Lebanese Unity

The issue of Lebanese unity has always been a matter of perception, in the sense that it's a feel-good thing, something to talk about and promote,... but seriously, does anyone believe that it exists,... or that it has ever existed?

Turn on the TV, watch any news program, listen to any politician, and you'll find out that they all have one word in common: "alwi7deh al watanieh" (unity). Everybody is calling for it,... isn't that perfect?

In March of 2005, when unity was flying high in Lebanon and Independence '05 was the slogan of slogans, still there existed a camp in Lebanon that was March 8. Then there was the Israeli aggression on Lebanon (July - August 2006), and everyone was talking about "Lebanese unity in the face of Israel" and how "our strength is in our unity". But unfortunately, that was never the case. That "unity", in time of war, was simply a shell. It was a thin cover, under which the ever lasting division between the Lebanese was alive and well.

Why you ask? Well, because those who objected to Hizbullah's actions had to shut-up and swallow their opinion, for fear of being labeled pro-Israeli or "non-Lebanese",... is that unity? And the same applies to the other side, because Hizbullah and our president's praise of Lebanese unity wasn't because it existed, but a way for them to avoid civil war.

So, no one is truly in favor of unity,... real unity. It is a word that's used by everyone but never achieved by any. The Sunna are divided (Hariri vs. Karameh and Hoss), the Shiaa are divided (not everyone is Amal or Hizbollah, and even these 2 groups are not really united), then you have the Christians who are in 500 sects, with each sect divided into 500 opinion. Even the Druze, Lebanon's smallest religious group, they split into 2 camps: those who love the Syrian regime and defend it, and another one that despizes it.

Don't talk to me about unity,... it might be a nice thing to have, but Lebanon is destined to never experience it, even for one day.

The only way to have Lebanese unity is by taking religion out of the political recipe. When the president is "a Lebanese", and not necessarily "a Maronite Christian Lebanese", that's when we'll have the basis on which we can build unity. And the same applies to the positions of the PM and the Speaker of the Parliament,... and every other government position.

All the leaders stress the importance of unity, and tell us over and over again that the Lebanese are united, but that's all talk. The reality of things is that the Lebanese are not united, they've never been, and what we've experienced lately in the face of the Israeli aggression was simply people helping each other, because the situation required that. Once the conflict ended, it was clear that Lebanon is divided.

Lebanon is currently 2 groups, each believing that it's the "truly Lebanese" one,... so make your selection, or stand on the side and join me,... there's many of us too. It's not a bad thing to say "ana lubnani" or "ana lubnaneya" followed by a full stop!