every thing, and every body, cheated, betrayed and legalized both thievery and ethical disintegration. They abused their relationship with Syria, and took advantage of their official status to divide the Lebanese people and provoke hatred and grudges among them. Disgust, from seeing these politicians and officials whom the people knew very well, during both war and peace times. They were always corrupted, opportunists, merciless, conceited, chameleons, collaborators, crooks and extremely selfish. The Lebanese occupational imposed status remains with no change, and Syria remains the mastermind that fully controls its fate and puppet officials. The general picture will remain as is, as long as the frame encircling its margins is not destroyed and changed. Lebanon will never be an independent country before the withdrawal of all foreign troops, Syrians, Israelis and others. An authority can not get stronger except through the power of its public representation, and a state can not be erected without sovereignty, freedom, efficiency, and patriotic qualified officials. Long Live Free Lebanon France, January 15/199 |